Our challenging and competitive course gives you the rewarding intellectual experience of discovering the richness of both the French and English legal cultures. We are one of only a few universities in the UK which put students on the right path to qualify for legal practice in both the UK and France. We also offer a valuable scholarship, specifically for students on this course.
Your first two years on our prestigious LLB Licence English and French Law course are spent at Essex, where you take the required modules in English Law, meeting the requirements for the academic stages of training to become a solicitor or barrister in the UK. During this time in the UK you also learn French law, which is taught in French. Read about AnnaMarie's experience of studying our Double Degree.
After two years at Essex, your third year is spent at one of the following partner institutions in France, where you follow modules in French law to obtain the Licence en Droit:
Students will pay University of Essex tuition fees for the first and second year of study and will pay tuition fees to their French university for their third year.
Not only will you learn legal rules, but you will also consider the function of law in society, the philosophy of law, policy issues and law reform. For instance, you address the rights of consumers, family members, prisoners, householders, workers and children. You'll also cover topics including, but not limited to:
- The functions of the three branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial)
- UK and French constitutional law
- Law of trusts
- Principles of negligence
- Criminal liability
Why Essex?
At Essex, we are ranked 47th for Law in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2023 and 3rd in the UK for research power in law (THE research power measure, REF2021). Our Human Rights Centre is recognised internationally. We are proud of our network of international contacts and are actively engaged in debates about the meaning of justice in the UK and beyond. We work with the United Nations and governments, human rights organisations and corporations all over the world.
Our specialist facilities
- Volunteer at the Essex Law Clinic where you can work alongside practising solicitors to offer legal advice to clients
- Join our l’Association du Double-diplôme, which organises various professional and social events
- Take part in a variety of events including conferences, careers fairs and debates
- Participate in the prestigious Oxford French Law Moot, where judges are drawn from the Cour de Cassation (the French court of final appeal for civil and criminal cases) and a top French law firm
- Peer mentors guide you through your first year
- Take advantage of networking opportunities throughout the year with visiting law firms and our alumni association
Why choose a three-year double degree?
This three-year degree gives you more flexibility. Following France's Ministry of Education Reform in 2016, our new 3-year programme (LLB and Licence) gives you the flexibility, once completed at end of Licence 3, to select a 2-year integrated Masters course at a University in France. The selection at master level takes place at Master 1 (at end the of Licence 3) and no longer at Master 2 (at the end of Master 1).
Under this new system the Master 1 and Master 2 must both be completed at the same University, so if you change from one degree to another at the end of Masters year 1, you will need to start a new Master's degree from the beginning. The LLB English and French Law (Licence) gives you the flexibility in choosing your masters route. We offer the largest double-degree in the UK.
Please note that you are required to be bilingual in French and English in order to be accepted onto this course.
The English and French Law (Licence) student journey
Licence 1
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Licence 2
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Licence 3
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Master 1
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Master 2
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University of Essex
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University of Essex
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One of our partner institutions:
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Any University in France
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The same institution as Master Year 1
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Double-degree Law EU Scholarship
This scholarship scheme is for French double-degree undergraduate Law EU students studying as a new student in the academic year 2023-24 who are classified as international students for fees purposes. The awards offered are a discount of £8,900 automatically deducted from your tuition fees for each year of study at Essex (first 2 years of your course). Find out more about the scholarship and it's eligibility criteria here.
How to apply
If you would like to study in Toulouse, you must apply via Parcoursup to go to the University of Toulouse in your third year. This is the only way for students to join our double degree programme with Toulouse.
If you would like to study in any of the other three French institutions (Lyon, Nanterre and Nice), you can apply to our double degree programme either via UCAS or via Parcoursup.
If you have applied to the degree only via UCAS, you do not need to be interviewed in France - once you receive an offer from Essex via UCAS, you can join the double degree programme (and choose Nice, Nanterre, or Lyon as your partner institution).
However, students who have been accepted in the Double Degree programme via Parcoursup will need to fill in a UCAS or direct application (depending on the circumstances). Students will be contacted in due time with the explanation of the steps to follow to proceed with their registration with UCAS/direct admission.