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As you like it: Study options to suit any lifestyle

At The University of Law we offer a variety of course lengths and study methods designed to suit students in any situation. Whether it’s our full-time three year degrees or part-time courses, our two year accelerated courses, or our online study options, there are different benefits to all forms of study. To get a better idea of what those benefits are, we’ve caught up with some of our alumni to find out why certain course types were the right choice for them.

By Editorial Team. Published 27 October 2017. Last updated 27 July 2022.

Anton Haswell studied the full-time three year LLB at our Bloomsbury campus.

I owe my current profession and my knowledge of the law to undertaking the full-time course at Bloomsbury. I chose the three year degree because I wanted to take advantage of the extra year in London, with a focus on developing and cementing contacts within the legal industry both in London and abroad.

Networking is very important. I’d advise never saying ‘no’ to meeting someone in the industry you want to work in; always be open to trying new – and sometimes scary – endeavours.

If law is an interest then undertaking the three year LLB is a great way to immerse yourself in the content and context of Common Law. It affords you the ability to network and gain valuable contacts within the profession while you study, so you can hit the ground running once your course is finished.

Ivan Grechkivsky undertook the i-LLM, our online Master’s degree, while living and working in the Ukraine.

The great benefit of studying the online course is the flexibility. You don’t need to pause your career. Of course, you spend more time studying after work, but you get to both keep your job and advance your career at the same time. You study at your own pace and while it takes longer it’s absolutely worth it.

I was looking for a programme that would combine a very practical approach to studying with the ability to keep working in my home country. Even though this was a distance learning course, in terms of feedback it never felt like it. Whenever I had any doubts the tutors were there always there to clarify with detailed personalized feedback.

James Collett studied the two year accelerated LLB at our Chester campus.

The two year accelerated LLB appealed to me because I wanted to finish academic studies as soon as possible and start in the world of work. I was part of the first year of students who got lumbered with the increased university fees, so I felt like this was a logical way of avoiding more debt too.

I felt that the course set you up for real world tasks rather than just teaching you the theories of law. It’s much more hands-on than a usual degree, with less theory and more practical work. This gives you a great advantage when it comes to the Legal Practice Course (LPC). Workshops involved completing tasks that you experience in the real world. It prepares you brilliantly for work.

As it’s shorter, the course is intense. I’d advise being well prepared before workshops and lectures, and be ready to work hard. It’s worth the pay off.

Sophie Docker studied the part-time GDL, attending weekend seminars and lectures at our Guildford campus.

When I first decided to study my Graduate Diploma in Law I had the option of applying for the full-time or part-time courses. I chose the weekend GDL because it gave me the chance to work full-time and study in my spare time.

What appealed to me about the weekend GDL at the Guildford campus was the face-to-face teaching and opportunity to study with others in a classroom setting.

I found the workbooks easy to understand and enjoyed how structured the course was. I was asked to complete coursework before each teaching weekend so I already had some knowledge of what I would be studying. The teaching staff were also very supportive.

There’s no denying that it’s challenging to work full-time and study for the GDL, so I would advise you to consider how you’ll balance the two. But ultimately, I found the course really enjoyable and it was achievable.

Whichever course and study method suits you best, we have developed a comprehensive variety of options to help you achieve your ambitions the way that you want. Find out more about our courses.