Study legal studies abroad
An in-depth guide to studying legal studies as an international student.
Legal studies degrees abroad
Legal studies degree programs are designed to give students a broad understanding of the law. You can use a legal studies qualification as a stepping stone to further studies, or to gain employment within areas like law, politics, or public affairs.
This is an ideal program for those with a keen interest in law, but are not sure which area they’d like to specialize in. You’ll develop legal, academic, and transferable skills and study national and international legal issues, legal systems, and the relationship between the media and the law.
Legal studies programs can differ widely between countries, so make sure you do your research before you apply. By studying abroad you’ll get to examine another country’s legal system up close, and get real experience of how the law works on an international scale. Not only that but studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity to see the world, broaden your horizons and gain a world-class education.
Legal studies program structure
Legal studies programs are available at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In some countries, like the UK, you can only study legal studies as a certificate-level program as an undergraduate. These one-year programs are designed to prepare you for further law studies at the bachelor’s level or to pursue an entry-level career in a law-related role.
You can study legal studies as a BA, which will take up to four years to complete. In the USA, you can choose legal studies as your major concentration and study it alongside general studies and other subjects.
Master’s in legal studies, or closely related subjects, are more common and are often combined with other areas like accountancy, politics, psychology or business management. These programs can help you improve your employability, and give you a focussed understanding of how the law can impact specific areas.
Legal studies programs are predominantly taught through lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Law schools often invite prominent figures to give talks, and some programs will give you the opportunity to work on a relevant work placement.
The modules and topics covered in each legal studies program will vary by degree level and university. However, some of the subjects you can expect to cover include:
- Philosophy of law
- Law in context
- National legal systems
- Law, society and ethics
- The administration of justice
- Political science
- International law
Alternative law degrees
How to study legal studies abroad
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Legal studies study abroad programs
Legal studies undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in legal studies
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Pre-Law - BSc University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 27,000 USD
- Start date
- January, June, August
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Pre-Law - BA/BSc University of Kentucky, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 29,050 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Pre-Law - BA/BSc University of Utah, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 25,710 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
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Legal Studies - BA/BSc University of Central Florida, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 22,478 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
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Pre-Law Pre-professional Program - BA/BSc University of Vermont, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 41,280 USD
- Start date
- January, June, August
Diploma in legal studies
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Captioning and Court Reporting - Dip Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 18,225 CAD
- Start date
- September
Associate in legal studies
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Legal Studies - ASc Mount Aloysius College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 21,870 USD
- Start date
- January, September
Legal studies graduate programs
Master's in legal studies
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Laws (Global Legal Studies) - LLM Arizona State University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 9 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 49,184 USD
- Start date
- August
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Legal Studies - MA Texas State University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 15,034 USD
- Start date
- January, August
Doctorate in legal studies
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Accelerated Pre-Law - Dual BA/JD New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's/Doctorate
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 16,693 USD
- Start date
- January, September
Future legal studies careers
Legal studies programs are often designed to prepare you for further studies in law, especially if you don’t already have the qualifications to start a bachelor’s degree program or enter law school. However, it can also give you the knowledge and transferable skills to take on a number of roles.
Some of the career paths you could pursue as a legal studies graduate include:
- Paralegal
- Legal administrator
- Human resources officer
- Lawyer/solicitor
- Legal advisor
- Legal secretary
If your aim is to become a lawyer, solicitor or barrister, you will need to complete several other courses to achieve your goal. The qualifications you will need will vary depending on the country you want to practice in, so find out exactly what you need before you apply.
