External Law Degree of London University

Since the nature and structure of external degree courses of London University is largely misunderstood they are worthy of closer consideration.
 

London University degrees are highly regarded throughout the world and students may choose to study for this degree as external students or as internal students. Internal students study at a College within the University whilst external students choose to study at an independent college such as Holborn College (one of the largest law schools in the UK) or entirely by private study using subject guides and reading lists provided by the University.


Lord Flowers (ex-Vice Chancellor of London University) describes these degrees in greater detail. "The University does not have separate internal and external degrees. It has a single degree which is studied by internal and external students. The University has always refused to separate the awards available to external students from those for internal students. The reason for this policy is to ensure that the standard of achievement of internal and external students is judged on exactly the same basis. Thus the method of study is not an issue; the important test is the examination. In many instances internal and external students sit exactly the same examination papers for their degree. Where this is not the case the same examiners will have set the papers for external as for internal students. All examination papers, whether for internal or external students are marked by University of London academic staff to exactly the same standard, and the same degree classification is used for both kinds of student.

Both internal and external students must register as students of the University of London. All students attend the University of London graduation ceremony on graduation where the degrees are presented by the Chancellor, HRH the Princess Royal. No distinction is made between external and internal students when the degree is awarded.

External degrees generally were first introduced by the University of London in the nineteenth century and were created for students unable to attend a London University College either because they could not attend a full time course of study for financial or other reasons or because they did not have the necessary entry requirements for London University Colleges.

It is a well accepted fact that 'A' Level results are not necessarily indicators of degree performance. Students can obtain poor 'A' Level grades for a variety of reasons - they may choose the wrong subjects, they may have poor teachers, or they may experience personal problems during their period of study. This does not mean that they are incapable of degree level study. Regrettably, because the educational system in the UK decides a student's fate on the strength of 'A' Level results many able students are denied the opportunity of proving that they are capable of taking a degree and that their disappointing 'A' Level grades are not a true reflection of their ability. This is overcome by the lower level of offers made by Holborn College for all applicants. The offers set by the London University for External degree students are two passes at Grade E. It should be noted that mature students (over 21) are also always offered places for law courses at universities and polytechnics, with much lower offers than those made to school leavers (in many cases EE offers).

Despite this, a high success rate in the final examinations is achieved each year, largely due to the unique and highly structured teaching system offered by the College. In addition several students obtain university convocation prizes.

Courses are offered for the full three year honors degree program on a full-time, part-time, re-sit, revision or correspondence course basis.

London University TLB degrees are recognized by the Council of Legal Education and the Law Society for entry to the vocational stage of training. Many Bar Associations world-wide also recognize the degree for entry to their Bar examinations.

Applications to Holborn College are made direct, so if you are aiming for these degrees then it would be wise to submit an application early.

Entrance Requirements for Law Degree Students

Because there is intense competition for places on law degree courses at universities, polytechnics and colleges of higher education in the United Kingdom, the 'A' Level grades required for admission tend to be fairly high. The University of London's external degree in Law (see Chapter 5) accepts students for registration for the degree examinations if they meet its 'general entrance requirements' comprising a total of five GCSE/GCE passes of which two must be at Advanced Level (Grade E or above), two 'AS' level passes at Grade C or above are accepted as one 'A' level pass. Most of the colleges offering courses leading to the University of London's external LLB degree accept students who meet the University's registration requirement and do not stipulate higher 'A' Level grades for entry.

It should be noted that, in most cases, students over the age of 21 years are considered as 'mature students' and whether they are applying for 'internal' or 'external' degree courses, concessions are often made if they do not possess the high 'A' Level grades required of school or college leavers for direct entry to degree courses.

Admissions Officers will normally consider applications from 'mature' students with low 'A' level grades or indeed without 'A' Levels where the applicants can show evidence of some academic study (since leaving full-time education), motivation and even relevant work and in-service training experience. Facilities exist for students to follow part-time or distance learning courses while continuing in their full-time employment. Many course programs (such as the University of London's external LLB and the LLB (Honors) Degree by Distance Learning, an external degree offered by Holborn College in association with Wolverhampton Polytechnic) allow flexibility in styles of study and enable students to change from distance learning study to full-time or part-time study at any stage of the course program.

Holborn College in London has been preparing students for the University of London's external LLB degree examinations for more than twenty years, and largely due to its unique and highly structured teaching system, its students achieve high success rates each year with several obtaining University Convocation Prizes. The College, which is an Associate College of Wolverhampton Polytechnic, also offers a full-time internal LLB (Honors) degree course which provides the same well-proven teaching system geared to a course program devised, taught and examined jointly by staff of Wolverhampton Polytechnic and Holborn College - an example of cooperation between the public and independent sectors of higher education in the United Kingdom.

Applications for courses at Holborn College are made direct, so students aiming for the University of London external LLB degree courses or for the Holborn College/Wolverhampton Polytechnic LLB full-time or distance learning degrees should submit an early application to: The Registrar, Holborn College. Details of the University of London's external LLB degree can be obtained from The Secretary for External Students, University of London.