Law and European Legal Studies
Law and European Legal Studies is a programme that gives you the breadth and depth of a rigorous legal education alongside a specialised understanding of the legal systems and institutions of Europe. European law encompasses the structures of the European Union, comparative legal traditions across European jurisdictions, international law as it operates in the European context, and the legal frameworks that govern human rights, trade, and cooperation across the continent. Studying it alongside Scots law and English comparative perspectives prepares you for legal practice and scholarship in an international context.
This five-year, full-time programme at Aberdeen Law School includes a year spent abroad at a European university, giving you direct experience of studying law in a different jurisdiction and language environment. Aberdeen's approach is characterised by breadth, depth, and choice, allowing you to develop expertise across the major areas of law while also pursuing specialist interests in European legal systems. You will study the foundations of both Scots law and the major areas of European and international law, developing the analytical, research, and advocacy skills that legal study demands and that professional and academic legal careers require.
Graduates of law and European legal studies programmes are well positioned for careers in legal practice, both in the UK and in European jurisdictions and international organisations. The combination of Scottish legal qualification, European specialisation, and the international experience of the year abroad is particularly valuable for careers in European institutions, international law firms, diplomacy, and organisations that operate across multiple legal systems. Those who wish to qualify as solicitors in Scotland or England and Wales will need to complete professional training after graduation.
Further postgraduate study in international law, European law, or comparative law is a natural extension for those drawn to academic or policy careers.