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.

Law with Criminology
Are you interested in developing practical legal knowledge and an understanding of crime, criminology and criminal justice? This qualifying Law degree is taught by the world-leading, research-active academics 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. 

During the degree you will analyse the social, cultural, political and economic contexts of crime and criminal justice, taking an in-depth look at the social circumstances of offending, policies regulating crime, and the social response to criminal activity. The degree draws on the Law School’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. 

Programme Overview
You will be taught by lecturers who are actively engaged in research, informing policy and public debate related to criminological and legal issues. 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 can opt for a semester abroad at one of our highly regarded partner institutions in the US and Canada. By year three, you will have the choice to study specialist subjects in depth from our range of optional modules. You will also explore key legal issues in depth, such as Equity and Trusts.

Networking opportunities
We have strong links to Chambers, Law firms and related professions from across the UK, including magic circle firms from London. We usually host a judicial lecture series, alumni visits and lectures, and a Law Fair, which is typically attended by lawyers (including trainees, associates and partners) and members of their recruitment teams. All of this should help you to make professional connections, learn more about their firms, and get a head start on your career in Law.

Our student-run Law Society usually organises a wide range of extracurricular activities including mooting and negotiation competitions (typically judged by barristers and members of the judiciary). In recent years they have organised a Law Ball, sporting fixtures, and a careers dinner. Each event is designed to help you build your peer and employer networks.