Program Overview

An International Foundation Year at our International Study Centre prepares you for your degree at Lancaster University. You will focus on English language, university-level study skills, and academic modules that relate to your degree subject.

Supporting your progression to the University
At the International Study Centre, we take every measure to ensure you are supported in your academic journey. Our programmes allow for increased time spent learning, researching and developing your skills. By studying with us, you will benefit from:

• Formal assessments at the end of each term.
• An improved English language module, Academic English Skills, providing greater opportunity for informal assessments and feedback.
• Combining and reducing the number of module assessments allowing more time to prepare.
• A personal tutorial system with a focus on your academic progress at key points of the academic year, creating action plans based on your performance and progession options.

Law
The International Foundation Year in Law leads to a choice of degrees at Lancaster University Law School – one of the UK’s most respected law schools. To prepare for your degree, you will study core English language modules and subject modules for Law. Your degree options include Criminology, Law, and Law with Politics.

As a Law student the topics you will study include justice, ethics, democracy and political institutions. You will learn about important cases and the history of the law, and you will either study Globalisation or Core mathematics.

Criminology and Law
The programme is taught by the world-leading, research-active academics that are based in our prestigious Law School. They will introduce you to core topics in Criminology and Law and you will explore the connections between the two disciplines as you develop both specialist and transferable skills. The multi-disciplinary nature of the degree scheme will encourage you to recognise and reflect on the academic and professional links between Criminology and Law.

You will analyse the social, cultural, political and economic contexts of crime and criminal justice by looking at the social circumstances of offending, policies regulating crime, and the social response to criminal activity. The degree draws on the Department's expertise in criminal law, international human rights, organised crime, youth justice, cybercrime, policing, prisons and punishment, sex work, hate crime, drugs and substance abuse and gender-based violence. 

80% of the Law School’s research was rated as internationally excellent or world leading in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014). 

Programme Overview

This degree scheme is distinct from our LLB Law with Criminology degree, as the focus of the degree is on Criminology, meaning you do not study all of the core law modules that are required for a qualifying law degree.

Your first year will introduce you to core criminological and legal concepts and perspectives, including criminal law, the English legal system and explanations for crime and offending behaviour. During your second year you will explore a broad range of criminological and legal perspectives, consider how to ‘do’ criminological research and be able to choose a range of optional modules which explore various criminological and legal controversies and issues. If you would like to take a global perspective on Law and Criminology, you may be able to apply for a semester abroad at one of our highly regarded partner institutions. By year three, you will have the choice to study specialist subjects in depth from our range of optional modules. 

Employability Skills

You will benefit from our strong links to Chambers, Law firms and related professions from across the UK, including magic circle firms from London. We have recently hosted a judicial lecture series, alumni visits and lectures, and a Law Fair, which is an opportunity to meet lawyers (including trainees, associates and partners) and members of their recruitment teams.

The University also has excellent connections with local Criminal Justice Agencies, such as Lancashire Police and HMP Lancashire Farm.

Our student-run Law Society provides you with a wide range of extracurricular activities which over the last year have included mooting and negotiation competitions. Initiatives such as our newly-launched Law Clinic and Miscarriages of Justice Project gives you the chance to work on real life cases, and we have previously been able to offer volunteering opportunities with the Citizens Advice Bureau and Lancashire Constabulary's Special Constables.