LLB (Hons) Supported Open Learning Programme

Degree awarded by Northumbria University

1.Course Information

The students will follow a structured full time support programme, at Holbrook College of London, for the Open Learning programme from Northumbria University, leading to the award of the University’s LLB (Hons) degree. The Northumbria University LLB (Hons) is a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) that gives exemption from the academic stage of training to qualify as a barrister or solicitor. This degree is a relevant qualification for a range of careers as it mixes academic study with the practical applications of law in a wide range of situations.

Students on this programme, at Holbrook College, must be registered with the University of Northumbria, which is the awarding body for the LLB (Hons) degree, as well as Holbrook College of London, which is the full time support programme provider. International students registering for the Northumbria LLB (Hons) Open Learning programme, on its own, or the Holbrook College Support Programme, on its own, will not be eligible for a UK student visa, as the Northumbria Open Learning LLB, on its own, is not a Full Time programme and the Holbrook Support programme, on its own, is not a self-standing accredited programme, in the context of the UKBA Immigration requirements. To be eligible for a UK student visa, International students coming to the UK, for their LLB (Hons) at Holbrook College, must be registered with both institutions and must comply with the UKBA requirements with respect to full time attendance and progress in their studies, at Holbrook College.

The Holbrook College Support programme involves full time daytime quality learning support and tutor guidance, of 36 weeks duration, averaging 21 hours per week, spread over 3 days, to comply with the UKBA’s requirements of 15 hours for visas and local councils’ requirements of 21 hours for Council Tax Exemption. This time includes 5 hours a week of online work, involving online research skills development, access to the University’s Blackboard, for notice and subject bulletin boards plus submission of seminar questions and coursework to Northumbria Law School, and access to legal databases of cases and related documents.

Students on the programme will get relevant learning materials and support from both Northumbria University and Holbrook College. Additional learning experience includes visits to UK Law Libraries, Tribunals and Courts (including the well known House of Lords), guest speakers (specialists in specific areas of law), seminars, lectures, tutorials, workshops, mooting (mock trials), examination and assignment preparation techniques development, revision sessions by University Law Tutors, special research techniques and legal skills development, language support, Communication and IT skills development, Professional and Study Skills Development, Internet facilities, Advocacy skills development for easy transition from qualifying law degree to Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), mentoring, shadowing of qualified law practitioners, etc.

Holbrook College would like to clarify that the LLB support programme is at degree (level 6) standard and our students have done well with good grades at their examinations. All examinations and assignments are set and marked by the University of Northumbria. The students send their assignments direct to the University and take their examinations at venues arranged by the University in London or Newcastle.

Some of the Holbrook College final year students who achieved LLB (Hons) 2.1 (Upper Second Class) and 2.2 (Lower Second Class) are currently doing their Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) to qualify as barrister at BPTC Providers, including City Law School at City University and Northumbria University, in the UK.

Holbrook College would also like to clarify that, in line with the University of Northumbria’s policy of no affiliation with or validation or accreditation of support programme at UK based colleges, there is no official affiliation or validation or accreditation of the HCL Support programme from Northumbria University.

2.Course Length

3 – 4 years (depending on students’ prior qualifications)

3.Entry Requirements

Applicants must be of post higher schooling age and must demonstrate the necessary intellectual ability, knowledge, high level of motivation, discipline and potential to complete this programme, which is at degree level, successfully. The normal minimum entry requirements are one of the following:

1.Passes in 2 subjects at A level with passes in 3 other subjects at GCSE level at grade C or higher.
2.Passes in 2 subjects at A level with passes in 2 other subjects at AS level.
3.Passes in 3 subjects at A level with a pass in 1 other subject at GCSE level at grade C or higher.
4.A BTEC Ordinary National Certificate or Diploma at a good standard.
5.Or other equivalent qualifications.

students, without formal qualifications but with substantial related work experience could be considered upon submission of certified evidence from relevant authorities. They must also possess appropriate study skills and the capacity and intellectual ability to sustain a course of study at degree level.

4.English Language Requirements

Applicants will normally be required to have obtained a pass at grade C or higher in English Language at GCSE level. Other applicants not meeting this requirement or whose first language is not English or who have not previously studied in English medium will need to satisfy the College and the University of their competence in written and spoken English. The normal University requirement for English competency is IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. Students, satisfying the other academic requirements but with an IELTS score below 6.0, can be admitted to a pre-sessional English language programme at Holbrook College, however, the students must have achieved at least IELTS 5.5 or equivalent on entry.

5.Course Contents:

Students will take 3 modules per year, as outlined below, plus the Special Support classes:

Year 1: Contract Law, Criminal Law and English Legal Systems.
Year 2: Property 1 (Land Law), Law of Tort and European Union Law.
Year 3: Property 2 (Equity & Trust), Public Law and either Medical Law or Law of Evidence.
Year 4: Option 1, Option 2 and either Jurisprudence or Project.

The options include:

1.Company Law
2.Employment Law
3.Intellectual property Law and
4.Medical Law or Law of Evidence (whichever is not taken in Year 3)

Please, note that the options offered each year depend on the students’ choice and staff availability. Graduates on Advanced Standing can complete the programme in 3 years and should choose between Jurisprudence and Project as the option subject for the final year.

6.Course Assessment

The first year subjects are each assessed by a 3 hour examination. The remaining subjects are assessed either by coursework or examinations or a combination of both.

7. Progression

Students successfully completing the Northumbria LLB (Hons) degree may, depending on the overall grade achieved for the degree, proceed to any of the following:

1.The Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) to qualify as a barrister. 2.The Legal Practice Certificate (LPC) to qualify as a solicitor. 3.The LLM to obtain a Master of Law qualification to pursue other law related careers. 4.Suitable employment.

8. Yearly Intakes

The main intake is in September / October each year, culminating in examinations during May / June of the following year.

There is a Fast Tract February intake for new (Year 1) students only. The February intake students, at Holbrook College, will take all their examinations in August of that year. In exceptional cases, February intake students, who have studied the Year 1 subjects previously, may take all or some of the subjects in the May / June examinations of that year.

Students should note that the strict deadlines for enrolment with the College and the University for the Northumbria LLB (Hons) degree must be complied with. Any student missing the deadlines would be eligible for enrolment for the subsequent September intake.