Canadian students at Birmingham Law School

LLB programmes

The entry requirements for our 3-year LLB programmes by province are detailed below: 

• Ontario:  85% overall in 6 grade 12 Secondary School Diploma courses 
• British Columbia: grade 12 Senior Secondary Diploma with an average of at least 85% in 5 grade 12 subjects 
• Manitoba: High School Graduation Diploma with an overall average of 85%, including 5 credits awarded at the 300 level in at least 4 subject areas, and at least 65% in each subject 
• Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northern W. T., Nova Scotia, Nunavut, P. Edward Island, Saskatchewan: General High School Diploma with an overall average of 85% in 5 subjects at grade 12 
• Québec: Diplôme d'études Collégiales (DEC) with an overall average of 85%  
• Yukon: Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma with an overall average of at least 85% in 5 grade 12 subjects (including provincial examinations where applicable)

LLB for Graduates

For entry to our LLB for Graduates programme, we require a B+ average or GPA of 3.0/4 in any non-law degree subject. 

LLM programmes

A B+ average or a GPA of 3.0/4 in an LLB programme is required for entry to our LLMs. 

The Federation of Canadian Law Societies’ National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is responsible for assessing and recognising the legal education of students who complete their Law degrees outside of Canada. 

Many hundreds of Birmingham Law School graduates from Canada and elsewhere have previously successfully had their Birmingham Law degrees assessed by the NCA, so as to enable them to proceed to qualify as lawyers in Canada. 

In light of imminent changes to legal regulation in England, the NCA has made an announcement to confirm these changes do not alter the NCA’s key requirements and that the NCA will continue to require that graduates from England complete a law degree (typically an LLB). Consequently, the process for students with UK Law degrees to qualify as lawyers in Canada has not changed and you can be confident that Law degrees from the University of Birmingham remain recognised to allow potential progression to a career in Law in Canada.

Canadian LLB students will be required to sit a number of challenge exams when returning to Canada in order to fulfil the requirements set out by the NCA.

Canadian students from Birmingham choose to meet the NCA’s requirements either by preparing for their challenge examinations through self-study, or else by undertaking a Master’s degree at certain Canadian Law Schools.  Most students will complete their NCA exams or Master’s degree within approximately 12 months of returning to Canada.

• Students completing our 2-year LLB for Graduates with a 2:2 or above (equivalent to a C in Canada) in all courses generally have to sit 7 NCA exams.
• Students completing a 3-year LLB programme with a 2:2 or above (equivalent to a C in Canada) in all courses generally have to sit 5 NCA exams. Students taking a 3-year LLB straight from high school will also have additional challenge exams set by the NCA.

Full details of the requirements can be found in the NCA's policy and guidelines.

The above information is for guidance purposes. We recommend that students carry out their own research and check with the legal associations in the jurisdictions they wish to practise in for the most up to date information as the regulations may change. 

As a Birmingham Law School student, you will benefit from our Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research, which offers a range of opportunities to increase your experience of law in action and enhance your employability, including International Law Careers Week, and an annual Canadian Legal Careers Conference. These feature a variety of invaluable events to provide guidance on Canadian legal careers, and ensure that Canadian students are fully informed about the career options that are available to them. 

The mix of people, nationalities and cultures within Birmingham Law School greatly enriches the learning and teaching environment. When choosing to study at the University of Birmingham you can be assured that you will have access to all the necessary support services to make your time here fun and enjoyable, as well as educational.

Student Experience Officer

There is a Student Experience Officer for Birmingham Law School and our international students. Their role is to ensure you make the most of your time at Birmingham. They also produce a weekly newsletter detailing opportunities in the Law School and beyond.

Student societies 

Many nationality groups form student societies during their time at the University of Birmingham.

The University of Birmingham’s Canadian Society aims to bring together Canadian and non-Canadian students alike, in order to assist with career transition and promote Canadian culture. 

Accommodation

We want you to feel at home while you are studying at Birmingham. For peace of mind when relocating around the world, we offer an accommodation guarantee scheme to our international students. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.

Advice and support

All members of Law academic staff have office hours set aside each week for students to meet them on a 1-1 basis, meaning that they are always available if you need further clarification or assistance with your studies. On arrival, you will be allocated a personal tutor who will support you with any welfare or academic issues.

There is also lots of advice and support on offer from our International Student Team, both during the application process and throughout your stay in Birmingham. 

Graduate perspectives

• Sarah Jiwa
• Daniel Lo

Student perspectives

• Neda Mahmoodi
• Jillian Sauerzopf

Birmingham Law School offers a range of scholarships to its international students each year. Please see our scholarships section for further information.

The University also offers scholarships, including country-specific scholarships. More information on the scholarships available and further advice on funding your degree, including details of loans available for Canadian students, can be found on our international fees and funding pages.