If you're interested in the law and how it works and if you want to become a solicitor, a barrister or anything else to do with the exciting world of the law or beyond, then our course is the one for you! Our course is approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)and The Bar Standards Board, and hence will facilitate your journey to becoming a solicitor or a barrister, or a broader range of careers.
You'll learn about the law and legal skills such as how to interview clients. You’ll take part in mock court cases (civil and criminal) and work on real live legal problems. Together with your fellow students you’ll also get plenty of opportunity to network with the local legal sector. Past activities have included, for example, meeting with the judiciary, visits to prisons, tours of the police headquarters and work experience/training days with local firms of solicitors and barristers.
At the University of Cumbria we are committed to practical action-based learning as well as traditional learning activities.
Why Choose University of Cumbria
We’re a modern, practice-oriented, forward-thinking law school. Our philosophy lies in ensuring that you graduate with strong legal and academic skills as well as an applied understanding of modern professional life whether in the law or elsewhere.
Excellence
- We have received 100% course satisfaction for two years running in the National Student Survey (NSS 2018, 2019).
- Our Law Programme is ranked 8thout of 111 Law Programmes at Universities in the UK (Guardian League Tables 2020)
- As well as this, we are currently ranked first in the North West (Guardian League Tables 2020).
- We are ranked 1st out of 111 Law Programmes for student satisfaction at Universities in the UK (Guardian League Tables 2020).
- We are ranked 1st out of 111 Law Programmes for Student Satisfaction with Teaching at Universities in the UK (Guardian League Tables 2020).
Many of our full-time programmes can be studied over a longer period on a part-time basis. Please contact the course enquiries team for further details.
Our staff
Our team have many years of academic and professional experience in the law between them. The permanent teaching team comprises a number of current and former practicing solicitors and a sitting member of the judiciary It is further complemented by a former magistrates’ clerk and district crown prosecutor.
You will be assigned a personal tutor from within the law team from your first week at University. You will have regular contact and support from your personal tutor throughout your law degree.
Small and perfectly formed
The Law programme at Cumbria has the third lowest staff student ratio of any Law programme at any University in the UK (Guardian League Tables 2020).
This enables close attention to student development and individual student needs to maximise student achievement.
Small class sizes mean we get to know you as an individual. It also means that if you want to ask a question in a lecture or seminar, you can do so. We believe that this approach to learning offers our students the best possible chance to understand the subject being taught.
We major on personal development as well as the acquisition of legal knowledge. Not only will we teach you the law, we will also encourage and support your career plans through the provision of networking opportunities, CV workshops, mooting competitions and law conferences.
Links to employment
Our team has excellent links with the local and national legal sector which will give you vital professional insights as well as good placement and job prospects.
We also have excellent links to non-legal employers including Cumbria Constabulary and the County Council, representatives of whom regularly visit our students to support career planning.
We regularly post career opportunities on our Law Noticeboard and all students are encouraged to get work experience from day one.
In the final year you will study Law in Action, in this module you will work in teams on a live legal problem for a real client. This will ensure you get first-hand real-life work experience to bolster your CV.
Our facilities
- We are based in the historic city of Carlisle on the Fusehill campus, under two hours from the Scottish capital and an hour west of Newcastle.
- Our campus offers a dedicated law library, pop up court room, gym, cafes and a bar, numerous break out areas and our state-of-the-art learning gateway building.
- We make use of the local court rooms for more formal mooting competitions and mock trials.
Course Study Options
- Full time over 3 years
- Part time over 6 years
- Full time over 4 years (including a foundation access level year)
Please contact the Course Enquiry Centre for further details
View our Law School Youtube Playlist Here
Course Study Options
We also offer this course with an integrated foundation year - follow the link below for more information
Graduate destinations
This course is the first step towards being a fully qualified solicitor/barrister. In 2017, 100% of our Law graduates were employed or in further study within six months of graduating (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey 2017).
You'll also gain valuable debating, research and analytical skills that will prove useful in any line of work, making judgments and solving problems in a manner that employers will love to see.
For those wishing to go into legal practice, this provides the necessary qualification for application to the Legal Practice Course and the Bar Professional Training Course. You may also be interested in a career in law enforcement, court administration, advisory work, public administration or even education.
Student case studies: Sophie Allinson.
Download the personal statement guide
Get top tips on how to write the best university personal statement
Download HereCourse outline
Course summary
Law covers every aspect of what we do daily, at home, with family and friends and in the workplace. Here at Cumbria we want to encourage anyone interested in a professional career, whether in law or in teaching, in business, in design and technology, to consider a legal education as a great place to start equipping yourself for a variety of professions.
From debates, poster presentations, conference presentations, digital lawyering, negotiations and undertaking client work through pro-bono projects, you will receive an excellent quality of education supported by innovative and personalised teaching in a supportive and friendly environment, which is vocationally relevant and enhances your employability.
We also focus on the emerging trends in professional workplaces aim to empower and equip students through the Lawyering in a Digital Age initiative which is embedded in the programmes.
Our LLB programme
Our LLB programme is a qualifying law degree, accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board. This means there are certain subjects which we must teach on our programme. We refer to those subjects as ‘foundation’ subjects.
All our foundation subjects are taught across years 1 and 2 of the LLB programme. This ensures our students get the best opportunity to focus their concentration on their dissertation in year 3.
Foundation subjects:
- Tort
- Contract
- Citizen and State
- Criminal Law
- Land
- EU
- Equity and Trusts
- Dissertation
In addition to the foundation subjects (which all accredited LLB programmes must provide), we teach the following subjects. These are especially designed by and unique to our law school and focus on practical legal skills through creative and digital ‘hands on’ learning.
Non-foundation subjects:
- Legal Skills
- English & Comparative Legal Systems
- Persuasive Public Speaking and Court Room Skills
- Lawyering in a Digital Age
- Law in Action (known elsewhere as ‘Streetlaw’)
- Business Awareness & Employment Practice
As well as the above subjects (which all must be studied to pass the LLB), we offer a number of option-based subjects. Students may choose one option in second year and another in third year. Options can change from year to year, but recent examples of options offered have included:
- Medical Law & Ethics
- Human Rights
- Law work-placement (ideal for boosting your CV)
- Criminal Evidence
- Family law
What does a typical law degree look like with us?
Year 1
In your first semester, you’ll study Legal Skills, Citizen and State and English & Comparative Legal Systems.
Through these subjects you will examine the intricacies of the English legal system and compare it with other international legal systems. You will get the opportunity to learn about and critically assess the relationship between individuals and the states governing them. You will also get the chance to work on a fictional murder case and take part in a fictional mental health tribunal whist fine tuning your legal research skills and your knowledge of sources of law and the doctrine of legal precedent. Alongside all this, you will get to visit our local courts, meet with local employers and members of the judiciary / coroner’s court and build on your own personal development (career) planning with expert help from our tutors.
In your second semester, you will study two of your foundation subjects (Tort and Contract). You’ll also study Persuasive Public Speaking and Court Room Skills. The latter subject will encourage you to speak confidently in a range of situations including but not limited to the court room. You will be engaged in a fictional business negotiation, a fictional bail application, a fictional domestic violence incident and a mock trial.
Year 2
You will study your remaining foundation subjects this year, including Criminal law, EU law, Land and Equity & Trusts. As well as this, you will study on our innovative ‘Lawyering in a Digital Age’ module, designed to equip you with all the skills you will need in order to succeed in the digital era. You’ll also get the chance to choose your first ‘option’ from our list. For example, you might choose Human Rights as many of our students do!
Year 3
This year your focus shifts towards your Dissertation module. You are allocated a personal dissertation supervisor who will help guide your journey towards success. Dissertations at Cumbria Law School are graded in three parts. First: your proposal. Second: the piece itself. Third: a poster-based presentation outlining what you’ve researched. The latter is held as an event to which external stakeholders are invited. This gives you the chance to showcase what you’ve done and network with potential employers.
As well as your dissertation, in year 3 you will study important skills-based subjects including Business Awareness & Employment Practice and Law in Action. Law in Action will see you working in a small group on a pro bono (voluntary) project for a real client. Historic projects have included:
- Working with the prison service, educating prisoners on voting rights;
- Assisting the Citizens Advice Bureau with an Equality Act 2010 related matter;
- Designing a website with housing related advice for young adults leaving the care system.
All your work on such projects is of huge value, not only to those you help advise but to you as well. It enhances and enriches your University experience giving you plenty to talk about on application forms and on your CV.
Last, but not least, in your third year you get to choose two further optional subjects. For example, you might choose Family law and Medical Law and Ethics.
Modules
Year one
Compulsory Modules
- Legal skills
- English and comparative legal systems
- Law of contract
- Law of torts
- Citizen and State
Year two
Compulsory Modules
- Lawyering in a digital age
- Criminal law
- Land law
- Equity and trusts
- Law of the European Union
Optional Modules (Subject to availability and demand)
- Employment law
- Human rights
Year three
Compulsory Modules
- Law dissertation
- Business awareness and employment practice
- Law in Action
Optional Modules (Subject to availability and demand)
- Employment law
- Human rights
- Placement
- Company law
- Law of criminal evidence
- Family law
- Intellectual property law
- Media law
- Medical law and ethics
- Independant legal study
Meet the Team
Fiona Boyle
Fiona is a qualified solicitor with over twenty-five years of teaching experience and a published author. She is the joint programme leader for the LLB programme along with Fiona Buchanan. Fiona’s particular area of specialism is the legal relationship between citizens and the state. Fiona is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of both the Association of Law Teachers and the Law Society of England and Wales. Fiona has served as a member of the Law Society’s training committee and a member of the Advisory Panel to the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct. Fiona lives with her family in the Lake District and is involved with the Mountain Rescue in both legal and other, more practical, activities.
Fiona Buchanan
Fiona is a qualified solicitor with over 14 years PQE specialising in clinical negligence and medical ethics. Formerly a partner at a Manchester based law firm, Fiona is now joint programme leader for the LLB programme along with Fiona Boyle. Fiona is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the Law Society of England and Wales. She teaches medical law and ethics, family law and EU law at the University, and is responsible for leading the Dissertation module.
Kerrie Brooks
Kerrie is a qualified solicitor with over 10 years PQE. Kerrie initially worked in the corporate team at international law firm Pinsents where she worked on a range of issues including stock exchange listings, take-overs and group restructurings. Kerrie then worked as a human rights lawyer for a large legal aid charity working on issues such as child soldiers, domestic violence and victims of human trafficking. Kerrie’s research interests include forced migration and corporate social responsibility.
Kerrie is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a member of the Law Society of England and Wales and a member of IMISCOE (International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe). On the LLB Kerrie teaches contract, human rights and company law. Kerrie is also joint programme leader on the LLM in International Business Law with a particular focus on advanced legal skills and corporate social responsibility.
Kieron Metcalf
Kieron joined the Law Department in 2016. He currently is involved as a Lecturer on our undergraduate LLB and is a Co-Programme Leader on our LLM provision.
Kieron is currently teaching English and Comparative Legal Systems, Lawyering in a Digital Age and Land Law on the undergraduate teaching. He also teaches across the LLM and the Integrated Foundation Year Program. Before Kieron joined the law team he worked in a local Law Centre working in the Housing Law team as-well as working on Social Security Law and Employment Law.
Kieron has presented at a Digital Law Conference in Summer 2019. He has a keen interest in legal technology and its implementation in legal practice. This is an area of research that will continue with development of technology.
Dan Ritchie
Dan is a senior lecturer with over 15 years of experience teaching in higher education. Dan’s primary focus is on teaching law, curriculum development, programme development and programme management. Dan teaches across a range of programmes within the university, primarily the LLB and Business programmes. Dan’s primary research interests are legal history and the interception of communications. Prior to working in education Dan worked in both legal practice and in the field of data communications and was involved in project management of large-scale infrastructure projects.
Sian Spencer
Sian took the non-traditional route into law, initially completing an MA (hons) in Social Anthropology at Edinburgh University. She then went on to study law at postgraduate level through the College (now University) of Law, qualifying as a solicitor in 2006. Sian has over ten years PQE in private practice law having worked at international law firm Eversheds LLP as well as regional commercial practices Burnetts and Napthens LLP. Sian’s particular area of specialism lies within civil and commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Sian now teaches on our tort, legal skills and advocacy modules. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy having completed her PGCert Teaching and Learning in 2019. She remains a member of the Law Society of England and Wales and a member of the Property Litigation Association. In 2019 Sian won an award for her innovative teaching practice. Sian lives with her family in the Lake District and in her spare time enjoys running and fell walking.
Programme Specification
Assessment, Feedback, and Teaching and Learning methods
Full details are available in the programme specification.
Timetables
The teaching timetable should be available from the end of August. Access to the timetable is through the Student Hub – you will be able to access the Student Hub after you have completed online registration. The teaching day is 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; please keep your other commitments open until confirmation of your teaching timetable, and bear in mind that many courses will offer placements or fieldwork which sometimes extends into the evenings and weekends.
Entry requirements
Have a question about our entry requirements?
Entry Requirements
112-128 UCAS tariff points. Potential to succeed can be measured in a number of ways including academic qualifications and skills obtained outside academic study such as work experience. We have a points range so we can take into account all of the information on your application form and adjust the offer from the evidence provided.
Please check selection criteria for any additional entry requirements.
Selection criteria
Application information
Full-time courses
Apply online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), between September and January; they will send your application on to us. Applications submitted after this date will be considered late and the course you have applied for might be full by this time; however, we will consider you for alternative suitable courses.
Their website www.ucas.com provides all the information you need about universities, courses, locations, entry requirements and financial support. You are allowed to select up to five course choices. You need to use the correct UCAS campus and course codes as not all courses are offered at every campus. You will be asked for the following information when you apply online:
Institution code name: UoC
Institution code: C99
Campus location:
- A Ambleside
- B Brampton Road, Carlisle
- E University of Cumbria at Energus, Workington
- F Fusehill Street, Carlisle
- L Lancaster
- T University of Cumbria in London
- Y University of Cumbria at Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness
Part-time courses
Applications should be made online directly to the university; visit our website or contact enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk for details and guidance. There is no official closing date but we would encourage you to apply as early as possible, as many courses are competitive.
What makes a good application?
We consider all aspects of your application, not simply your qualifications and grades. We look at your academic background and performance, relevant experience (particularly for professional courses where some voluntary or paid experience is required) and your reference. Above all, we look for motivation, commitment and potential-evidence that you can benefit from study at higher education level.
Make sure you include:
- Relevant qualifications/evidence of ability: check our website for the specific entry requirements required for each course. Tell us your previous academic results and your projected grades.
- A supportive reference, from an employer or your school or college.
- A good personal statement.
- Explain clearly what attracts you to the course and tell us about your wider interests and experience. If you are applying for a course that incorporates professional training and placements, you should include any relevant experience or visits you have made in the workplace. Highlight your individual strengths and qualities, personal skills, capacity for teamwork, contribution to the community and your enterprise, originality and determination. Select some activities which bring out these qualities.
What next?
When we receive your application, we will send you an acknowledgement and if you are successful at this stage you will get either an offer (with an invitation to visit the campus to which you have applied), or an invitation to interview on a particular date. If we are not able to offer you a place on your chosen course we will usually try to offer you a place on a similar course and will contact you to discuss this. Alternatively, if we think you are suitable, but cannot offer you a place on your preferred campus because of the level of competition, we will offer you a place at another campus if one is available.
And if I accept?
The admissions team will contact you and send further information from February onwards about accommodation, and from May/June onwards about preparing to join the university. If you have any other queries, please telephone the admissions offices for information and advice on 0845 6061144.
Deferred entry
We welcome applications for deferred entry on some courses. If you have specific plans during your year out, indicate these on your personal statement as they may be relevant to your course and could enhance your application.
International students
Applications for full-time undergraduate study are made through UCAS. Please see the international pages of our website for full details of our entry requirements (including English-language skills) as well as contacts for advice and support.
From 2009 the UK Border Agency introduced a Points-Based Immigration System (PBS) for students coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Students entering higher education will need to obtain a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) plus finance confirmation to obtain a Tier 4 student visa. UK education providers are licensed by the UK Border Agency. When students apply for their visa (or entry clearance) they will need a valid Certificate of Acceptance of Studies from the university. Please note that a CAS is not a guarantee that a visa will be issued.
See the following websites for further details: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk
Tuition fees for UK students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years (between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021). This includes new students starting in 2020/21 and continuing students who began after 2016/17.
Full-time
| Course | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| BA, BSc, BEng or LLB | £9,250 |
| DipHE or CertHE | £9,250 |
| FdA or FdSc | £9,250 |
| BA, BSc with integrated foundation year | £6,000 (year 1) BA or BSc fee for the year of study applies in years 2-4 |
| Sandwich or placement year | £1,650. Fee payable by students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year |
| BA, BSc, BEng or LLB - accelerated 2 year degree | To be confirmed |
Please note: These fees apply to the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years only* and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study. * The sandwich or placement year fees stated above apply to students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year
Paying your fees
If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the student finance section.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students’ university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Part-time
The tuition fees for part-time courses are based on the full-time fee. It may be calculated either pro-rata or by module, depending on the type of course. To confirm whether your course is modular or pro-rata, please contact uocadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk.
Modular billing
Most part-time students are invoiced by module in shortly after the start of each module. If your programme allows the extension of study beyond the standard period of enrolment, modular billing enables you to study at a rate you can afford, and over a period of time which suits you.
The tuition fee payable for each module is based on the full-time fee for the relevant year of study. These fees represent the cost of studying for 120 credits in a year. For example, in 2019/20 and 2020/21, where the full-time fee is £9,250, each 10 credit module will cost £771. The tuition fee payable for modules may increase by inflation each year.
Pro-rata billing
Some courses are calculated on a pro-rata basis, by taking the cost of the equivalent full-time course and dividing it by the number of years it will take to complete. Please note that some course fees may be subject to inflation.
Paying your fees
Most students choose to take a student loan. If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the below.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to student’s university and personal email accounts.
Student loans
If you are from the UK, you can apply for a loan to help with the cost of university fees. There are two types of loans you may be able to apply for - tuition fee and maintenance loans.
Full-time
Tuition fee loans
Full time students from the UK can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £9,250 in 2019/20 and 2020/21. This is paid directly to the university each year, and is not dependent on your household income.
When applying for your student loan, you will need to contact the relevant student funding authority for the area in which you live. Your loan application is likely to take around 2 months to finalise so it is important to complete your application as soon as possible. We recommend completing your application by the end of May (new students) or June (continuing students) to avoid any delays in receiving your funding.
Students enrolling on NHS programmes can, subject to eligibility, qualify for a student loan even if they have accessed student loan funding for other programmes in the past.
Maintenance loans
You can apply for a maintenance loan to assist with meeting living costs such as food, accommodation and travel expenses. These are normally paid in three instalments throughout the university year directly to your bank account.
Depending on household income, students who normally live in England may be able to apply for the following amounts. If your home address is in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the UK, please visit gov.uk/studentfinance for more information.
| Living arrangements | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|
| Living at Home | Up to 7,529 | Up to £7,747 |
| Living away from home (outside of London) | Up to £8,944 | Up to £9,203 |
| Living away from home (in London) | Up to £11,672 | Up to £12,010 |
| Studying abroad (for 1 year) | Up to £10,242 | Up to £10,539 |
You can work out how much of a loan you are entitled to apply for using the Student Finance Calculator.
Repaying your loan
Graduates with a home address in England, who have a student loan, only start repaying their loan the April after graduation and once they earn over the threshold, which is £26,575 per year.
You'll pay 9% of anything you earn above that amount. If you don't earn more than the threshold, you won't pay anything.
Here's what your monthly repayments could look like:
| Annual income before tax | Monthly salary | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|---|
| £26,575 | £2,214 | £0 |
| £29,500 | £2,458 | £22 |
| £31,000 | £2,583 | £33 |
| £33,000 | £2,750 | £48 |
If your income changes, the amount you repay will change too, this happens automatically.
If you stop working, or start to earn below the repayment threshold, your repayments will stop until you earn over the threshold.
You’ll make a repayment if you go over the weekly or monthly threshold at any point during the year, for example, if you get a bonus or work overtime. You can request a refund at the end of the tax year if your total income was below the annual repayment threshold. After 30 years, any outstanding loan is written off.
If your home, address is in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, visit Gov.uk for more information.
These loans attract interest, which is charged at different rates depending on your earnings. For more details on interest rates, please visit the Gov.uk website
Part-time
Tuition fee loans are available for students studying for their first higher education qualification, which is at least 25% of the intensity of the equivalent full-time course. CPD students may also be eligible for a loan based on level of study, intensity of the course and prior study. Visit gov.uk website for more information and eligibility criteria.
Tuition fee loans are not means-tested and you can be apply for up to the maximum amount of your fees, which is £6,935 in 2019/20 and 2020/21. Tuition fee loans are paid directly to the university so you don’t have to worry about arranging payment.
Eligible courses for tuition fee loans include:
- An undergraduate course
- Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course
- Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
Part-time Maintenance Loans
Part-time students who started an eligible course on or after 1 August 2018 can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help with their day-to-day living costs, such as rent or food. The Maintenance Loan is paid directly to your bank account, in three instalments, usually at the start of each term.
For more information about funding for part-time study, visit Gov.uk
For more guidance on applying for a student loan, visit the Student Room's Student Finance Zone.
Repaying your Part-time loan
Part-time students will have to repay any loans you borrow, but not until the April after you finish or leave your course, or the April four years after the start of your course – whichever comes first – and, only then, if your income is over the repayment threshold.
How much you repay each month depends on your income, not how much you borrowed.
You will repay 9% of your income over the repayment threshold, which is currently £26,575 a year, £2,214 a month or £511 a week. If your income drops below the threshold, your repayments will stop automatically.
You will be charged interest from the day your first student finance payment is made until your loan has been repaid in full or cancelled. The interest rate is based on the UK Retail Price Index (RPI) and will vary depending on your circumstances. For more details on interest rates, please visit www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan
What if I've studied before?
Health students
Students enrolling on a Nursing, Midwifery or Allied Health Professional course in England may qualify for a student loan even if they have accessed student loan funding for other programmes in the past. This is subject to eligibility.
Other students
If you have undertaken any other previous Higher Education study, it is important to be aware that this can sometimes have an impact on the student funding, including tuition fee loans, available to you when you start a new course.
This is a complex area. If you are not sure of your entitlement to funding, it is really important that you seek advice from your funding organisation or with a Student Money Adviser who can clarify exactly how your previous study will impact on your future student funding entitlement.
Financial support
Scholarships and Bursaries
Cumbria Bursary (first year undergraduate students)
The Cumbria Bursary is our financial award for 1st year ‘home’ or ‘EU’ undergraduate students commencing their studies in the 2020/21 academic year. It is a non-repayable bursary designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000.
In 2020/21 there are up to 90 full or part-time Cumbria Bursaries available, worth £1,000 per year of full-time study for up to 3 years (full time) or £500 per year of part-time study, for a maximum of 5 years (part-time) for students entering onto full time or substantive part-time* undergraduate programmes.
There are a further 15 Cumbria Bursaries available for students entering onto courses with integrated foundation years; these are worth £1000 per year for up to 4 years.
Up to one-third of our Cumbria Bursaries will be allocated specifically to students who are aged 21 and over on the 1st September 2020, who also meet the eligibility criteria outlined below.
*Part-time students must be studying at least 50% of the time and registered on a minimum three-year course.
Social Work bursary
It is possible for some undergraduate Social Work students to receive a bursary to support their studies in their second or subsequent years. The number of people who can get a bursary is limited (or capped), therefore there is no guarantee you’ll receive a bursary in your 2nd year. The university will provide a shortlist of students to the NHSBSA who will then assess bursary applications. Full details, including the eligibility criteria, are available on the NHSBSA website.
Progression Scholarship (first year undergraduate students from partner colleges)
If you are a student of any of the following colleges, you might be eligible for one of our Partnership Progression Scholarships offered to those applying to the University immediately after Further Education:
- Blackburn College
- Bury College
- Carlisle College
- Doncaster College
- Furness College
- Kendal College
- Lakes College West Cumbria
- Lancaster and Morecambe College
- Newton Rigg (Askham Bryan) College
- Northumberland College
- Southport College
We have up to 35 Progression Scholarships for students starting study in the 2020/21 academic year.
The awards are worth £500 in total; these non-repayable grants are paid directly to your bank account in the first year only. The Progression Scholarship can be received alongside the Cumbria Bursary if a recipient is eligible and ranked to receive both awards.
Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) - Armed forces personnel
We are proud to be a registered learning provider with the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS scheme. ELCAS is a scheme run by the Ministry of Defence to provide financial support to Armed Forces personnel (both serving and service leavers) to study a course at university.
Additional grants
If you have special circumstances, you may be able to get additional funding to help support you during your course from Student Finance England.
For students with children
- Parents’ Learning Allowance - means-tested on household income. Maximum available £1,766
- Childcare Grant - means-tested on household income. A maximum of 85% of your weekly childcare costs may be paid on your behalf, up to £174.22 per week for one child and £298.69 per week for two or more children.
For students with adult dependants
- Adult Dependants’ Grant - means-tested on household income. Maximum available £3,094.
For students with a disability or specific learning difficulty
- Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) — students with a disability or specific learning difficulty may be eligible to receive help towards enabling costs; e.g. non-medical helper, specialist equipment etc.
Health Courses
Learning Support Fund
The NHS Learning Support Fund offers students starting a new Nursing, Midwifery or Allied Health Professional course additional support while studying for their degree. This includes:
- dependents allowance of £1,000 per student per year
- additional travel and accommodation costs to clinical placements over their normal daily travel costs
- an exceptional hardship fund of up to £3,000 per student per academic year
For further details visit the NHSBSA website here.
New student funding for health courses
The government has announced it will be providing additional funding support to healthcare students starting their course from September 2020.
This includes:
- a non-repayable payment of £5,000 to eligible students each academic year
- additional payments worth up to a total of £3,000 per academic year for students in specialisms or regions struggling to recruit or to help students cover childcare costs
Eligible students should continue to apply for the Learning Support Fund as needed.
For further details and a full list of eligible courses, visit the NHSBSA web page here.
Support funds
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to qualify for extra funding. There are a number of different Awards and Funds that might be helpful should you require financial aid.
Visit our support funds page for more details.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
Tuition fees for EU students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years (between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021). This includes new students starting in 2020/21 and continuing students who began after 2016/17.
Full-time
These fees apply to the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years only and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study.
| Course | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| BA, BSc, BEng or LLB | £9,250 |
| DipHE or CertHE | £9,250 |
| FdA or FdSc | £9,250 |
| BA, BSc with integrated foundation year | £6,000 (year 1) BA or BSc fee for the year of study applies in years 2-4 |
| Sandwich or placement year | £1,650. Fee payable by students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year |
| BA, BSc, BEng or LLB - accelerated 2 year degree | To be confirmed |
Please note: These fees apply to the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years only* and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study. * The sandwich or placement year fees stated above apply to students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year
Paying your fees
Most students choose to take a student loan. If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the Student Loans section.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Part-time
The tuition fees for part-time courses are based on the full-time fee. It may be calculated either pro-rata or by module, depending on the type of course. To confirm whether your course is modular or pro-rata, please contact uocadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk.
Modular billing
Most part-time students are invoiced by module in each semester. If your programme allows the extension of study beyond the standard period of enrolment, modular billing enables you to study at a rate you can afford, and over a period of time which suits you.
The tuition fee payable for each module is based on the full-time fee for the relevant year of study. These fees represent the cost of studying for 120 credits in a year. For example, in 2019/20 and 2020/21, where the full-time fee is £9,250, each 10 credit module will cost £771. The tuition fee payable for modules may increase by inflation each year.
Pro-rata billing
Some courses are calculated on a pro-rata basis, by taking the cost of the equivalent full-time course and dividing it by the number of years it will take to complete. Please note that some course fees may be subject to inflation.
Paying your fees
Most students choose to take a student loan. If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the student loans section below.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Student loans
If you are from the EU, you can apply for a loan to help with the cost of university fees. This is paid directly to the University of Cumbria in February and May, so you can focus on your studies without worrying about payment.
Full-time
You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £9,250 for 2019/20 and 2020/21. This is paid directly to the University each year, and is not dependent on your household income. Click here to apply directly online.
If you decide to take the loan, you do not need to pay anything at registration. Just bring along your letter from the Student Loans Company to show that you have applied. It’s as easy as that. Please note that this loan will only cover your tuition, however you may be eligible for a grant to cover the living costs of studying in England from the Education Department of your own government. We recommend contacting them to find out more about how to apply - you don’t want to miss out.
Once you’ve finished your time at university, you will start repaying your loan from the April after you graduate, provided that you are earning above £26,575 a year (or the equivalent in your home country). The Student Loans Company will contact you about your employment after graduation. There will be a small amount of interest on the loan-more information about this can be found on the Student Loans Company website.
How to apply
You can apply for your Tuition Fee Loan through the European Union Team of the Student Loans Company. To get started, visit the Direct Gov website and scroll down to ‘New EU Students’. There you will find the forms you need to apply. If you get stuck, get in touch with us to help you out.
Once you’ve started university, should you have any trouble with your funding, our advisers can provide all the support and advice you need. To book an appointment please use our online referral form, or if your enquiry can be answered via email, please contact us on moneyadvice@cumbria.ac.uk.
Repaying your loan
Graduates with a home address in England, who have a student loan, only start repaying their loan the April after graduation and once they earn over £26,575 per year, and then only on the amount above £26,575.
You'll pay 9% of anything you earn above that amount. If you don't earn more than the threshold, you won't pay anything.
Here's what your monthly repayments could look like:
| Annual income before tax | Monthly salary | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|---|
| £26,575 | £2,214 | £0 |
| £29,500 | £2,458 | £22 |
| £31,000 | £2,583 | £33 |
| £33,000 | £2,750 | £48 |
After 30 years, any outstanding loan is written off.
If your home, address is in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, visit Gov.uk for more information.
These loans attract interest, which is charged at different rates depending on your earnings. For more details on interest rates, please visit the Student Loans Company website. Please note that the Government, rather than the university, set the terms of student loans.
Part-time
Tuition fee loans are available for students studying for their first higher education qualification, which is at least 25% of the intensity of the equivalent full-time course. CPD students may also be eligible for a loan based on level of study, intensity of the course and prior study. Visit gov.uk website for more information and eligibility criteria.
Tuition fee loans are not means-tested and you can be apply for up to the maximum amount of your fees, which is £6,935 in 2019/20 and 2020/21. Tuition fee loans are paid directly to the university so you don’t have to worry about arranging payment.
Eligible courses include:
- a Bachelor's Degree, e.g. BA, BSc or LLB;
- a Foundation Degree (FdA, FdSc);
- a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE);
- a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE);
- Initial Teacher Training (ITT).
Part-time Maintenance Loans
Part-time students starting a course on or after 1 August 2018 can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help with their day-to-day living costs, such as rent or food. The Maintenance Loan is paid directly to your bank account, in three instalments, usually at the start of each term.
For more information about funding for part-time study, visit Gov.uk
For more guidance on applying for a student loan, visit the Student Room's student finance guide.
Repaying your Part-time loan
Part-time Students will have to repay any loans you borrow, but not until the April after you finish or leave your course, or the April four years after the start of your course – whichever comes first – and, only then, if your income is over the repayment threshold.
How much you repay each month depends on your income, not how much you borrowed.
You will repay 9% of your income over the repayment threshold, which is currently £26,575 a year, £2,214 a month or £511 a week. If your income drops below the threshold, your repayments will stop automatically.
You will be charged interest from the day your first student finance payment is made until your loan has been repaid in full or cancelled. The interest rate is based on the UK Retail Price Index (RPI) and will vary depending on your circumstances. For more details on interest rates, please visit the Student Loans Company website.
What if I've studied before?
If you have undertaken any other previous Higher Education study, it is important to be aware that this can sometimes have a impact on the student funding, including tuition fee loans, available to you when you start a new course.
This is a complex area. If you are not sure of your entitlement to funding, it is really important that you seek advice from your funding organisation or with a Student Money Adviser who can clarify exactly how your previous study will impact on your future student funding entitlement.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Scholarships and Bursaries
There is currently no update for the Cumbria Bursary 2020/21 and Progression Scholarship
Support funds
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to qualify for extra funding. There are a number of different Awards and Funds that might be helpful should you require financial aid.
Visit our support funds page for more details.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
EU Referendum
EU nationals who wish to enter the UK to study a course in England which starts in either the 2019/20 or the 2020/21 Academic Years, are still eligible for student support and home fee status for the duration of their studies.
Read more
Our University has a proud and strong history of educating students from Europe and we look forward to welcoming you and other European students over the coming months and years. We are delighted that the Government has given reassurance about financial support for current students and those starting in 2019/20 or 2020/21. Please read the full Governmental statement for more details.
Whilst there is no confirmation of financial support for new entrants for 2021/22 and thereafter, the University of Cumbria will continue its ambitions to be a destination of choice for our European students and we encourage potential applicants to continue to check the University website for the latest information so we can share the most up to date position with you.
Student Loans Company statement
Students beginning study in the 2017/18 or 2018/19 Academic Years
EU Nationals and Student Finance in England (1) - Student Loans Company
The eligibility rules regarding student support and home fee status applying to EU nationals, or their family members, who wish to enter the UK to study a course in England which starts in either the 2017/18 or the 2018/19 Academic Year and which attracts student support, are also unchanged.
SFE will assess these applications against existing eligibility criteria, and will provide loans and/or grants in the normal way. EU nationals, or their family members, who are assessed as eligible to receive grants and/or loans by SFE will then be eligible for this support and for home fee status for the duration of their course. These eligibility criteria set out that for students beginning study any time after August 2016, EU nationals must have been resident in the UK for at least five years or be EEA migrant workers in order to apply for a maintenance loan.
The migration status of EU nationals in the UK is being discussed as part of wider discussions with the EU. The Prime Minister was clear in her letter to the President of the European Council that that we should seek an early agreement on the rights of UK nationals in the EU and EU nationals in the UK, on a reciprocal basis.
Students should consult their institution’s student finance office, or the GOV.UK website, for information on what support they may be able to receive.
Statement from the Student Loans Company website.
Tuition fees for international students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years (between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021). This includes new students starting in 2020/21 and continuing students who began after 2016/17.
Read more
| Course level | Tuition fee (annual) |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree (BA, BSc, LLB) | £10,500† |
| BA (Hons) Social Work | £15,500† |
| DipHE or CertHE | £10,500† |
| BA or BSc with integrated foundation year | £7,500 (year 1)† BA or BSc fee for the year of study applies in years 2-4 |
| Sandwich or placement year | £1,650. Fee payable by students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year |
| BA, BSc, BEng or LLB - accelerated 2 year degree | To be confirmed |
| Foundation degree (FdA, FdSc) | £10,500† |
| Health pre-registration programmes | £15,500 |
| Non-medical prescribing | £2,875 |
| Pre-sessional English (6 weeks) | £1,625 |
| Pre-sessional English (12 weeks) | £3,275 |
† An early payment discount is available for international students.
Please note: These fees apply to the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years only* and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study. * The sandwich or placement year fees stated above apply to students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year
Fee Deposit Policy
Before you can get started with your course, you will be required to pay a deposit of up to £5,000 (the exact amount will be listed in your offer letter). Until we receive this deposit, you will not be issued a 'Confirmation of Acceptance'. Your offer letter will provide more information on how to pay your deposit, but we recommend paying online. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable unless your visa is refused due to exceptional circumstances.
Alternatively you can provide a letter of sponsorship/financial guarantee. This must be on letter-headed paper and include the following information:
- name of the programme and academic year for which the sponsorship applies
- amount of sponsorship (for example, full fees or specified amount in pounds sterling)
- your full name (as stated on your passport)
- your student identification number
- address and named contact to which the University of Cumbria should send the invoice
- full name and address of the sponsoring institution
Pre-sessional courses
Those required to attend a pre-sessional course will need to pay the full fee, in addition to the deposit, which is part payment of the substantive programme fee. The university will not issue the unconditional offer or CAS until both the deposit and full pre-sessional fees are paid.
If a student on the 12-week pre-sessional fails to progress on academic grounds, the full deposit for the substantive programme will be repaid. If a student on either the 6-week or 12-week pre-sessional fails to progress as a result of non-attendance, poor attendance or lack of effort, the minimum payment of £5000 of the fees for the substantive programme will not be repaid.
Deposit refunds
A refund of the £5000 minimum payment will only be considered where a student has been refused a visa for non-fraudulent reasons. Students may apply for a refund by sending copies of the official visa refusal notification from the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)), together with passport details. The university reserves the right to verify details with UKVI.
Where the university decides to make a refund of the minimum payment, this will be refunded in pounds sterling to the person who originally made the payment. The university will transfer the deposit in the most cost-effective way but will not be liable for any bank charges involved in the money transfer. Please note refunds can take 3-4 weeks to arrive in your bank. Refunds will not be made if the visa application is refused, or a CAS is withdrawn, on the grounds of fraudulent activity by the student, or due to failure to disclose full details in the application.
Refunds will not be made if the student fails to attend at the start of the programme or withdraws after the start of the programme.
Paying your tuition fees
After you have paid your deposit or provided your sponsorship letter, you can decide to pay the fee balance in full, or follow our instalment plan. It will be denoted in your offer letter how much you need to pay for the first year of the course.
An early payment discount is available if you choose to pay your full annual tuition fee before the CAS is issued (or in limited cases by registration). The early payment discount is only available to self-funded students in their first year, and excludes pre-sessional courses, partnerships and students receiving other benefits such as scholarships.
If your offer letter denotes you can pay via deposit and then in instalments you will be required to pay 75% of your total tuition fees prior to registration. The deposit you have already paid will be included. For example: If your tuition fees are £10,000, and you’ve paid a deposit of £5000, you’ll need to pay £2,500 prior to registration to complete the 75% requirement. The remaining 25% must be paid three weeks before the end of your first term.
If you are enrolling onto a one semester programme or short course, the tuition fee must be paid in full prior to the start of the programme or course. If your tuition is being sponsored, then you will not be able to pay with an instalment plan.
Planning your finances
Studying in a different country is a big financial investment, so you need to ensure you have everything planned when it comes to spending your money.
Read more
There are many points to consider before submitting your application, such as food, accommodation and other day-to-day expenses.
We recommend that you budget at least £5,500 for an academic year in the UK. This will include your accommodation and living expenses. To help you plan effectively, we suggest using the online International Student Calculator to set a proper budget for your academic life.
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study with the University you need to provide evidence of minimum funds that will be available to you. Please see UKVI requirements on their website in the “Tier 4 of the points based system: policy guidance” booklet. You will also find details of UKVI’s current requirements for the evidence you will need to provide during your application.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Paying for your accommodation
If you choose to stay in univerisity accommodation you will be required to make a pre-payment of £250, and a pre-payment of £100 towards catering packages.
After you have made the pre-payment(s), and the contract has been returned, the balance of your contract will be due. Payment must be made by registration. Instalments are not available.
Please note that you do have the option to pay for the accommodation and catering in full with the contract.
Payment must be made in pounds sterling. You will be given the option online to convert your currency when making a payment.
If you’re having trouble paying online or have any questions, please contact your admissions officer who can give you advice about paying by bank transfer.
Additional costs
All students will need to purchase stationery, course books and personal equipment. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. The PDF link below provides an overview of these costs for this course.
Additional costsResources and facilities
The central focus of our teaching methods is providing support for our students. We provide a supportive environment using small work groups to give you the attention you deserve. Through lectures, seminars and workshops, you'll see how the law develops and is applied, with case studies and hypothetical scenarios to provide real-world context to your studies. We make full use of technology , including an online learning environment (Blackboard) as well as a full range of electronic law resources, and a dedicated law collection in our library.
We understand how important it is that your studies lead to employment, which is why all students have a guidance tutor to discuss their learning and career aspirations. A personal development file is completed over the course of your studies and is used to record your achievements, reflect on learning and skills development and to develop career management skills and awareness. This is an integral part of the LLB.
