Undergraduate courses/Law courses/Law

Key facts

Typical offer

UCAS points:

48

A Level:

DD or CE

BTEC:

PPP

Key facts

Duration:

1 yr full-time

Study mode:

Full-time

UCAS code:

M109

Institution code:

D26

See all the key facts and full entry requirements

Typical offer

UCAS points:

48

A Level:

DD or CE

BTEC:

PPP

UCAS code

M109

Duration

Study mode

Full-time

See all the key facts and full entry requirements

Build a strong foundation in legal principles and frameworks that underpin the justice system in the UK and beyond.

Overview

Studying law develops your critical thinking, analytical abilities, and understanding of the legal systems that shape society. The Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Law, delivered in partnership with Leicester College, provides a solid foundation in core legal principles and prepares you for further academic study or entry into the legal profession. You’ll study one module at a time through block teaching, allowing for focused learning and a healthier study-life balance. On successful completion of this year, you are guaranteed progression to the final two years of the LLB (Hons) Law degree at De Montfort University (DMU), opening the door to a wide range of legal careers.

  • Develop essential skills in legal reasoning, analysis, and problem-solving.
  • Benefit from block teaching — focus on one module at a time, with no end-of-year exams and enjoy improved study-life balance.
  • You will enjoy a range of delivery and assessment styles such as presentations, discursive essays and problem‑solving questions to fully prepare you for subsequent years of study and legal practice.
  • Guaranteed progression to the final two years of the LLB (Hons) Law at DMU upon successful completion.
  • Progress toward careers such as solicitor, paralegal, legal executive, compliance officer, or legal advisor.
Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments – rather than lots of exams at the end of the year – and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging. Read more about block teaching.

What you will study

English and European Legal Systems

Gain an introduction to the key features of both English and European legal systems, including the structures, procedures, and processes that govern them.

Criminal Law

Explore the general principles of criminal law and the legal requirements for major offences. This module also develops your ability to solve legal problems and use legal sources effectively.

Contract Law

Understand the legal principles behind the formation, content, and enforcement of contracts. You'll also study remedies for breach and factors that can invalidate contracts—knowledge applicable to both every day and professional legal contexts.

Constitutional and Administrative Law

Learn how the UK government operates, including the roles of Parliament and the courts, as well as international obligations. This module focuses on the legal mechanisms that control the exercise of government power.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Ask a question WhatsApp Chat to a student

Law in the spotlight

DMU students face mock employment trial

DMU students face mock employment trial

A group of law and human resources students from De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU) posed as solicitors, barristers, claimants and respondents in a mock court hearing to discover how it feels to take part in an employment tribunal.

April 2023

Our facilities

Hugh Aston Building for Law CertHE

You will be based at Leicester College’s St Margaret’s Campus, and all of your seminars and lectures will take place here. However, as part of the wider De Montfort University family you will also have access to DMU campus facilities, including the Hugh Aston building where the university’s Law School is based. As well as teaching spaces, the Hugh Aston building has its own courtroom and a careers hub, along with break-out spaces for group work, quiet study zones for individual work, and high-spec IT labs installed with professional software. There is also a new £5.5 million extension called The Yard, which provides more than 22,000 square metres of extra space.

The Yard
Students walking in the sun outside the Hugh Aston building
Hugh Aston in autumn sunset
Hugh Aston and the Magazine

Take a s c r o l l through campus

Experience a virtual tour of campus at your own pace.

Jump in

Where we could take you

law

Course & career progression

A Cert HE Law qualification provides an ideal foundation for a variety of roles, including paralegal, compliance officer, legal adviser, probation officer and human resources assistant. Following successful completion of the Cert HE, students also have the option to progress onto the Level 5 and 6 programme at De Montfort University and obtain an LLB (Hons) degree. An LLB qualification opens up even more opportunities, including being the starting point for a career in legal practice as a solicitor or barrister.

Take your next steps

An open day visitor and a member of staff at an open day.

Open Days - Book your place

We’d love to welcome you to one of our university Open Days where you can see for yourself what we have to offer.

Leicester Highcross shopping area

Find out about Leicester

We’re a campus-based university situated in the city centre, with the hub of activity in Leicester right on your doorstep - we’re one of the few universities in the UK where you’re getting the best of both worlds.

How to apply

Save these details for your application.
Programme title:
Law CertHE (Leicester College)
Programme code:
M109

UCAS applications

Apply now
  1. Register on UCAS Hub (create an account)
  2. Fill in your UCAS application form:
  3. Personal details (name, contact, residency)
    • More about you (any mental health conditions or long-term illnesses, parenting responsibilities, whether you’ve served in the armed forces)
    • Education history (qualifications taken or pending)
    • Employment history (if applicable)
    • Course choice
  4. Write your personal statement (why you want to study the course, skills, achievements, future goals)
  5. Get your reference (usually from a teacher/tutor/employer)
  6. Pay the UCAS fee (single choice or multiple choices)
  7. Submit the UCAS application before the deadline.
Save these details for your application.
Programme title:
Law CertHE (Leicester College)
Programme code:
M109

Apply directly as an international student

Find out more and apply
  1. Visit DMU’s international section and select the course you wish to apply for as an undergraduate or postgraduate student.
  2. Prepare your documents - gather the essentials:
    • Academic transcripts and certificates
    • Personal statement
    • English language proficiency evidence (e.g., IELTS)
    • Portfolio (if required by the course)
    • Copy of your passport
  3. Complete the application - submit via the DMU Online Portal
  4. Submit the application and supporting documents - you can still receive a conditional offer even if some documents will follow later
  5. Application review and offer - DMU’s Admissions team will assess your application and issue:
    • A conditional offer (pending remaining docs, test results, etc.)
    • Or an unconditional offer, if all requirements are fulfilled

Key facts

Course title

Law

Award

CertHE (Leicester College)

UCAS code

M109

Institution code

D26

Study level

Undergraduate

Study mode

Full-time

Start date

September

Duration

1 yr full-time

Fees

£6,355

Entry requirements

Typical offer

UCAS points:

48

A Level:

DD or CE

BTEC Extended Diploma:

PPP

Contextual Offer:

This course does not provide contextual offers. To find out more about our contextual offer policy at DMU, head to dmu.ac.uk/contextual

T Levels:

Merit

Access to HE:

Pass

GCSEs:

5 x GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including English and Maths

Applications for this course must be made through UCAS using the course code M109 and institution code D26.

If you haven’t started a UCAS application yet and only want to apply to Leicester College, you can submit a direct application form via the Leicester College website. They will then process a UCAS application on your behalf.

You may also be invited to attend an interview. Where needed, alternative options such as a telephone or online interview (via Microsoft Teams) can be arranged.