Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: See fees section below
International/EU: £17,155 per year -
How long will I study?
3 / 4 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
M100
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Where will I study?
1. Course summary
- Develop critical understanding of the law and its practices.
- Explore how justice and order is fostered in societies.
- Gain experience at our Legal Service Clinic and Hubs and work on live client cases.
- Work with law firms and legal and social-justice providers.
- Consider the global reach of law, with opportunities for UK and international placement.
On this course you’ll learn and apply the law practically. You’ll gain valuable experience in at least one of the following settings: the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, on-campus legal service providers, or with external organisations. While developing excellent legal knowledge and skills, you’ll shape your degree around your interests, values and aspirations – preparing you for graduate careers in and beyond the legal sector.
Employability
99% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
Student View
Law and Criminology student Fozia Sultana won an Inspirational Student Award for her work on Manifest Diversity, a staff and student collaborative which is helping to make law more diverse, inclusive and accessible.
2. How you learn
On this course you’ll learn how to understand, critique and create knowledge and information. You’ll also develop and practise key skills and attributes essential for future work – challenging and confirming your personal and professional values to become an active citizen within a diverse society. This approach will prepare you for challenges and opportunities across our global society.
Our award-winning tutors are experts in their fields. You’ll be taught by a range of lecturers who are experienced legal researchers and who have years of experience in the legal profession as solicitors or barristers.
You learn through:
- Lectures and interactive workshops
- Independent research
- Case studies in both simulated and live client environments
- Work placements
Key Themes
At every level of your course, you’ll have the opportunity to learn the law and the personal and practical skills required to apply the law to a variety of simulated and real-life cases.
You’ll collaborate with legal professionals and rights and justice practitioners to challenge law and its application, engaging with projects and initiatives which are making a difference in Sheffield, nationally and globally. With a thorough grounding in the foundational areas of legal knowledge, you’ll be able to demonstrate what you’ve learned in theoretical and practical contexts.
Course Support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled graduate employment in a number of ways. These include:
Support throughout your studies from your own dedicated academic adviser, committed to your personal and professional development as a confident, reflective and autonomous learner.
Access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, workshops and online resources to help you to plan and structure your assignments.
Employability opportunities such as project work, networking and field trips – and expert advice and guidance from our careers and employability team.
Our student and staff led steering group Manifest Diversity ensures the inclusion and promotion of minority student voices and leads to opportunities such as attendance at UK Black Business Week and projects focusing on our student offer.
Course leaders and tutors
Rebecca Hartley
Senior Lecturer in Law and CriminologyI am Module Leader for the Law in Practice, Legal Skill and Research and the Dissertation modules on the LLM in International Commercial Law. I am also the Module Le … Read more
Kingsley Udofa
Lecturer in LawDr Kingsley Udofa is a lecturer in law at Sheffield Hallam University
Applied learning
Your course has been designed to embrace real-world challenges and provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to be successful within your chosen sector.
Work Placements
You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career – and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.
As part of your course you’ll have opportunities to undertake a range of placements with our legal and social-justice service providers. These include major national and international law firms – such as Irwin Mitchell and DLA Piper – and international legal practitioners such as attorneys’ firms, public defenders and miscarriage of justice projects in the USA.
Live Projects
Throughout the course you’ll gain vital industry experience working alongside lawyers and other professionals on real projects. The course is designed to develop your practical legal skills to support and prepare you to participate in work with legal service providers and their clients.
Social Justice
Our department is committed to advocating for those who don’t have or can’t afford representation. You can get involved in a range of legal advice initiatives supporting access to justice – including local court helpdesks and our Refugee Rights Hub.
You’ll have the opportunity to assist with reuniting families of refugees, work with the miscarriage of justice organisation 'Appeal', and attend small claims hearings to provide legal advice and representation to self-represented litigants.
Networking Opportunities
As the course offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities, you can develop invaluable employability knowledge and skills throughout your degree.
There are regular opportunities to develop connections with professionals both within and outside of the legal sector – through trips and visits, our annual Law Careers Fair, careers talks, panel events, conferences, mentoring schemes and networking sessions. These often involve our fantastic and educated alumni community.
Field Trips
During the course there will be opportunities to get involved in a range of national and international trips. In recent years these have included an annual Lawyer in London trip involving a mock trial at the Royal Courts of Justice and a visit to a major international commercial law firm with an opportunity to network with recent trainees.
Students have also assisted with human rights and social justice projects in Lesotho and visited Auschwitz. Our student attendance at UK Black Business Week, London provides inspiration to minoritised students, who said “Overall, the event was eye opening i never knew how much sectors I could really go into in law, this event allowed me to really plan my future”.
Competitions
Training in mooting skills and chances to take part in internal and external mooting competitions are offered through the Law and Advocacy Society. Our students also frequently participate in national negotiation and interviewing competitions, supported by staff.
3. Future careers
This course prepares you for careers in:
- The legal profession (including as a solicitor or barrister)
- Business and entrepreneurialism
- Human resources
- Financial services
- Teaching
- Higher education
- Public sector
- Regulatory services
- Law enforcement and probation
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- The Probation Service
- Crown Prosecution Service
- DLA Piper
- Environment Agency
- Lincoln House Chambers
- South Yorkshire Police
- NatWest
- Slaughter & May
- Begbies Traynor
- Aquinas College
- CMS
Graduate View
LLB (Hons) Law graduate Tabitha works as a barrister in criminal law representing both prosecution and defence cases in Crown and Magistrates court. She has worked on many interesting cases and hopes to one day become Queen's Counsel.
4. Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Take a tour around the School of Law facilities with student Ellie.
5. Equipment and facilities
On this course you work with:
- Library services and study spaces
- Our on-campus legal and social justice service providers
- Moot court and other collaborative learning spaces
- Digital access to the latest legal material, commentary and analysis through our subscriptions to practitioners' databases
- Specialist software to manage client case-work
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
360 tour - Moot Court
Media Gallery
6. Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 120-128
This must include at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- BBB at A Level.
- DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Merit overall from a T level qualification.
- A combination of qualifications, which may include up to two AS Levels, EPQ and general studies.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language or English Literature at grade C or 4
- Mathematics at grade C or 4
• Access - at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course
• Grade B from CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in both reading and writing and 5.5 in all other skills, or equivalent.
We also consider other qualifications from the UCAS tariff. Applicants with alternative qualifications or a combination of qualifications and work experience will also be considered. We welcome applications from people of any age. Please contact us for further advice.
Meeting the qualifications on the entry criteria does not guarantee you a place. You should ensure that you submit a personal statement and reference as these will also be considered as part of the selection process. Guidelines on personal statements and references can be found on the UCAS website.
Please note that if you have a criminal conviction and want to become either a solicitor or barrister that you speak with the relevant regulatory body to determine if this will have any implication for your chosen career path. This is in order to ensure students are notified of regulator requirement for entering the legal profession.
Please note that we do not accept direct entry into 2nd or 3rd year for this course.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Compulsory modules
This module introduces you to core domestic and international human rights law within the context of simulated human rights issues. You’ll develop your understanding of global human rights and social justice issues by applying legal knowledge and skills.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Relevant legal knowledge and its application to human rights issues
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Development of independent learning skills required in L5 and beyond
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Knowledge of human rights and global social justice awareness
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Issues of race, gender and broader questions of social justice
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Ongoing development of legal human rights and social justice knowledge
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Applying appropriate legal skills for future practical modules
This module equips you with a thorough grounding in criminal law through practical problem-based learning You’ll apply knowledge to hypothetical factual scenarios to develop your understanding of the law’s operation in what could be real-life situations, helping you prepare for practice in the legal profession and other professional roles.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Key concepts such as actus reus and mens rea
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Leading crimes
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Offences against the person
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Offences against property
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Main defences and doctrines
This module develops your knowledge of the English legal system, legal research and communication.
You’ll study topics such as:
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How are laws made and applied?
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The English legal system and principles of the constitution
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Understanding key principles of European Union law
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Comprehending legal documents
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Social and cultural contexts impacting the application of law
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Developing awareness of professional skills
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How do lawyers communicate?
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Identifying clients’ objectives
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Writing and drafting legal information for a variety of audiences
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Academic and personal development
This module applies legal knowledge to solve practical and academic contractual problems, while developing appropriate legal reasoning skills.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Principles of contract law
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How contracts are made: formation and terms
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How contracts are enforced: breach and remedies
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How contracts can change: factors that affect liability
Compulsory modules
This module provides an understanding of the principles which underpin land ownership in England and Wales, as well as the law and processes related to the creation, protection and transfer of interests in land. You’ll study topics such as:
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The origins, structure and sources of modern land (real property) law
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The role and practical importance of land law
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The doctrine of estates
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The nature and legal definition of ‘land’
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The distinction between fixtures and chattels
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Unregistered and registered titles, encumbrances and priorities
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The resolution of disputes relating to trust property
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Co-ownership and severance
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Mortgage creation, protection, rights and remedies
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Freehold covenants, easements and adverse possession
This module explores the context of real-world enquiries, projects or instructions to introduce you to core practical legal skills, applied legal knowledge, and the personal values and attributes to thrive within a 21st century, globalised professional legal environment.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Practical legal knowledge
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Application to real-world matters
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Graduate attributes, personal and professional values
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Practical workplace skills
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Methods of goal setting and action planning
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Self-reflection for further study and graduate careers
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Academic and personal development
This module explores the Law of Trusts, a foundational area of law in England and Wales, applying knowledge to real-world challenges.
You’ll study topics such as:
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A critical understanding of the historical development of trusts
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The modern application of trusts and role of trustee
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Developing an appreciation of requirements for express trusts
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Consideration of implied and public trusts
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A contemporary review of law relating to wills
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Will comparisons in a global context
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Exploration of injunctions and other equitable remedies
This module develops a comprehensive understanding of English tort law in the context of contemporary 21st century issues. Learning through a variety of methods – encompassing both in person and remote – you’ll study tort law principles and engage topical issues of its deployment to contemporary problems.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Theories, purpose and types of torts
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Negligence: legal requirements for establishing liability
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Comparative study of international approaches
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Expanding principles to technology-related problems
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Defamation and privacy
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Land Torts: rules protecting against interference with land
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Critical understanding of defences
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Judicial approach to remedies
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Reforming Torts: critical debates on issues such as AI
Elective modules
This module is for undergraduate students to study abroad in their second year, Semester 2 (only for courses that offer this option). With this module, you can spend a semester at one of the University’s approved partner institutions worldwide – from Europe to the Americas, Asia Australia or Canada.
Study Abroad plays an important role in the University's commitment to an engaging, challenging, and thriving learning culture. It offers opportunities to experience other academic cultures and foster intellectual maturity while enhancing co-curricular skills and students' long-term employability.
Study abroad for credit is permitted on existing university-approved courses only. Students are awarded credits and grades at the partner institution, which are converted into Sheffield Hallam credits and grades on return and included in the Sheffield Hallam degree classification.
Please check and refer to the webpage How study abroad works. You must submit a Learning Agreement outlining the modules you will be taking at the partner institution. The Learning Agreement will be signed off by your academic tutor to ensure that the Learning broadly covers the Learning Outcomes set out in your course curriculum during your study abroad.
Optional modules
Module aim:
The aim of this module is to enhance students’ professional development through the completion of and reflection on meaningful work placement(s).
A work placement will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting. The placement will:
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Allow student to apply the skills, theories and behaviours relevant and in addition to their course
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Enable students to enhance their interpersonal skills in demand by graduate employers – communication, problem solving, creativity, resilience, team work etc.
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Grow their student network and relationship building skills.
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Provide student with insights into the industry and sector in which their placement occurs
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Help student make informed graduate careers choices.
Indicative Content:
In this module students undertake a sandwich placement (min 24 weeks / min 21 hours per week) which is integrated, assessed and aligned to their studies.
Their personal Placement Academic Supervisor (PAS) will be their key point of contact during their placement and will encourage and support students to reflect on their experience, learning and contribution to the organisation they work for.
To demonstrate gains in professional development, students will be required to share their progress, learning and achievements with their Placement Academic Supervisor and reflect on these for the summative piece of work.
Compulsory modules
This module provides you with experience and critical analysis of professional practice in a legal, social justice or human rights context – developing your skills and graduate attributes. With support from lectures, workshops and supervision, you’ll undertake a placement with an external professional provider of legal services (locally or internationally in the USA) or within our in-house Hallam Legal Advice Centre and Justice Hubs.
You’ll apply your learning and skills to:
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Analyse professional services and contexts
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Equality and diversity
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Sustainability and environmentalism
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Local and global justice
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Commercial awareness
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Professionalism and ethical practice
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Informative and persuasive writing
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Practical skills and personal values
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Academic and personal development
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Guided reflection
Elective modules
This module provides a real-world understanding of key aspects of commercial law, with a focus on the often-complex relationships that exist between multiple parties and stakeholders. , You’ll consider the aims of commercial law in the light of the local, national and global commercial environment – including environmental and social governance (ESG) in which companies operate.
You’ll study topics such as:
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The agency relationship
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Creation, duties, rights and termination
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Passing of property and risk
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Nemo dat rule and exceptions
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Statutory implied terms
This module develops your understanding of how the main company structures in the UK are formed, owned, managed, operated, governed and dissolved – in the context of avoiding or resolving legal disputes. We’ll provide local, national and global awareness of the social, legal and economic importance of companies in our daily lives.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Company promotion and formation
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Constitutional rules
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Corporate governance
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Directors’ management roles, powers and duties
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Shareholders’ strategic roles
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Legal environmental, social and governance obligations
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Decision making in companies
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Shares and shareholding in companies
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Protections for minority shareholders
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Company insolvency, liquidation and dissolution
This module provides you with the opportunity to experience the realities of working within the criminal justice system via simulated scenarios. Through in-person and remote learning, you’ll develop an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the criminal justice system and how these affect practice.
You’ll study topics such as:
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A range of criminal justice processes
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Organisations operating within the criminal justice system
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The criminal justice process as a whole
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Developing practice with criminological and criminal justice theory
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Understanding models of criminal justice in practice
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Due process, bureaucratic efficiency, victims and public engagement
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Managing offending behaviour, denunciation and degradation
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Legal framework within which key decisions are taken
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Action planning and evidence-based decision making
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Reflection on practice and development of professional identity
This module provides an understanding of the legal basis of employment relations in the UK, applying knowledge to real-world problems within the foundations of employment contracts, employment status, fair and unfair dismissals, and equality in the workplace. You’ll develop wider commercial awareness of the legal, economic and political forces which shape employment rights and protections (vs managerial power).
You’ll study topics such as:
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Employment status
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Contracts of employment
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Dismissals
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Equality, diversity and inclusion
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Professionalism
This module builds your professional practice experience to focus on your personal and professional development, developing the attributes of a critical reflective practitioner. You’ll continue your placement with A local external professional provider of legal services or within our in-house Hallam Legal Advice Centre and Justice Hubs, underprofessional and academic supervision to support your development of reflective practice skills.
You’ll apply learning and skills such as:
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Critical reflective professional practice
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Practical skills
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Personal values
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Professional graduate attributes
This module provides knowledge and real-world understanding of family law, its application in practice to the breakdown in relationships, and a critical awareness of its dynamic nature. You’ll consider key principles not only within a domestic setting, but where relevant from an international context as well.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Marriage, civil partnerships and cohabitation
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Divorce and dissolution of civil partnerships
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Financial and property disputes following divorce/dissolution
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Domestic abuse
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Parental rights, parental responsibility and children’s rights
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Private child law disputes and resolution
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Public child law
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Child protection and the role of the state
This module develops your knowledge and understanding of immigration control and immigration rules. You’ll explore the applicability of domestic and international immigration law and asylum legal principles and norms
You’ll study topics such as:
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Historical development of immigration control
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Human rights and immigration law
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Detention and extradition
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Control of entry
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Control after entry
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Citizenship and right of abode
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International and UK refugees and asylum law
This module develops your practical skills and knowledge based on research of intellectual property law.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Copyright and neighbouring rights
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Patent, design and plant variety rights
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Trademarks and domain names
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Control of anticompetitive practices
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Assignment licensing contract models
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IP private international law
This module explores and critically analyses systems, processes and debates of international criminal law and justice, through a variety of methods and interdisciplinary perspectives.
You’ll study topics such as:
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The history of international criminal law and justice
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Core crimes of international criminal law
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Structure and jurisdiction of the international criminal court
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The role and impact of victims
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Contemporary debates, challenges and inequalities
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International and interdisciplinary perspectives
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The future of international criminal law and justice
This module develops your knowledge and understanding of the main international and domestic human rights documents, in the context of the wider social and political environment.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Theoretical, ideological and moral foundation of human rights
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Historical and institutional history of human rights
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Current structures of human rights protection
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Established and emerging rights and their development
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Globalisation, environmental rights and humanitarian intervention
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Conflicting narratives of human rights
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Social justice, popular, and governmental approaches to human rights discourse
This module provides an understanding of key legal rules and principles for medical law. You’ll explore the scope and role of medical law, human rights and ethics in light of the local, national and global commercial environment they operate within.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Ethical principles
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Assisted reproduction
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Abortion
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Consent
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Medical negligence
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Euthanasia
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Organ transplantation
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Global regulation
This module provides a real-world understanding of key principles and aspects of the law of criminal evidence.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Burdens and standards of proof, competence and compellability
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Corroboration and care warnings
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The rule against hearsay evidence
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Confession evidence
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Identification evidence
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Opinion evidence
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Discrimination, unfairness and inequalities in the operation and development of the rules of evidence
This module provides a sound knowledge and understanding of the legal procedures and institutional frameworks comprising Public Law, in the context of public interest campaigns.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Nature and scope of Public Law
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The development of modern administrative law
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The use of law and legal processes to effect social, political and ethical change
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Accountability of public bodies through judicial procedure
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Procedural aspects of judicial review
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Grounds for judicial review
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Procedural impropriety, illegality and unreasonableness
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Judicial review and human rights law and procedure
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Oral advocacy and legal argument presentation skills
This module explores branches of public international law, providing a solid understanding of the associated sources and structures. You’ll critique the Eurocentric roots of public international law, the challenges and inequalities that remain, and how they’re being resisted.
You’ll study topics such as:
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History of public international law
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Sources of public international law
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International organisations
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Subjects, statehood and self-determination
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Public international law and the use of force
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Law of armed conflict
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International humanitarian law
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Future of public international law
The module will be delivered through a variety of synchronous and asynchronous delivery methods encompassing both in person and remote learning teaching.
This module examines a variety of real-life sport situations that require you to appreciate the social, business, legal and ethical dilemmas involved in the resolution of sporting disputes. You’ll explore, analyse and discuss possible resolutions to specific dilemmas – increasing your understanding of the role of those involved in the sport experience and their influence on social, business and legal aspects.
You’ll study topics such as:
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Anti-doping law
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Football law
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The Bosman Case
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The European Commission’s policy for sport
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European competition law and self-regulation
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Sport agents and regulation
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Broadcasting rights
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Civil and criminal liability in sport
8. Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year)
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Law and Justice (PDF, 141.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.