University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2023/24 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > University of Bristol Law School > Law and German (LLB) > Specification
Programme code | 9LAWD004U |
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Programme type | Joint Honours (UG) |
Programme director(s) |
Steffan Davies (German contact)
Beke Zwingmann (Law) |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
Second School/department | Department of German |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Law (2023) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
The LL.B. (Law and German) degree is a four-year Joint Honours programme. The programme provides an intellectual training through the study of the fundamental features of the legal systems of England and Wales and of the European Union, their underlying principles and values and the contexts in which the law operates, and through the provision of opportunities for the acquisition of a broad range of intellectual and critical skills in preparation for: a career in the legal professions; employment in a wide range of other legal and non-legal contexts; further education. Three years are spent at Bristol and one year (the third year of the programme) at a German-speaking university (see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/law/study/ugdegrees/ugproginfo/llb-lawgerman.html). The Bristol component also allows students to study German language, literature and history to degree level. During the year abroad, students acquire knowledge of the German legal system.
This course of study is recognised by the Bar Council and the Solicitors Regulation Authority as a qualifying law degree.
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Acquisition of knowledge and understanding through lectures, seminars, tutorials and directed reading with a strong emphasis on primary materials. Independent learning is achieved through written coursework and research projects. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Knowledge and understanding are largely tested through traditional unseen written examinations (which include both essay questions and hypothetical problems). Many units are assessed through coursework which requires a more detailed and expansive treatment of certain topics. The year abroad will be assessed according to the methods agreed by the host university, which may include a mixture of oral and written examinations. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Intellectual skills are developed through seminars, tutorials, oral presentations and written assignments (both essays/problems and research projects). All units are structured in such a way that the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation are developed. In addition, specific units focus on other intellectual skills (problem-solving and research) and opportunities for practising these skills are offered in other units. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
All assessment tasks (written examinations, coursework and research projects) test powers of analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Problem-solving is assessed both by written examinations (which contain hypothetical problems) and coursework. Research and autonomy is assessed through coursework and research projects. The year abroad will be assessed according to the methods agreed by the host university, which may include a mixture of oral and written examinations. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Seminars and tutorials are used to develop oral communication by requiring students to engage in class discussions and to make oral presentations. Working effectively in a group, IT exercises and making use of feedback are integrated into specific units. Written communication is developed through written assignments, assessed coursework and research projects. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Assessment is primarily through written assignments (examinations, coursework and research projects) which provide evidence of communication skills. Coursework is also used to assess key skills (such as key IT skills). |
Embedded within the curriculum |
All units allow students to develop transferable academic and personal skills which will equip them for future work and/or study. Some units give students the opportunity to develop practical legal skills such as Clinical Legal Studies and Corporate Law Simulation. |
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Co-curricular opportunities |
Significant co-curricular opportunities exist for students to enhance their employability and preparation for their future career within the Law School, such as the annual Law Fair, individual appointments with the Law School Employability Advisor, guest lectures and talks from practitioners and alumni, and other associated careers events. These give students the ability to plan for careers within and outside of the legal setting. Students can also volunteer at the award-winning Student Law Clinic. Student Law Societies also hold careers events and run mooting and debating workshops and competitions. |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
By the end of their first year of study, students are expected to be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the fundamental principles of some of the core areas of law and a level of competence in the relevant skills. They will be able to research secondary literature on legal materials, solve legal problems, produce written summaries and discursive accounts of the law, engage in moots and debates, retrieve web-based information from identified sites and engage in joint preparation for, and participation in, class discussion. The expectation is that their work may require substantial direction from members of staff. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
By the end of their second year of study, students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge of legal principles and their capacity to evaluate these principles using a variety of perspectives. They should also have developed a higher level of competence in the relevant skills. This will include the ability to research relevant primary and secondary materials in a given area of law, solve more demanding legal problems and consider legal reform, engage in regular good-quality written preparation for class, make structured presentations and engage in subsequent discussion, use a variety of online resources and engage in the joint production of written work. They are expected to be developing a capacity for self-directed learning. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
During their final year of study, students are expected to expand the breadth of their knowledge through their study of optional subjects and to develop further their ability to evaluate law. At this level students are expected to be able to demonstrate their capacity for self-directed study using the skills acquired and developed at levels one and two. This will include finding relevant materials on a set topic, solving complex legal problems, producing a lengthy written account of an area of law, and engaging in regular and spontaneous location of online legal materials. They will also be expected to collaborate where appropriate in their research tasks and to give seminar papers if required. |
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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|
Knowledge and understanding are acquired through: lectures, seminars, tutorials, intensive language classes, directed reading, regular written coursework and practical language work (supported by the facilities of the Multimedia Centre), and a compulsory period of residence in the country or countries where the language is spoken. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
A range of essay writing skills (short and extended essays), providing summative and formative assessment. Project work. Special subjects to allow students to address areas in-depth and the option of a dissertation. Examinations and coursework assessment in all three years spent in Bristol. Language is formally assessed through coursework, translations, essays, oral presentations and aural comprehension. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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|
Intellectual skills are developed through seminars, tutorials, oral presentations and essay writing. Units are structured in such a way that the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation of literature are developed. History and linguistics units develop similar skills in that specific field. Language, problem solving and research are honed in the year abroad assignment. The option of Independent Study is also available in the final year. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
A variety of assessment methods are used as per individual unit aims and objectives. Essay writing and examinations test the students' ability to analyse information and present reasoned arguments. Research skills are assessed by means of extended written coursework and dissertation. Language is formally assessed by translations, essays of various types, oral presentations and aural comprehension, including interpreting. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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|
Seminars and tutorials are used to develop oral communication by requiring students to engage in class discussions and to give short introductory talks/presentations to initiate discussion. These oral skill are further developed in the language classes. The ability to think and work independently is stimulated by dissertation, essay and project tasks. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
All units are assessed through written coursework and extended essays. These require a detailed and expansive handling of literature and extensive reading in support of their conclusions. The knowledge base is also tested through traditional unseen written examinations, through project work and Dissertation. |
Embedded within the curriculum |
The curriculum includes a range of support for students to enhance their employability through embedded learning. Employability skills are embedded across all degree programmes, allowing students to graduate with an impressive range of transferable and analytical skills. For example, independent research projects will develop a student’s ability to research, whilst regular in-class discussions challenge students to think critically and creatively through dialogue with their peers. Further assessment and activities will equip students with further transferable skills, including digital, problem-solving, analysis, organisation, presentation and communication skills. |
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Co-curricular opportunities |
Students have the opportunity to access a wide range of careers guidance and support alongside their studies. The Careers Service deliver career workshops, talks, webinars, and one-to-one appointments are available throughout the academic year. Through our online careers portal, mycareer, students can find part-time and vacation work, internships and graduate jobs and access hundreds of careers resources, including CV builders and virtual mock interview practise. The Careers Service works with a range of external partners to facilitate a range of employability initiatives, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to provide internships in smaller companies. |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
Year 1 of the programme has been expressly designed to lay the foundations which will allow students to fulfil the programme aims and objectives. A core unit in language is geared to lead the student in the development of their language skills. The year introduces and includes preliminary work on some of the main themes and key concepts of German literature, history and linguistics to provide a familiarity with these disciplines. It enables students to understand the cultural heritage, historical development and modern contours of the German-speaking world. The expectation is that their work may require considerable direction from members of staff at this stage, and the Year 1 units are designed with this in mind. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
In Year 2 students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge in various areas of the discipline and their capacity to evaluate their work through the wide range of options available beyond the core language unit. The themes and language readings will be of greater depth and substance. Students will develop their analytical skills, their ability to structure their work and present it fluently. They will be encouraged in group work skills through active participation in seminars. They will be developing a capacity for self-directed learning (for example, through the researching and writing of essays and projects). Spoken and written language skills will be reinforced and enhanced. In Year 3, students will develop their command of spoken and written German during the mandatory period of residence abroad when they either follow a formal programme on instruction at and academic institution in a German-speaking country. Their linguistic critical, research and presentational skills will also be enhanced through the writing of dissertations in German during the year. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
Students are expected to have expanded the breadth of their knowledge through the study of optional units; the units are more closely linked to staff research interests developing the conceptual and methodological approaches used with more depth and complexity. Students will be expected to develop further their ability to gather and assimilate information, to synthesise these in an appropriate way, to engage in sophisticated evaluation of language texts. These skills will be perfected in the writing of longer and more demanding essays, already introduced during their study abroad. There will be an emphasis on independent learning, self-directed study and research skills. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Undergraduate Students
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research-based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive.
Postgraduate Students
Taught postgraduate students are generally studying for one academic year. This is a longer year than for undergraduates, normally culminating in a research project. In a one-year full-time programme your workload will be distributed as evenly as possible, but this will depend on the precise arrangements for your programme. You will be expected to take responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive.
All students
At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20-credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials, problem-solving classes and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. To achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
UG Professional Programmes in the Faculty of Health Sciences
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curricula activities. This is usually not available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through their curriculum there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. There may also be an occasional need to work or travel to clinical placements at the weekend. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme information. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent, meaning that students will need to engage in revision activities and self-directed learning (including when on clinical placements).
Health Sciences Assessment Statement
Please select the following link for a statement about assessment in the Faculty of Health Sciences. This is University of Bristol access only.
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/health-sciences/chse/documents/FHS%20Assessment%20and%20Feedback%20statement%202021.pdf
No additional information.
http://www.bris.ac.uk/law or Email: law-ug-admissions@bristol.ac.uk
The following units are must pass: GERM10009, LAWD10018, LAWD10008, LAWD10014 and LAWD10012. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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German Language 1 (Post A-level) | GERM10009 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Law in Action | LAWD10018 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Law of Contract | LAWD10008 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Law and State | LAWD10012 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Criminal Law | LAWD10014 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Plus 20cp from the following: | ||||
Language and Power: Introductions to German History | GERM10039 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
German Literature and Film: Genres, Texts, Contexts | GERM10035 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
The following units are must pass: LAWD10011, LAWD10013, LAWD20023 and GERM20001. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Students wishing to transfer from joint honours Law and German after Year 2 will not be required to take LAWD20004 Jurisprudence before progressing to the final year of the single honours degree programme, as they will have taken LAWD20001 Comparative Law as a mandatory unit in second year, both of which share sufficiently complementary intended learning outcomes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Constitutional Rights | LAWD10013 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Law and Policy of the European Union I | LAWD20023 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Comparative Law | LAWD20001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Law of Tort I: Liability for Negligence | LAWD10021 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
German Language 2 (Post A-Level) | GERM20001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Students must choose 20cp from the following list: | ||||
Effi Briest and her Afterlives | GERM20048 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Germany and Austria in Motion: Film, Society, and Identity | GERM20054 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Effi Briest and her Afterlives | GERM20048 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Inventing Austria | GERM20051 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Germany and Austria in Motion: Film, Society, and Identity | GERM20054 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Inventing Austria | GERM20051 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Year Abroad (Law and German) | LAWD39003 | 120 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
120 |
Mandatory Unit German Language 3 is must pass. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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German Language 3 | GERM30001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Land Law | LAWD20002 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Trusts | LAWD30120 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Independent Research Project | LAWD30137 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Students must select 40 credit points (two units) from the lists below. The selection can consist of either: a) one LAWD unit and one FREN/GERM/HISP unit; or b) two FREN/GERM/HISP units; or c) one FREN/GERM/HISP unit and one MODL unit. From this selection, students must choose at least 20 credit points (one unit) running in TB1 (i.e. not TB2 or TB4). | ||||
Issues in Corporate Governance | LAWD30001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Information Technology Law | LAWD30003 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Clinical Legal Studies | LAWD30005 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Rich Law, Poor Law | LAWD30017 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Commercial Law | LAWD30028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Evidence | LAWD30036 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Banking Law | LAWD30090 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Criminology | LAWD30100 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Law and Government | LAWD30105 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Legal History | LAWD30106 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Sex, Gender and Law | LAWD30110 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Corporate Law Simulation | LAWD30112 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Employment Law | LAWD30113 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
International Dispute Settlement | LAWD30117 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Environmental Law | LAWD30123 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Human Rights in Law, Politics and Society | LAWD30125 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Transnational Arbitration | LAWD30128 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Family Law 2: Child Law | LAWD30131 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Law and Race | LAWD30135 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Students may select from the list below: (Students may choose MODL30011 if they took MODL23014 in their second year of study and students may choose MODL30012 if they took MODL23015 in their second year of study). | ||||
Exiles and Migrants in German Literature | GERM30058 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Language Variation and Change in German | GERM30074 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Visibility Matters: Identity, Diversity, and Power in the Cultural Marketplace | GERM30081 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Exiles and Migrants in German Literature | GERM30058 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Language Variation and Change in German | GERM30074 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Translating in a Professional Context | MODL30010 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Catalan Language (follow-on) | MODL30011 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Czech Language (follow-on) | MODL30012 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Follow-on Portuguese | MODL30037 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Liaison Interpreting | MODL30006 | 20 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 |
Theoretical Approaches to Language Teaching | MODL30036 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Studying and Making Early Printed Books | MODL30040 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Transnational Narrative in pre-modern cultures | MODL30041 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Communism in Europe | MODL30001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Sociolinguistics: Language Variation and Change | MODL30015 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Gender, Sexuality and Cinema | MODL30018 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
MODL30005 is available on programmes of German, Italian and Russian only. | ||||
Independent Study 1 | MODL30005 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Law and German (LLB) | 120 |
Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:
For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
An Ordinary degree can be awarded if a student has successfully completed at least 300 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
An oral distinction may be awarded.
The alternative classified honours degree of Arts (Modern Language Studies) may be awarded on this programme. For further details please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000