This course offers a comprehensive legal education combined with specialist study in human rights law. You’ll build strong foundational legal knowledge while engaging deeply with human rights concepts, treaty systems, and contemporary issues, gaining the skills needed for careers in law, human rights advocacy, policy, and beyond. 

Year 1  The first year focuses on building core legal knowledge and academic skills. Students are introduced to key areas such as constitutional, contract, and tort law. You’ll develop essential legal skills and foundations, including the module Understanding the Law, designed to support your transition to university-level study.  

 Core modules 

• Human Rights Law: Theories, Concepts and Contemporary Issues (10 credits) 

• Understanding the Law (10 credits) 

• Constitutional Law (10 credits) 

• Contract Law (10 credits) 

• Tort Law (10 credits) 

Optional  modules: Family and Child Law, Legal French, Legal German, or Legal Irish (Teanga an Dlí) 

Year 2  
You will deepen your knowledge with core human rights law modules exploring international and European treaty systems, alongside modules on criminal law and EU law. Mooting and a guided research essay will develop your advocacy and research skills. Optional modules allow exploration of labour, environmental law, and intellectual property law. 

Optional modules: 

• Criminal Law I & II (10 credits) 

• European Union Law I & II (10 credits) 

• European Human Rights Law - Systems & Themes I & II (10 credits) 

• International Protection of Human Rights I & II (10 credits) 

• Mooting (5 credits) 

• Guided Research Essay (5 credits) 

Optional modules: 

• Labour Law I & II, Environmental Law I & II, Industrial and Intellectual Property Law, or Legal French/German/Irish 

Year 3 (60 credits) 
Personalise your experience with either a professional work placement or study abroad. 

• Professional Work Placement: Apply legal and business knowledge in a leading law firm, corporate organisation, or public sector body. 
• Study Abroad: Spend a year at one of our partner universities in Europe, North America, Asia, or beyond. 

Students studying Legal Irish spend one semester at University of Galway’s Gaeltacht campus (An Cheathrú Rua) and one semester on placement in an Irish-speaking professional environment. 

Year 4 (60 credits) 
You’ll focus on further core legal subjects and select one specialist stream to tailor your degree, such as Legal Professions or Human Rights, Crime and Equality. Some streams require prerequisite modules. The Legal Professions stream prepares students for professional qualification as barristers. 

 

• Core Modules: Company Law I & II, Equity Law I & II, Land Law I & II (30 credits) 

• Specialist Stream Modules (30 credits) — examples include: 

• The Legal Professions: Administrative Law, Jurisprudence, Evidence, plus optional modules such as Law of the Sea, Animal Law, Commercial Law, Criminology, Environmental Law, etc. 

• Human Rights, Crime and Equality: Applied Legal Theory, Equality and Law, Labour Law, Family and Child Law, Animal Law, among others. 

• Other streams: Business and Commercial Law, Public Law, Risk and Regulation, International, Comparative and Transnational Law, Law and Innovation.  

Please note: Course structure and module offerings are subject to change. 

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

• Human Rights Focus: Engage deeply with contemporary human rights law, exploring critical issues like climate justice, disability rights, and Ireland’s history of institutionalisation. 
• Home to the Irish Centre for Human Rights: Study in Galway, a global hub for human rights research and advocacy. 
• High-Calibre Faculty: Learn from leading experts and active practitioners in human rights law and other legal specialisms. 
• Professional Work Placement: Optional third-year placements offer real-world legal experience, including unique opportunities for Irish-speaking environments for Legal Irish students. 
• Specialist Streams: Tailor your final year with streams like Legal Professions, Human Rights and Equality, Business Law, or Law and Innovation to match your career goals. 
• Study Abroad Options: Broaden your perspective and legal understanding through international study opportunities. 
• Strong Research Support: Benefit from academic mentorship during your Guided Research Essay, enhancing your critical thinking and writing skills. 
• Sustainability Commitment: Engage with environmental law modules and human rights approaches that incorporate sustainability and social justice principles. 
• National & International Internships: Apply for competitive summer internships that offer valuable work experience and networking opportunities. 
• Pioneering Programme: First of its kind in Ireland combining a full legal education with a specialist focus on human rights. 
• Language Study Opportunities: Choose from Legal French, Legal German, or Legal Irish to enhance your legal vocabulary and open international career pathways.
• Mooting Experience: Develop your advocacy and communication skills in our state-of-the-art Moot Court through practical mock trials and seminars.
• Scholarship Support: Eligible students can apply for the Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholarship (worth up to €10,000) and the RDJ Diversity Scholarship (valued at €5,000).

Graduates of the Law (BCL) and Human Rights develop a unique blend of legal expertise and human rights knowledge that prepares them for diverse and impactful career paths in law, international human rights, public service, advocacy, and beyond. 

Sectors and Industries 
Our graduates are highly sought after across a broad range of sectors including: 
• Legal practice and law firms 
• Government departments and statutory bodies 
• National and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and advocacy groups 
• United Nations bodies, international human rights organisations, and developmental agencies 
• Corporate and public sectors where legal compliance and human rights regulation are key

Employers of Our Graduates 
Graduates have secured roles with respected organisations such as: 
• Policing Authority and Irish Penal Reform Trust 
• Department of Justice and regional government offices 
• Legal firms  
• International bodies including UN agencies and human rights NGOs 
• Research institutes and policy think tanks 

Graduate Roles 
Graduates are well-prepared for roles including: 
• Trainee solicitor or barrister (following professional exams) 
• Policy advisor, legal analyst, or legislative consultant 
• Human rights advocate, caseworker, or researcher 
• Compliance officer, regulatory associate, or corporate legal assistant 
• Legal officer in international organisations and NGOs 

Skills for the Future 
• Legal analysis and critical thinking 
• Advocacy and effective communication 
• Advanced research and report writing 
• Knowledge of international human rights law and legal systems 
• Practical skills gained through placements and mooting, readying graduates for real-world challenges 

Emerging Trends and Growth Areas 
• Growing demand for expertise in international human rights and humanitarian law 
• Increasing opportunities in digital rights, environmental justice, and global governance 
• Expansion of compliance and regulatory roles within corporate social responsibility sectors 

Next Steps to Legal Practice 
Graduates can progress towards professional qualification by: 
• Sitting the Law Society of Ireland’s exams to qualify as solicitors
• Completing the Legal Professions specialism to sit the King’s Inns exams for barristers
• Gaining practical experience through professional work placements and internships

Global Human Rights Network 
The Irish Centre for Human Rights, based in Galway, connects students to a worldwide alumni network, offering excellent career supports and international opportunities in human rights law, policy, and practice. 

In Year 3, students have the option to spend a year studying abroad at one of our partner universities. This experience allows you to broaden your knowledge of human rights and law by engaging with different legal systems, cultures, and perspectives in an international environment. 

Where can I go? 
You can choose from a wide range of partner universities in Europe through the Erasmus+ programme, or apply for a non-EU exchange in countries like Canada, the US, Australia, India, Brazil, and more. 
Partner institutions include: 
• McGill University (Canada) 
• University of Iowa College of Law (USA) 
• University of Technology, Sydney (Australia) 
• IE Madrid (Spain) 
• University of Göttingen (Germany) 
• University of Bologna (Italy)
• University of Toulouse (France)
• FGV Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
• University of Graz (Austria)
• University of Leuven (Belgium)
• Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest (Hungary)
• Jagiellonian University, Kraków (Poland) 

When does it happen? 
Students who opt to study abroad complete their third year overseas, before returning for final year. The year is assessed on a pass/fail basis. 

Language of study 
Many of our partnering institutes offer courses are taught through English. Others destinations offer courses delivered through French and German which support students studying a language to further develop their linguist skills.  

Students studying Legal Irish will complete a semester at the University of Galway’s Gaeltacht campus in An Cheathrú Rua and spend the other semester on placement in an Irish-speaking legal environment. 

Skills and benefits 
Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live and study in a new country, make new friends, build connections, and travel. It helps boost your independence, global awareness, and intercultural skills, while giving you valuable insight into different legal and human rights systems. 

Cost and funding 
You don’t pay tuition fees to the host university. Erasmus+ students may receive a grant to support living costs. Additional funding may be available depending on destination and eligibility. 

In Year 3, students can complete a professional work placement to gain real-world experience in human rights, law, and related policy, applying their academic knowledge in practical settings.  

Tailored Preparation 
Placement preparation begins in Year 2 and includes: 
• Advisory sessions to outline the process 
• CV and cover letter workshops 
• Interview skills training and mock interviews 

Students receive full support from our placement team to help secure roles that align with their interests and career goals. 

Placement Partners 
Our students have completed placements with a diverse range of organisations active in human rights, social justice, and legal advocacy, including: 

• Irish Council for Civil Liberties 

• Irish Refugee Council 

• Independent Law Centre 

• Irish Council for Social Housing

• ISPCC 

• Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at University of Galway 

• Sage Advocacy 

• Threshold 

• A&L Goodbody Pro Bono Practice 

The programme also offers international placement opportunities through partnerships with NGOs and human rights bodies abroad. 

What students do 
Placement roles vary but may involve legal research, casework support, policy development, advocacy, community outreach, and monitoring compliance with human rights standards — giving students a chance to experience human rights law and practice in action. 

Benefits 

• Gain hands-on experience in human rights and legal settings 

• Apply academic learning to real-world challenges 

• Enhance your CV with practical skills and professional contacts 

• Develop critical thinking, communication, and research abilities 

• Build confidence and clarify career direction 

• Open pathways to postgraduate opportunities or employment in law, policy, and human rights sectors

The Law (BCL), Criminology, and Criminal Justice degree is formally accredited by the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, the institution responsible for the training and admission of barristers in Ireland.

Opportunities presented to graduates
Graduates who meet the entry requirements are eligible to sit the King’s Inns Entrance Examination. Successful candidates may then progress to the Barrister-at-Law professional training course, the final step toward qualification as a barrister in Ireland.

Recognition outside of Ireland
While the accreditation specifically applies to the legal profession in Ireland, the Law (BCL) Criminology and Criminal Justice degree  is a common law degree and is widely recognised internationally. Graduates often pursue further professional training or postgraduate study abroad and may qualify in other common law jurisdictions—such as the UK, the USA, Canada, and Australia—subject to local conversion requirements or bar admission processes.

Additional requirements post-graduation
In order to practise as a barrister in Ireland, graduates must first pass the King’s Inns Entrance Examination and complete the one-year Barrister-at-Law degree. Admission to the Bar of Ireland is granted upon successful completion of this professional training.

Note: Students intending to pursue a career as a barrister should ensure that they choose the appropriate law subjects throughout the programme to meet King’s Inns requirements.

Dr Maeve O’Rourke
Prof Donncha O’Connell
Dr Ciara Smyth
Prof Siobhán Mullally
Dr Brian Tobin
Dr Conor Hanly 

 

The Law (BCL) and Human Rights programme offers a rich and rigorous academic environment that combines a strong foundation in core legal subjects with a distinctive focus on human rights law. From day one, students explore how the law connects with real-world issues like justice, equality, and global responsibility.  

How Will I Learn? 

Lectures and Tutorials – Students engage with core legal subjects through lectures and smaller group tutorials. 

Human Rights-Focused Teaching – Students explore critical, theoretical, and practical dimensions of human rights law, starting with foundational concepts and progressing to deeper study of European and international human rights systems. 

Mooting and Mock Trials – Practical legal skills are developed through mooting, helping students build confidence in public speaking, legal reasoning, and courtroom advocacy. 

Specialist Learning Pathways – In final year, students select a stream aligned with their interests, allowing them to focus on areas relevant to their future careers. 

Interactive Learning – Students participate in workshops, mock hearings, policy discussions, and debates, connecting classroom knowledge to real-world issues. 

Study Abroad or Professional Placement  – In Year 3, students may choose to study abroad at a partner university or undertake a professional placement in a law firm, NGO, or public body. Students studying Legal Irish complete their placement in an Irish-speaking legal environment. 

How Will I Be Assessed? 

Examinations – Written exams assess students’ ability to apply legal principles, analyse human rights issues, and think critically under time pressure. For modules required by the legal professions, a two-hour closed-book exam format is required to meet accreditation requirements. 

Continuous Assessment – Essays, case notes, policy critiques, group projects and oral presentations contribute to assessment in many modules throughout the programme. 

Guided Research Essay – Students complete a supervised research essay to develop their academic writing and legal reasoning skills. 

Mooting and Oral Assessment – Performance-based elements such as moots, presentations and simulated legal hearings help students build professional confidence and advocacy skills. 

Reflective and Practical Assessment – Students reflect on real-world issues in human rights and law through mock UN committee exercises, legal analysis assignments, and hands-on group work. 

RDJ Scholarship
The University of Galway School of Law has partnered with RDJ’s Galway office to offer the RDJ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship.

Two scholarships are now available to support students from backgrounds under-represented in the legal profession and to promote greater diversity within the School of Law

Each scholarship is valued at €5,000, and recipients will also participate in a summer work placement at RDJ’s Galway office.

Mooting Success 2024
A standout year for the extracurricular mooting programme, with University of Galway Law teams winning 7 of 8 competitions entered, including victory in the inaugural Nell McCafferty Women in Law Moot (Jenna Smyth & Ruth Collins) and back-to-back wins at the National Moot Court Competition (Jenna Smyth, Colman Monaghan & Patricia Geciova).

 

Research at the School of Law – University of Galway

The School of Law at University of Galway is a leader for innovative and socially impactful legal research. Its research spans a wide range of themes, supported by several specialised research centres and a strong international network.

Key Research Centres

• Irish Centre for Human Rights: Globally recognised for research in international law, human rights, migration, gender, and climate justice.
• Centre for Disability Law & Policy: Focuses on disability rights, legal capacity, UN and EU law, and reform in support of independent living and de-institutionalisation.
• Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy: Addresses legal and policy challenges related to housing and homelessness.
• Centre for Law, Religion and Society: Explores the role of law in religious and ethical contexts.

Research Strengths and Community

The School promotes interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research that informs teaching and contributes to global and national debates. It hosts individual and collaborative projects and publishes the University of Galway Law Review, a peer-reviewed, student-led journal.

 

Course queries:
law@universityofgalway.ie 

Programme Director:
Prof Shane Darcy
shane.darcy@universityofgalway.ie

 

 

Q: Will this degree allow me to become a solicitor or barrister?
A: Yes. This degree meets the subject requirements set by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority for entry to the Law Society (solicitor route) and is recognised by the Honorable Society of King’s Inns (barrister route), provided the relevant modules are completed. 

Q: What makes this programme different from a standard Law degree?
A: This degree combines a full core legal education with specialist modules in international human rights law and justice systems. You’ll graduate with a strong legal foundation and a deep understanding of global human rights challenges. 

Q: Can I practice as a lawyer abroad?  
A: Our undergraduate law courses are common law degrees. Many of our graduates have qualified as lawyers in foreign common law jurisdictions – in England and Wales, Australia, Canada and in New York. The entry requirements to practice as a lawyer vary for each country and will usually involve some form of conversion examinations. We recommend that you look at the entry requirements for the country you wish to practice in.  

Q: Can I study a language as part of this degree?
A: Yes, you can choose to study a modern language (such as French, Spanish or German) as an elective. This is ideal for students interested in international careers in law, diplomacy, or human rights. 

Q: What is Mooting? 
A: Mooting is a mandatory second-year module simulating courtroom experience. Using a hypothetical set of case facts, students learn to identify legal issues, prepare written submissions, and present oral arguments. It includes lectures, practical seminars, and a mock trial. The final moot court competitions are presided over by a sitting member of the Irish judiciary.  

Q: What is the Guided Research Essay in Year 2? 
A: Students complete a Guided Research Essay on a law topic that they are interested in. Students will greatly benefit from the guidance and supervision of an assigned academic mentor who will meet with them to discuss their research essay and provide feedback on their work.  

Minimum Entry Requirements
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate including Irish, English, another language, and any three other subjects recognised for entry purposes. 

Alternative Pathways
The Access Centre at University of Galway provides a number of alternative entry routes to undergraduate programmes. See below some useful links:

• QQI/FET/FETAC Places
• Mature Students
• Access and Foundation programmes
• HEAR Scheme
• DARE Scheme

Other Qualifications
If you are a school leaver presenting results other than Leaving Cert results, please review the entry requirements relevant to you:

• A Level students
• International Baccalaureate students
• EU students

For applicants whose first language is not English, it is important to check our English Language Requirements.

Admissions Office
Our Admissions Office provides additional detail relevant to CAO applicants including key dates, FAQs and instructions for non-school leavers.

 

Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO.

Mature Applicants
Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry. Further information available here.

QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See our QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants page for information on places available and entry requirements,  

 

 

Fees for Academic Year 2025/2026

Course Type	Year	EU Tuition	Student Contribution	Non-EU Tuition	Levy	Total Fee	Total EU Fee	Total Non-EU Fee
	All	€3,593	€3,000	€19,000	€140	€3,140	€6,733	€19,140

• Most EU students applying through the CAO will be eligible for the ‘Free Fees Initiative’. You can find out more here.
• If you are eligible for a means tested SUSI grant this may cover 100% of this Student Contribution Charge. If you are 100% eligible SUSI will pay the Student Contribution Charge of €3,000 on your behalf. 
• The Student Levy It is payable by all students and it is not covered by SUSI
• Where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing year fees. This applies to non-EU fees.
• You can find additional detail on the Fees Office webpage including FAQs and how fee status is assessed.

Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholarship
University of Galway is delighted to partner with global law firm DLA Piper for the Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholarship. The scholarship, which is named after Terry O’Malley, Chairman Emeritus (US), will provide funding to support students in financial need studying at University of Galway School of Law.

The Scholarship will support the successful Scholar throughout their degree to a minimum value of €7,500. The Scholarship is open to applicants who have made a formal application through the Central Applications Office for a first year place on one of the full-time undergraduate designated programmes of study in University of Galway School of Law. Find out more here.

NEW RDJ Scholarship
University of Galway School of Law has partnered with one of Ireland’s leading corporate law firms, RDJ to offer the RDJ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship. There are two scholarships available that promote diversity within the School of Law by providing financial support to students who are under-represented in the field of law. The scholarship is valued at €5,000 and scholars also have a summer internship opportunity in RDJ’s Galway office. Find out more here.

Application Process
Students applying for full undergraduate degree programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), and who are liable for full non-EU tuition fees, should apply online via Apply to University of Galway. Our application portal opens on the 1^st October each year for entry of the following September.  

Further Information
Please visit the international application webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.