Law (international) (bcl (hons)) in University College Cork, Ireland

Law (international) (bcl (hons)) in University College Cork

The BCL (International) is an exciting and dynamic degree which offers students the opportunity to spend a semester or a full academic year at a law school in Europe,  the US, Canada, or China.

We have a wide variety of prestigious partner institutions and the study abroad period can be tailored to suit your interests, both academically and culturally.

Our partner institutions have a wide variety of specialisations in, for example, international human rights law, business and commercial law, constitutional law, and health law. They also provide practical exposure to the law via trial advocacy, moot court and law clinics.

At present, students can study at law schools in the following locations:

Oslo (Norway)                  

Helsinki (Finland)                           

Copenhagen (Denmark)

Leiden (Netherlands)

Rotterdam (Netherlands)            

Prague (Czech Republic)

Brno (Czech Republic)

Lund (Sweden)                                                 

Ghent (Belgium)                              

Budapest (Hungary)       

Temple (Philadelphia, USA)

St Louis University (Missouri, USA)

Montreal (Canada)

Shanghai (China)

Pune (India)

The BCL (International) gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the international student experience, to explore new cities and countries, to make new friends, and to develop your academic and professional potential. This is in addition to obtaining a law degree recognised by the professional bodies in Ireland which may also be tailored to focus on specialised areas of law. 

See the College Calendar for more detailed information on the programme and the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of programme modules.

In an era of increasing globalisation, students who have studied abroad are particularly attractive to employers due to their familiarity with other legal systems and cultures, and the depth of experience this brings to the workplace.

The BCL (International) in UCC offers you the opportunity to study abroad, through English, for Year 3 of your degree. The course operates on well-established, strong links with partner law schools around the world including prestigious, internationally ranked law schools like ECUPL in Shanghai, Leiden in the Netherlands and Temple in Philadelphia. 

Placement or Study Abroad Information

The study-abroad year is at the heart of the BCL (International). Our prestigious partner institutions offer you the exciting opportunity to live and study abroad in Year 3. At present, students of the BCL

(International) can study in:

• US (Philadelphia, Missouri)
• Canada (Montréal)
• China (Shanghai)
• Europe (Norway, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands)

Each of our partner institutions offers a different experience and you can tailor your study abroad to suit your interests both academically and culturally. Students frequently describe their study abroad as a life-changing experience.

Skills and Careers Information

Obtaining an international degree is a direct benefit to students in a competitive employment market. The skills and experience acquired during the year abroad benefits our graduates when they leave UCC and embark on their varied career paths.

BCL (International) students develop a strong foundation in legal research and writing, advocacy, and legal reasoning. These are transferable skills which are attractive to employers in a wide variety of professions and industries.

Our BCL (International) graduates are sought-after by employers who value the breadth of experience, both legal and personal, gained over the four years of the course. 

Students can graduate with a broad-ranging general degree or can opt to tailor subject choices to specialise in areas like international law, business law, human rights law etc. Many graduates are currently working as solicitors in top law firms. Others have chosen to pursue further study abroad, to work with the Human Rights Commission, the Department of Foreign Affairs, or to become law lecturers following further study, often internationally based.