The School of Law welcomes applications from mature students, and we keep about ten places open for them each year. The School feels that mature students have much to give both to the School and to the University, and offer a wealth of experience of work and other activities.
Even amongst mature students competition for places is very keen. We normally select a number of mature applicants for interview. Offers are made based on overall profile (including the LNAT) and performance at interview. More information can be found on the University of Bristol's pages for mature prospective students, where information is provided for all prospective students about matters including life at university, financing your studies, careers, accommodation, childcare and carers.
All applicants must sit the LNAT. Please refer to the LNAT website or contact the Undergraduate Office for further information.
We also look for recent academic achievement in mature students, within the last two or three years. This is because it is important for them to prove to us, as well as themselves, that they are ready to tackle an intensive degree course. Qualifications obtained some years ago at school are not ignored; but, on the other hand, the lack of formal qualifications obtained at that stage is not a handicap.
If you are in any doubt about whether your qualifications would enable you to be considered for entry, you should contact the Undergraduate Office for advice.
Many applicants offer recent A levels. We normally look for one, or preferably two, A levels, with grades of at least B. Any subject is acceptable, with the exception of General Studies and Critical Thinking. If two A levels are offered, it is not necessary that they both be taken at the same time.
With BTEC qualifications, the School of Law normally looks for distinctions in many of the subjects in the final examinations.
If you are offering GNVQ qualifications you may be asked for additional A Level study due to the fairly recent introduction of this qualification. Information regarding your GNVQ qualifications and their potential relevance to the Law degree programme should be provided in the Personal Statement section of the UCAS form.
The School of Law welcomes applicants offering an Access to Higher Education Diploma. Many local colleges offer an Access to Law course. Access courses are special courses for mature students, designed to give them the necessary background to cope successfully with higher education. Access courses are mostly full-time and grants are discretionary. Where offers are made, they will be conditional on satisfactory completion of the course with a minimum of 12 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit
As we do not specify any set subjects for entry onto the Law course, we consider Open University courses as the basis for an entry.
Additionally, some candidates have successfully obtained entry on the basis of recent PROFESSIONAL examinations (e.g. in Law, Banking, Nursing and Accountancy).
We are looking for motivation and enthusiasm to study Law.
All applications must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, GL52 3LZ; Tel 0870 1122200 (http://www.ucas.co.uk).
Applications received after January 15 are 'late’. We normally accept ‘late’ applications from mature candidates, but please contact us if you are considering making a ‘late’ application.
If you make a 'late' application, you will have to register and book an LNAT test slot by 25 June and sit the LNAT by 30 June. However, we would strongly recommend that you apply and sit the LNAT as early as possible as we cannot guarantee that we can consider late applicants right up to the deadline.
If you wish to send supplementary information directly to us, remember to quote the course you are applying for and your UCAS ID on all correspondence.