Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
All modules in Stage 1 are compulsory. They cover some of the foundations of legal knowledge modules essential for a legal professional qualification.
You'll learn about key legal areas such as constitutional law, contract, law and ethics, the UK legal institutions. You'll gain an introduction to the principles of administrative law and the protection of human rights in the UK, and the relationship between UK and EU law post-Brexit. You'll also begin to develop core professional legal skills, such as using legal databases, developing legal research skills, and opportunities to develop client interviewing skills and mooting.
Before Stage 2, you'll have the opportunity to consider switching to a four-year programme. You can apply to either study on an international exchange for a year at one of our international law faculty partners, or to go on a year-long work placement.
Modules
In Stage 2, a mix of compulsory and optional modules will help you to further develop critical legal, analytical and problem-solving skills.
In semester one, you'll build on your foundations of legal knowledge and gain an understanding of criminal, land and tort law.
In semester two, you will study a compulsory equity module and choose two optional modules from a range of specialised law electives representing a broad range of legal and socio-legal fields. This is where you start to tailor your degree to your interests.
Modules
All modules are optional in Stage 3. You must choose three modules per semester. You'll also have the opportunity to pursue a significant piece of independent research, supervised by experts in the field, through the 40 credit Dissertation module.
Modules
NCL3008 Advanced Career Development Module is only available to students who have completed the placement year.
Information about these graphsWe base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2022-23.
Teaching time is made up of:
- scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
- structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
You'll learn through a combination of:
- lectures
- seminars
- interactive workshops
In lectures, you should engage with the delivered content. You'll do this through note-taking and active participation in the large group format. The subject specialists provide a guided path through the module to support student learning and understanding.
In seminars and workshops, you'll discuss legal issues. You'll work through problem questions or debates regarding the effectiveness, desirability or clarity of law in a particular area in small groups. Discussions will be wide-ranging, such as:
- the likely outcome of a scenario concerning the breach of contractual terms in a construction contract
- the ways in which the legal profession are adapting to changing cultural and ethical standards
- what the study of literary works can tell us about the way that law is perceived by society
To get the most out of these sessions you'll prepare individually. Independent study and research are central to the skills required of a law degree and in many of the professional careers desired by law graduates. The emphasis on the following skills are essential for excellent degree outcomes:
- self-guided study
- engagement with a wider body of legal and academic materials
- a genuine curiosity
Law is about reflection, debate and argumentation. Student engagement with seminars and other interactive sessions are fundamental to this.
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a combination of:
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Assessments
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Case studies
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Coursework
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Dissertation or research project
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Examinations – practical or online
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Group work
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Presentations
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Reflective report/journal
Skills and experience
Practical skills
You will be given the opportunity to develop a portfolio of professional skills and boost your employability through:
- mooting
- client interviewing
- using legal databases
- negotiating deals
You'll put them to the test in prestigious internal and external competitions. You will also visit the Newcastle Combined Court Centre to see the workings of the criminal and civil justice systems at first hand.
The European Law Students’ Association (ELSA) is an international, independent, non-political, non-profit-making organisation run by and for students. ELSA offers you the perfect platform to develop existing and acquire new skills, and meet fellow students and legal professionals throughout Europe.
Find out more about practical activities
Real-world experience
We pride ourselves on our links with the legal profession and regulatory agencies based in the region. You'll benefit from these partnerships throughout your studies. You'll also have the chance to take part in award-winning pro bono initiatives and highly prized internships.
You'll also have the opportunity to apply to spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad. This will help you gain the kind of real-world experience that is valued by employers.
Research skills
We offer study skills programmes in all three stages of your degree, and you will be trained in the use of our dedicated Law Library and legal databases. In Stage 3, you have the option to choose a dissertation module, learning and applying specific methodologies to conduct and document your own research.
