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Law (BCL)  (LWS6)

BCL (NFQ Level 8) · Academic Year 2024/2025
School
School of Law
Attendance
Full Time
Level
Undergraduate
NFQ Level
8
Award
Bachelor of Civil Law
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Programme Director
Assoc Professor Liam Thornton
Overall Programme Credits:
240
Programme Credits:
Stage 1
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5
Stage 2
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 3
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 4
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
Stage 1: 55
Stage 2: 50
Stage 3: 50
Stage 4: 50

Curricular information is subject to change.

The UCD Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree enjoys a proud history and an established reputation at home and abroad. The BCL degree allows you to immerse yourself in the study of law, to engage with a range of interesting legal perspectives and to acquire a profound understanding of how law works in theory and in practice.

This programme is for students who wish to study the law of Ireland and acquire a profound understanding of how law works in theory and practice, both in Ireland and elsewhere. The programme enables students to proceed to professional training as lawyers in Ireland and elsewhere but also provides knowledge, skills and experience applicable in a wide variety of careers.



We aim for students to be active, autonomous learner, who are conscious of the social, cultural and political dimension of the law, as well as having the academic basis for a successful career in law and more widely applicable knowledge and skills.



We strive for a learning environment that encourages students to work individually or as part of a team, so that they can develop their own and others' leadership, teamwork and communication skills. Small-group teaching, online collaboration and practice-based learning are key elements of this.



To these ends the programme uses teaching, learning and assessment approaches such as tutorials, seminars, supervised academic writing, work placements and simulations of professional practice.


1 - demonstrate specialised, detailed knowledge and understanding of the legal systems of Ireland and of the European Union.
2 - apply their knowledge and understanding in a manner that indicates a professional approach to their specific work or vocation in the field of law.
3 - gather and interpret the relevant data from a variety of sources, both legal and factual, to inform judgments on problems within the major branches of law.
4 - make their own judgments, including the capacity to reflect on relevant political, social economic, historical, or ethical issues associated with law.
5 - to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, considering the importance of legal arguments in public policy debates, in an accessible and intelligible manner to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
6 - realise those learning skills that are necessary for them to continue to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy.
7 - identify, in the field of legal scholarship, the relevant sources of law and commentary upon and analysis of it and to frame their own original legal arguments.

Many of our third year BCL students choose to study abroad at our partner universities in:

  • Singapore
  • Milan
  • Toulouse
  • Chicago
  • Utrecht
  • Connecticut
  • Vienna
  • Miami
  • Uppsala
  • Minnesota
  • Stockholm
  • California
  • Exeter
  • Berlin
  • Prague
  • Antwerp
  • Canberra
  • Barcelona

    • As a BCL graduate you are well positioned to pursue a variety of careers. Many graduates go on to qualify as solicitors or barristers who practise law independently, or work in:

  • Law firms in Ireland or internationally
  • Large corporations as in-house lawyers
  • State bodies (e.g. advisory counsel in the Attorney General’s Office)
  • Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
  • EU or other international institutions
  • Legal research
  • Academia

    BCL graduates can also pursue successful non-legal careers, e.g. as diplomats, journalists, broadcasters, authors or researchers, in Ireland or abroad. Graduates can undertake postgraduate law study programmes such as a LLM and/or PhD in their area of interest.

    • Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

    Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

    Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10050 Constitutional Law: Institutional Framework of the Constitution of Ireland Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10190 Negligence and Related Matters Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10270 Civil Procedure Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10340 Contract: Formation Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10420 Legal and Professional Skills Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10470 Comparative Study of Law Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10060 Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights under the Constitution of Ireland Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10200 Nominate Torts Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10260 Criminal Procedure Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10350 Contract: Vitiating Factors and Remedies Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 LAW10360 General Introduction to the Irish Legal System Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 LAW20090 Company Law I Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 LAW20330 EU Constitutional Law Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 LAW20370 Property Law I Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 LAW20390 Criminal Liability Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 LAW20170 Company Law II Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 LAW20340 EU Economic Law Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 LAW20380 Property Law II Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 LAW20400 Criminal Offences and Defences Spring  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 2 of:
    (Students should choose 2 options and may choose a further 2 options instead of electives)
    		 LAW30400 Matrimonial Law and Reliefs Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 2 of:
    (Students should choose 2 options and may choose a further 2 options instead of electives)
    		 LAW30440 Environmental Law and Policy Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 2 of:
    (Students should choose 2 options and may choose a further 2 options instead of electives)
    		 LAW30470 International Human Rights Law Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 2 of:
    (Students should choose 2 options and may choose a further 2 options instead of electives)
    		 LAW30310 Law of the ECHR Spring  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 2 of:
    (Students should choose 2 options and may choose a further 2 options instead of electives)
    		 LAW30450 Family and Child Law Spring  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 2 of:
    (Students should choose 2 options and may choose a further 2 options instead of electives)
    		 LAW37460 Planning Law Spring  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 2 of:
    (Students should choose 2 options and may choose a further 2 options instead of electives)
    		 SSCI20030 Building Resilience Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37580 Research Module 10 cr 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30010 Banking Law Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30060 Equity: History, Doctrines, Remedies Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30070 Evidence - Foundations Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30090 Revenue Law: Introduction to Revenue Law Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30170 Employment Law: the Contract of Employment Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30180 Jurisprudence Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30240 Administrative Law: Grounds of Review Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30400 Matrimonial Law and Reliefs Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30440 Environmental Law and Policy Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30470 International Human Rights Law Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30610 Commercial Law Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30690 Advocacy and Mooting Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30700 The Lawyer, Professional Ethics & Legal Practice Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30730 Public International Law Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30870 Patent Law and Trademarks Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37470 Advanced International Law - The Law of Int Organisations Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37530 Financial Law of the EU Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37560 Social Inclusion Law Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37570 Insolvency Law Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37670 Copyright Law Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37700 Internet Law and Regulation Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30160 Evidence - Practice and Principles Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30190 Media Law Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30230 Overview of Law Relating to Creation and Administration of Trusts Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30290 Administrative Law: Remedies for Unlawful Administrative Action Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30300 Criminology: Criminal Justice and Penology Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30310 Law of the ECHR Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30450 Family and Child Law Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30820 Private International Law Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37430 Jury Trials Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37460 Planning Law Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37590 International Economic Law Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37600 Migration Law Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37610 Medical Law Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37630 Law in the Classroom Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37680 BCL Internship Spring  30
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37710 Applied Legal Skills Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		SSCI20030 Building Resilience Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37580 Research Module 10 cr 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30010 Banking Law Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30060 Equity: History, Doctrines, Remedies Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30070 Evidence - Foundations Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30090 Revenue Law: Introduction to Revenue Law Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30170 Employment Law: the Contract of Employment Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30180 Jurisprudence Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30240 Administrative Law: Grounds of Review Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30400 Matrimonial Law and Reliefs Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30440 Environmental Law and Policy Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30470 International Human Rights Law Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30610 Commercial Law Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30640 Competition Law in Practice Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30690 Advocacy and Mooting Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30700 The Lawyer, Professional Ethics & Legal Practice Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30730 Public International Law Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30870 Patent Law and Trademarks Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37470 Advanced International Law - The Law of Int Organisations Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37530 Financial Law of the EU Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37560 Social Inclusion Law Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37570 Insolvency Law Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37670 Copyright Law Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37700 Internet Law and Regulation Autumn  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30160 Evidence - Practice and Principles Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30190 Media Law Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30230 Overview of Law Relating to Creation and Administration of Trusts Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30290 Administrative Law: Remedies for Unlawful Administrative Action Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30300 Criminology: Criminal Justice and Penology Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30310 Law of the ECHR Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30450 Family and Child Law Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30550 Legal History: The History of Public Law Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30570 Contemporary Issues in Law and Politics Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW30820 Private International Law Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37430 Jury Trials Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37460 Planning Law Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37590 International Economic Law Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37600 Migration Law Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37610 Medical Law Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37630 Law in the Classroom Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		LAW37710 Applied Legal Skills Spring  5
    Stage 4 Options - A) Min 9 of:
    Choose ten of the following, or nine if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
    		SSCI20030 Building Resilience Spring  5

    See the UCD Assessment website for further details

    Module Weighting Info
     
      Award GPA
    Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
    BHLAW015 Stage 4 - 50.00%
    Stage 3 - 50.00%
    		 Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

    3.68

    4.20
    Second Class Honours, Grade 1

    3.08

    3.67
    Second Class Honours, Grade 2

    2.48

    3.07
    Pass

    2.00

    2.47
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