Undergraduate Course

LLB Licence English and French Law

(Double Degree)

How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: Licence English and French Law (Double Degree)

UCAS code: M123

Start date: October 2025

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 3 years

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Essex Law School

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.

Your first two years on our prestigious LLB Licence English and French Law (Double Degree) 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 Anna Massy's experience of studying in 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?

Essex Law School has an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research.

We are in the top 20 for international outlook in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.
We are also ranked 49th for Law in THE World University Rankings by subject 2024, which is 9th in the UK.
We’re ranked 22nd (12th in UK) for promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for reduced inequalities (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024)

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 Oras! Mooting Competition, where judges are drawn from the Cour de cassation, UK courts, the European Court of Justice in addition to top law firms. This Mooting Competition has been created by one of our students in 2020 and keeps growing, attracting prestigious sponsors (such as the law firm ‘Reed Smith' and the Dalloz editions).
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 or an LL.M. course in the UK (or abroad). 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	Licence 2	Licence 3	Master 1	Master 2
University of Essex	University of Essex	One of our partner institutions: Université Paris-Nanterre Université Lyon III Jean Moulin Université Toulouse Capitole Université Côte d'Azur	Any University in France	The same institution as Master Year 1

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 Nanterre or Nice, you can apply to our Double Degree programme either via UCAS or Parcoursup. If you would like to study in Lyon, you can apply to our Double Degree programme either via UCAS or Lyon's internal platform (ecandidat).

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.

Why we're great.

Our lecturers work with the UN, the UK government, and with EU and foreign governments.
You gain work experience advising real clients through opportunities such as the Essex Law Clinic.
Our English and French Law Double-Degree was the winner of the Franco-British Lawyers Society Academic Prize (2018).

Our expert staff

All of our staff for our LLB English and French Law have experience of the French and English academic systems, so they understand the benefits of a dual education and appreciate the need for a supportive environment for international students.

Dr Laure Sauve teaches French Private Law I, an introduction to law and family law, reflecting on how legal cultures shape the minds of legal practitioners.and French Private Law II (law of obligations) and has a particular research interest in French family law, building on her PhD and current research projects with Paris II, projects involving comparing family law across EU member states.

Prof Yseult Marique teaches French Private Law. Her areas of research include Regulation and administrative law, especially public-private relationships, Public contracts (procurement, enforcement, corruption), Integrity and ethics in government and business, European administrative law and comparative administrative law.

Dr Emmanuelle Lemaire also teaches French Private Law. Her areas of research include Comparative Law, Tort Law, French Law and English Law.

Dr Eugénie Duval teaches French Administrative Law and French Constitutional Law. Her areas of research include Animal Law (farm animal welfare regulations) and Constitutional Law (participatory and representative democracy).

Dr Sophie Duroy teaches French constitutional law. Her areas of research include public international law, human rights law, and intelligence and national security.

Dr. Etienne Durand teaches French Administrative Law. His areas of research include EU Market and Competition Law, Energy and Climate Law.

Professors from our partner universities in France also regularly visit to teach topical issues in French law. They are additionally available to discuss your progression in France.

"Settling into social life was easy with all the facilities and support offered by the Students’ Union. I met great people and my experience at Essex definitely had an important impact on me. I am now finishing my degree in Lyon, but I look back on my time at Essex fondly.”

Coline Castelnau, LLB English and French Law, 2018

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

A-levels: ABB, including A in French (or equivalent).
IB: 32 points or three Higher Level certificates with 655. Either must include Higher Level French grade 6.
French Baccalaureate: An overall mark of 14 including 12 in English and 12 in French.

If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page or get in touch with our Undergraduate Admissions Team.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Undergraduate Admissions team at ugquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.

English language requirements

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.

Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.

English language shelf-life

Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

Pre-sessional English courses

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Pending English language qualifications

You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.

If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk .

Requirements for second and final year entry

Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

Additional Notes

If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College

Structure

Course structure

We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The course content is therefore reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our courses remain up-to-date so modules listed are subject to change.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: CORE

French Constitutional Law

(15 CREDITS)

You’ll receive an overview of French constitutional law, including elements of EU law, and will focus on the techniques of legal writing specific to French law and French legal culture. You’ll acquire an in depth understanding of the style of reasoning and legal development of French constitutional law, and you’ll learn to think and work in French law alongside the English legal system.

View French Constitutional Law on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: CORE

French Private Law I

(15 CREDITS)

You’ll gain an overview of the French legal system and French private law. You’ll look at the legal methods specific to French private law and French legal culture. You’ll acquire understanding of the style of reasoning of French private law and the relevant use of the civil code. You’ll learn to think and work in French law alongside the English legal system, and will gain the necessary background to analyse the key concepts of French private law.

View French Private Law I on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

Contract Law

(30 CREDITS)

What are the legal consequences of contract failure? How do you calculate damages? Examine key aspects of contract law. Identify legal issues in simulated case studies and learn to construct legal arguments. Apply legal principles and precedent cases to resolve simulated legal problems. Build the numerical skills to calculate damages.

View Contract Law on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Public Law

(30 CREDITS)

This module introduces the fundamentals of the UK constitution and the foundations of judicial review. The module explores: the nature of the constitution; the structure of governmental power; the sources of constitutional rules; and the fundamental principles underpinning the UK constitution. The module considers the functions of the three branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial) and how they are accountable. The module examines the framework for protection of human rights in the UK and introduces the grounds of judicial review.

View Public Law on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY

Criminal Law

(30 CREDITS)

How effective is criminal law? How do you break down a criminal law statute to its component parts? And how do you then interpret it? Understand criminal law in England and Wales. Read and critically analyse judicial decisions. Assess and answer factual problems, raising issues of criminal liability.

View Criminal Law on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY

Essex Law Key Skills

(0 CREDITS)

Essex Law Key Skills provides an introduction to the English legal system and helps you acquire and develop a range of key skills that are important for legal studies. The module introduces you to the key sources of law and tools of practitioners in the English and Welsh legal systems, such as statutes, case law, treaties, and principles of academic writing, including research, writing and referencing skills. The module allows students to build on their legal and academic skills throughout their first year, with dedicated sessions for ensuring pastoral support.

View Essex Law Key Skills on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

Tort Law

(30 CREDITS)

Who is liable for causing psychiatric harm? Or for causing economic loss? Study the foundations of negligence liability, examining further aspects of tort law. Gain experience of applying the principles of negligence liability to duty-based scenarios. Read and critically analyse judicial decisions.

View Tort Law on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Equity and Trusts

(15 CREDITS)

What is meant by breach of trust? What are the constitutional elements of a fully constituted trust? How can that trust be terminated? Study the principles governing the law of trusts. Examine the development of equity, equitable principles and equitable remedies. Analyse social and legal contexts in which trusts arise.

View Equity and Trusts on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

Land Law

(30 CREDITS)

Land law is a topic that affects all of us, playing a fundamental role in regulating people's rights over one of the most valuable and useful legal assets. This module is designed to provide you with a sound understanding of the key features of land law, including its underlying principles and its importance in regulating property relations in response to social policy needs. Students will learn about the distinction between personal property and land, the framework for establishing and enforcing various different interests in land.

View Land Law on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: OPTIONAL

(15 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 05: CORE

French Administrative Law

(15 CREDITS)

You’ll receive an overview of French administrative law, including the elements of EU law that influences and shapes the current development of French administrative law. You’ll focus on the legal methods specific to French law and will become familiar with French legal culture. You’ll acquire an in depth understanding of the style of reasoning of French public law, and will learn to think and work in French law alongside the English legal system.

View French Administrative Law on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: CORE

French Private Law II

(15 CREDITS)

This module gives you an overview of the French law of obligations (contracts and torts), and focuses on the legal methods specific to French law. You’ll gain the necessary background knowledge of the law of obligations (including the efficient use of the civil code) in order to pursue your studies in French private law at one of our partner universities in France.

View French Private Law II on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 07: COMPULSORY

Career Development Skills Part 2

(0 CREDITS)

This module incorporates a range of teaching activities, workshops and panel sessions that encourage you to take ownership of your personal and professional development in order to compete in the graduate labour market. You will be able to identify, articulate and evidence your employability skills, and will develop a critical understanding of your place in the world of work.

View Career Development Skills Part 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

Licence

(120 CREDITS)

The year you will spend in France. After successful completion you will be awarded a Licence de droit.

View Licence on our Module Directory

Teaching

Undergraduate students in Essex Law School typically attend a mix of large lectures and small group tutorials, with most modules having a lecture each week, and one hour tutorial once a fortnight.

Tutorials provide the opportunity to discuss the law, apply the law to factual problems, and develop legal arguments
Basic IT skills training is available and training in the use of LEXIS and WESTLAW (legal research tools) is also given
You are encouraged to take part in moots (mock trials), negotiation competitions and other practical exercises
Your third year is taught at one of three partner institutions in France

Assessment

Virtually all modules are assessed by a combination of written examination and coursework
Examinations are held at the end of each academic year
Your first year marks do not count towards your final degree classification

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£9,250 per year

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 the third year.

International fee

£10,635 per year

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

Home/UK fees and funding information

International fees and funding information

What's next

Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.

Applications for our full-time undergraduate courses should be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full details on how to apply can be found on the filling in your UCAS undergraduate application web page.

Our UK students, and some of our EU and international students, who are still at school or college, can apply through their school. Your school will be able to check and then submit your completed application to UCAS. Our other international applicants (EU or worldwide) or independent applicants in the UK can also apply online through UCAS Apply.

The UCAS code for our University of Essex is ESSEX E70. The individual campus codes for our Loughton and Southend Campuses are 'L' and 'S' respectively.

You can find further information on how to apply, including information on transferring from another university, applying if you are not currently at a school or college, and applying for readmission on our How to apply and entry requirements page.

Offer Holder Days

If you receive an undergraduate offer to study with us in October 2024 and live in the UK, you will receive an email invitation to book onto one of our Offer Holder Days. Our Colchester Campus Offer Holder Days run from February to May 2024 on various Wednesdays and Saturdays, and our Southend Campus events run in April and May. These events provide the opportunity to meet your department, tour our campus and accommodation, and chat to current students. To support your attendance, we are offering a travel bursary, allowing you to claim up to £150 as reimbursement for travel expenses. For further information about Offer Holder Days, including terms and conditions and eligibility criteria for our travel bursary, please visit our webpage.

If you are an overseas offer-holder, you will be invited to attend one of our virtual events. However, you are more than welcome to join us at one of our in-person Offer Holder Days if you are able to - we will let you know in your invite email how you can do this.

A sunny day with banners flying on Colchester Campus Square 4.

Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

Find out more

View from Square 2 outside the Rab Butler Building looking towards Square 3

If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

Find out more

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.