Law

Thinking of applying for Law at university? Understanding what A Levels to take to guarantee the best chances of getting a place is essential.

If you are considering applying for Law, it is important to know what you need to do to secure your place at top universities. To be accepted onto a Law degree you will usually require a minimum of two A Levels, with three A Levels and A grades needed for the most popular courses.

Entry requirements range from BCC to A*AA, with the most common offer applicants receive being ABB.

 It is not a requirement to have studied Law at A Level; generally speaking, there are no specific A Levels required to apply for Law at university. However, certain subjects known as facilitating subjects can help your application for a Law degree.

Facilitating subjects are the subjects most required or preferred by universities to get on to a range of degree courses. The Russell Group, which represents 24 leading UK universities, defines facilitating subjects as:

  • Geography
  • English Literature.
  • History
  • Modern Foreign Languages – e.g. German and French
  • Maths
  • Further Maths
  • Physics
  • Biology
  • Chemistry

These subjects help you keep your options open when choosing a degree, and many of the top universities will ask you to have at least one A Level in a facilitating subject when you apply. All these subjects are available to study at The Blue Coat Sixth Form.

We would recommend the following A Level subject choices if interested in pursuing Law:

SubjectSkill
HistoryA focus on essay writing alongside interpretation of information and spotting unreliable and inconsistent recounts.
PoliticsTeaches about how laws are made and upheld on a national and global scale.
English LiteratureUseful due to its heavy focus on reading and writing, especially analytical and reasoning skills.
SociologyProvides insights into governance, economic principles, and social dynamics. Particularly useful for a future in human rights law and criminal law.
MathsValuable as a demonstration of intelligence and logical thinking. Many fundamental principles taught in Maths can be transferred to the legal profession.
LanguagesEssential if you wish to study International Law.
Others to considerGeography, Psychology, Economics, Religious Studies, Business

Blue Coat Alumni Success

Each year our students go on to undertake degrees in Law at top universities across the UK including the University of Leeds, Durham University and the University of Bristol. Law is consistently in the top 5 university courses that our students go on to do. In recent years, our students have progressed onto relevant courses such as Law, Law and Criminology, Law and Practice, and Law with Politics and Human Rights.

Click here to read what our Alumni had to say about the Law Pathway

The Law Pathway

For those students aspiring to work in the legal profession or criminal justice system, here at The Blue Coat Sixth Form we offer the opportunity to study a Law-based EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) and a super-curricular Law and Criminology Extended Certificate.

Extended Project Qualification

Students may be able to undertake a Law-based Level 3 Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) as part of the Year 12 Futures option. More information can be found here. here.

Law and Criminology Extended Certificate – Super curricular

This short course programme of study is designed for those students interested in a career in the fields of Law or Criminology. Successful candidates will have a taste of these professions through a variety of lectures, seminars and speaking with practitioners in the subjects. This super-curricular study requires a commitment to at least 5 after school sessions and completion of a variety of post study tasks. This short course programme gives students an insight into the law through a variety of lectures and seminars and the chance to talk to professional practitioners including an experienced King’s Counsel barrister.

Who is the course for?

The course is primarily open to social science students (Politics, Psychology and/or Sociology) who are interested in studying Law or Criminology degrees or apprenticeship in the future. These courses are very competitive, and this short course will give students a useful introduction to some of the content as well as enhancing an application personal statement.

What will the course cover?

The certificate will introduce aspects of the following topic areas:

  • Career paths with law and criminology
  • The theory of law, justice and morality
  • Criminal psychology
  • The politics of crime
  • The sociology of crime and deviance

Congratulations to all those who successfully completed the Law and Criminology Extended Certificate in 2023/24!

Recommended Reading

The following books have been recommended by staff and admissions tutors to support your application to study Law:

  • – Glanville Williams – Learning the Law
  • – Hilaire Barnett – Britain Unwrapped: Government and Constitution Explained
  • – Charles Dickens – Bleak House
  • – A Broadsheet Newspaper – at least once a week (e.g The Guardian) – This is Vital!
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The Blue Coat Sixth Form is proud to be part of the Cranmer Education Trust

Cranmer Education Trust is a company limited by guarantee and an exempt charity registered in England. Company registration number: 07687709. Registered Office: Cranmer Education Trust, c/o The Blue Coat School, Egerton Street, Oldham OL1 3SQ. The website address is www.cranmereducationtrust.com and the phone number 0161 785 5082.