LLB Open Learning, LLB Part Time and GDL Conversion programmes Admissions requirements
Entry requirements applying to all applicants to the LLB PT and OL 3 and 4 year routes and to the
GDL conversion programme
All applicants to the LLB OL and PT (3 year and 4 year) routes and to the GDL conversion programme
are required to provide at least one reference which confirms the student’s ability to study on the
programme. Ideally this reference should be provided by the applicant’s previous academic
institution or where a student is relying on work experience rather than academic qualifications
from an individual who is able to comment from a professional perspective as to the individual’s
suitability for degree level study. These references will be taken into account when determining the
student’s suitability for the programme. A failure to submit references will result in the student’s
application for entry onto the programme being refused. In the event that a reference is provided
which indicates that a student is not suitable to be considered for the programme or for degree level
study more generally it is unlikely that the student will be accepted to study the programme.
Students for whom English is not their first language must be able to demonstrate by the completion
of the English Language tests and qualifications approved by the university that they have English
Language ability of at least IELTS level 6.5 overall with no individual IELTS test score of less than 5.5,
or must otherwise demonstrate that by virtue of previous qualifications, as specified by the
university, they are from completing such test. The current university guidance applicable to
international (non-EU) applicants as to the tests which have been approved by the university and the
circumstances when students are exempt from completion of such tests is to be found in Guidelines
on English Language Entry qualifications for 2012/3 entry, approved by Student Learning and
Experience committee 8 Dec 2011 subject to the variation order approved by the School of Law in
May 2012 (See Appendix A)
All applicants must have access to the internet. It is essential that students who enrol upon the LLB
OL and PT programmes have access to the internet. Students who are studying on the LLB OL
programme will only be able to access teaching and learning materials via the internet. Students on
both the LLB OL and PT programmes must be able to access their university emails since all
important programme related information will be disseminated via university email. Students on
the LLB OL and PT programmes will also need to be able to access the programme elearning portal
site in order to access programme handbooks, assessment regulations and other key documents.
Specific additional entry requirements apply to the 3 year, 4 year and GDL routes and where
students wish to transfer credit from previous studies.
LLB OL and PT Four year route
This programme aims to ensure that a traditional broad-based legal education is available to wide
sections of the community, particularly including applicants who have worked within the law and
related professions, who have experience of and commitment to study the law, but who have not
undertaken formal educational qualifications. Accordingly applicants to the four year LLB PT and OL
programme routes must demonstrate either:
i. that they have either attained 1 UK A level at grade E or above, or any one of the
qualifications listed on the UK UCAS site as being equivalent to such a qualification; or that
they have attained an overseas qualification which is equivalent to 1 UK A level at grade E,
such equivalence being assessed via guidance provided by UK NARIC. In such a case original
or certified copy qualification certificates are to be provided. Completion of two lower level
qualifications of equivalent tariff to an A Level at Grade E (ie 2 AS levels) is not to be treated
as an equivalent qualification. However such a student might otherwise qualify for the
programme on the basis of work or other experience.
ii. that they have completed the ILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. Again
the original or certified copy qualification certificate must be provided
iii. That through prior work or other experience they have acquired the skills necessary to
undertake degree level studies in law. There is no specified time for the experience from
which the learning derives. However, evidence of learning from that experience must be
current. (Northumbria Framework for APL, APEL and ABWL (2002) Section 3.2.1). Evidence
of experiential learning experience must be submitted by the applicant with their application
form in writing. The applicant should state how as a result of their work or other experience
they have achieved and/or continue to achieve all or most of the following skills which will
be essential to their studies on the programme; ability to time manage, ability to work
independently of others/autonomy, ability to communicate clearly in written English, ;
ability to learn from others, ability to use IT. The applicant would also be expected to
indicate why they believe that they have the intellectual ability required to successfully
complete an undergraduate law programme The applicant may provide evidence in the
form of a portfolio, or as a written statement. Where students are already working within
the law or a related profession they may also wish to indicate what specific knowledge of the
law and the legal system they have acquired, and how they believe that this will assist them
in their studies. Applicants are encouraged to also provide support for their application
through evidence of satisfactory completion of vocational/work based training or through
references from supervisors. The APEL application will be considered by the admissions
tutor for the programme in question. Where a student’s APEL application is successful the
APEL proforma (appendix 1) must be completed and placed on the student’s file.
LLB OL and PT 3 year route
Applicants who wish to enrol upon the LLB PT and OL 3 year route must demonstrate by providing
original or certified copy certificates that they have either:
a) completed a UK honours degree in any subject, and that this qualification was awarded no
more than five years before the date when they would commence studies on the LLB OL/PT.
b) completed overseas study which is of at least equivalent level to a UK Honours degree
qualification (such equivalence being established in accordance with the guidance provided
by the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC) and that
this qualification was awarded no more than five years before the date when they would
commence studies on the LLB OL/PT
Applicants must also complete the Application for APL proforma (see Admissions Process Document
Appendix 2)
The requirement to have completed a UK honours degree recognises that the Northumbria
Framework for APL, APEL and ABL (2002) requires prior learning to be specified either in terms
equivalent to the University’s system for establishing the value of learning/by mapping of specific or
generic learning outcomes/by mapping of notional student workload and academic difficulty.
Since it is not possible for students to be exempted from foundation subjects or English Legal System
(which covers other essential elements including research and introduction to the institutions and
professions) by virtue of their prior undergraduate studies, it is only possible to offer exemptions
from the option modules. These modules are, however, all at level 6. To award three exemptions
(the equivalent of one full year year of the programme) students will need to have already
completed an award which, as a minimum, includes 90 credits at level 6. The QAA Higher Education
Framework for England (2008) specifies that a Bachelors Degree with Honours should include
minimum 360 credits with a minimum of 90 credits at level 6 (ARNA itself specifies that for
Northumbria degrees there should in fact be 120 credits at level 6). Accordingly, students who study
on the three year route will study 270 credits as opposed to 360 credits, having been exempted from
studying 3 x 30 credit modules by virtue of their accredited prior learning (APL).
Since the Law Benchmark Statement requires only that a minimum of 180 credits of legal subjects be
studied and the Joint Announcement requires a minimum of 240 credits (or 220 credits for a senior
status degree) of legal study, with 180 credits covering the Foundations and English Legal System
(Joint Statement 2(iv) and (v)), this route still satisfies the QAA and Professional Body requirements.
GDL Conversion (QLD and non-QLD routes)
Applicants to the GDL Conversion routes must demonstrate that they have been awarded the GDL
(Graduate Diploma in Law) no more than five years before the date when they would commence
studies on the GDL Conversion route. The original or a certified copy of the GDL award must be
provided. No student will be admitted to the programme unless they have completed the full GDL
programme of studies. It is not possible to enter the GDL conversion routes upon the basis of partial
completion of the GDL (for example where exemptions from the GDL have been granted by the
SRA).
Students who are admitted to the GDL Conversion routes are afforded advanced entry/exemption
from all foundation modules plus 2 options by virtue of their accredited prior learning on the GDL
and their previous degree(s). Again the Northumbria Framework for APL, APEL and ABWL (2002)
applies. This stipulates that a minimum of 60 credits current learning is required.
The maximum 300 credits of prior study is recognised when students enrol onto these routes.
Students who have completed the GDL must previously have been awarded a UK Honours Degree
with a classification of 2:2 or above. They will therefore have satisfactorily completed 360 credits,
with 90 credits at level 6 by virtue of their degree studies. These credits are used, alongside level
6/7 credit from the GDL. The content studied on the GDL, and the requirement that students have
completed a further area of law, combined with the requirement that they undertake study of two
further options or a project ensures that they satisfy the programme learning outcomes.
Note
This programme is not a qualifying law degree programme. The Law Benchmark statement requires
180 credits of law to be studied on a Law Honours Degree programme. This is satisfied by
completion of a GDL worth 120 credits or more together with a further 60 credits studied on this
programme. The requirements of a qualifying law degree are more stringent than the requirements
of a law degree. The Joint Announcement (para 2.v) states that to obtain a qualifying law degree
the study of Foundations (including the English Legal System) must not amount to less than 180
credits). Since the majority of GDL providers do not offer a GDL with this number of credits we do
not offer this programme as a qualifying law degree programme.
Credit transfer
It is not possible to transfer credit to the three year route.
Subject to the above, a student who is currently studying on another qualifying law degree
programme offered by, Northumbria University or at another institution which offers a UK
accredited qualifying law degree is able to apply to transfer credit to the LLB PT and OL programmes
(four year routes) in accordance with the following rules:
a. Credit will be accepted only where the student is studying on a UK Accredited qualifying law
degree programme
b. It is for the student to demonstrate that the modules studied are of equivalent weight to the
modules offered on the LLB OL/PT programmes; 30 credits/300 hours
c. Where a student seeks to transfer credit for a foundation module the credit, content and
learning outcomes of the module to be transferred must be broadly equivalent to the
comparable module offered on the LLB OL/PT. Such decision as to equivalence to be made by
the programme admissions tutor in consultation with the appropriate module tutor.
d. A minimum of four modules must be studied on the LLB PT or OL programme four year route at
Northumbria. A student is unable, therefore, to enter the programme in year four of the four
year programme.
e. In order to comply with the requirements of the BSB and SRA (JASB Handbook para 2.3, BSB
2.19-2.24, SRA 2.4-2.6) students are unable to transfer onto the programme unless they have
fully completed all previous years of study. For example, if a student has completed year 1 but
has failed to pass all year 2 modules they would be unable to transfer onto the LLB OL or PT
programme. A student may enter the programme in year two, provided they have satisfactorily
completed all year 1 subjects at their previous institution. They may enter the programme in
year 3 if they have satisfactorily completed all by transferring credit from previous studies.
f.
No transfer will be permitted where the student’s total period of study at the first institution and
at Northumbria University will exceed the six year maximum period for completion of a
qualifying law degree.
If a student wishes to transfer to the LLB PT or OL programme (four year route) they must provide a
full transcript of their marks for each year of study undertaken at their previous institution (whether
or not that year has been completed). Ordinarily institutions will provide a percentage mark for
each module. In the event that no percentage is provided Northumbria will need to clarify the
position with the transferring institution and this may delay processing the application. In
circumstances where a module has not been awarded a percentage mark, for example because it
has instead been graded on a pass/fail basis we will clarify with the transferring institution whether
the pass mark is 40% or more. Once the student’s application for credit transfer has been approved
by the admissions tutor the admissions tutor will complete the proforma ‘Applicants transferring
from other institutions: Admissions-stage Form’, (see Admissions Process document Appendix 5),
detailing the subjects that remain to be completed by the Student at Northumbria, and indicating
whether the applicant is being accepted onto the Open Learning or Part Time route. This form will
then be returned to the student by University admissions. The student must sign and return this
form in order to enrol upon the programme.
Further guidance on how the credit transfer rules apply (All modules should be of equivalent
weight (30 credits) to the PT/OL programme modules, and broadly comparable in terms of content
and learning outcomes where they cover a subject taught on these programmes):
STUDENT’S SITUATION
All year 1 modules passed on either first sitting
or on re-sits
DECISION
Credit transfer all passed modules for QLD
All year 1 and year 2 modules passed on either
first sitting or on re-sits
Some modules passed from year 1 and others
not attempted (e.g. three out of four year 1
modules attempted and passed; remaining
module not yet attempted)
All modules passed from year 1 and some
modules passed from year 2 (e.g. three out of
four year 2 modules attempted and passed;
remaining module not yet attempted)
Some modules passed from year 1 and others
failed (e.g. three out of four attempted were
passed, remaining module failed)
All modules from year 1 passed; some modules
from year 2 passed and others from year 2 failed
(e.g. three out of four attempted were passed,
the remaining module failed)
Passed some year 1 modules but withdrawn for
third and final fail in one/more year 1 modules
Passed all year 1 modules and some year 2
modules but withdrawn for third and final fail in
one/more year 2 modules
All modules from year 1 passed at previous
institution but modules are four years old or
over
All modules from year 1 and year 2 are passed
but year 1 modules are four years old or over
Credit transfer all passed modules for QLD
Student has been awarded a law degree at
another institution and wishes to “top up” or
improve result
Student has been withdrawn from LL.B Open
Learning/Part Time programme for third and
final fail and wishes to start the programme
afresh
Student has been withdrawn from a different
law programme at Northumbria for a third and
final fail and wishes to start afresh on the LL.B
Open Learning route
Not permitted. May start from scratch and
consider Advanced Standing route.
Must start from scratch
Must start from scratch
Must start from scratch
Must start from scratch
Must start from scratch
Must start from scratch
Must start from scratch
Must start from scratch
Not permitted
Not permitted
Situation where a student has previously failed a programme offered by Northumbria Law School
Where a student has previously been admitted onto any one of the LLB programmes offered by
Northumbria Law School (which includes the full time, part time and open learning programmes)
and has failed any one or more modules three times then that student will not be permitted to enrol
either onto the LLB Open Learning or LLB Part Time programme (3 year or 4 year route)
notwithstanding that they otherwise satisfy the programme entry requirements.
LLB Open Learning, LLB Part Time and GDL Conversion programmes Admissions requirements
Appendix A:
English Language Entry Qualifications – LL.B Open Learning
1. Principles
1.1. These guidelines are to be used with immediate effect, for new international (non-EU)
applicants for 2012/13 entry.
1.2. All staff processing applications and making offers must assess applicants’ proficiency in
English language to the required level using one of the approved qualifications in these
Guidelines unless they qualify under the Majority English Speaking Country category. A copy
of the qualification must be kept on the student’s file by International Admissions and this
is required for audit purposes.
1.3. No other qualifications, interviews or any other form of English language assessment may be
used by University members of staff as the basis for offers of admission except in
exceptional circumstances where there is other strong, documented evidence that the
requirements have been met in each language skill. Such cases will be considered by the
International Admissions Team on a case by case basis provided there is sufficient evidence
to substantiate their skill level.
2. Approved Tests and Qualifications
2.1
Entry to Presessional Courses and Courses below Level 6
Students applying for a course below Bachelors / NQF level 6 or a presessional English
language course must take IELTS, TOEFL IBT or Pearson Academic and obtain the relevant
score in Table 3. In addition to the overall score required by the University students must
obtain minimum scores set by UBKA in each element of the test in order to meet its “B1”
requirement for study at this level.
2.2
Entry to Courses at Level 6 and Above
The University accepts the tests, qualifications and exemptions listed below for students
who are intending to study on a course at Bachelors level (NQF 6) and above.
i.
Recognised English Language Tests (see Table 1)
 IELTS, Pearson Academic, TOEFL IBT
 IGCSE, GCSE, O Level (UK examining boards)
 A level English (UK examining boards)
 International Baccalaureate (English A1, A2 & B)
 European Baccalaureate (English first or second language)
 TEEP (University of Reading)
 Northumbria Pre-sessional English Assessment
 Northumbria Overseas English Language Entry Test (4-part)
 INTO Newcastle English Assessments
 Cambridge ESOL – First Certificate, Advanced, Proficiency.
ii. International Academic Qualifications in English Language (see Table 2)
 Hong Kong – HKCEE, A Level Use of English, HKDSE English language
 Indian SSSC 12th Standard English Language
 Kenya KSCE English Language
 Malaysian SPM 1119 English Language
 West Africa – WAEC WASSCE English language.
iii. Exemptions for Majority English Speaking Countries
a. Visa nationals who have undertaken an academic qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelor
degree or higher which was taught in one of the following countries are exempt from taking
an English test:
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis.
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
UK
USA
b. Nationals of the following countries are exempt from taking an English test:
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis.
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
USA
iv. English Medium Education
Students with the following qualifications and study backgrounds are accepted as meeting both
the University’s and the UKBA’s B2 English language requirements and are exempted from
taking an English language test if the course they are applying for is at Bachelors level or above
(NQF level 6).
a. Country-Specific Qualifications
Hong Kong
English medium Postgraduate and Bachelor Degrees, Associate Degrees and Higher
Diplomas from Hong Kong’s government-funded universities and the Institute for Vocational
Education / Vocational Training Council.
Indonesia
 Uni Sadhu Guna International College - Edexcel HNDs
 Binus International University - Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees.
Malaysia
i.
Successful completion of an English medium programme at any of the University’s
partner institutions in Malaysia where the student is transferring under an
articulation agreement or letter of recognition;
ii.
Successful completion of an English medium programme of at least 2 years’ full-time
duration at any public or private higher education institution governed by the
national accreditation council:
(www.studymalaysia.com/education/art_education.php?id=nationaledu)
NB – the following universities do not teach any courses in the English medium:
University Utara Malaysia
University Industry Malaysia
University Malaysia Pahang
University Malaysia Perlis.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
University Putra Malaysia
University Malaysia Terengganu
Pakistan
 Edwardes College - Edexcel HNDs.
Singapore
Successful completion of at least 2 years’ full-time English medium study at higher education
level from:
i.
Government higher education institutions:
- Polytechnics
- National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
University of Technology and Design, Singapore Management University
- The Institute of Technical Education.
ii.
-
The following institutes:
Informatics College Singapore
Kaplan
Lasalle College of the Arts
Marketing Institute of Singapore
MDIS
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Arts and Fashion Academy
Nanyang Institute of Management
Raffles University
Singapore Institute of Commerce.
Sri Lanka
 Business Management School:
- BMS International Foundation Diploma
- BMS International Diploma in Business Management
- BMS International Advanced Diploma in Business Management
- BMS Graduate Diploma in Management
- Edexcel HND in Biomedical Sciences
- Edexcel HND in Business Management
 Sri Lanka Telecom HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
 Academy of Design HNDs
Taiwan
Ming Chuan University – undergraduate direct entry students in Applied Linguistics.
Vietnam
BTEC HNDs studied at:
 Banking Academy of Vietnam
 National Economics University
 University of Technical Education Ho Chi Minh City
 Danang University of Economics.
Other English Medium Categories

Completion of two years recent study at upper secondary level in the English medium
(including British and American Schools overseas) leading to the student passing one UK A
level, International Baccalaureate or a US High School Diploma which demonstrates the
appropriate skill in written English

UK Bachelor or higher degree undertaken overseas. UK distance learning degrees will be
considered on a case by case basis depending on the language skills used.

Bachelor or higher degrees from accredited US, Canadian and Australian Overseas university
campuses may be accepted.