Degree Considerations?

Hi i'm just seeking some advice on choosing my Uni application. I have been really considering taking a joint honours in law and Chinese or just law and am still unsure whether taking Law and Chinese would be too difficult manage as a relatively average student.

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

What are your objectives for the joint honours course? What are you thinking you would want to do afterwards - do you need both halves of the degree or just one?

Note that a joint honours degree is not more work in a technical sense - it's the same number of credits as a single honours degree, they're just split between two areas (a corollary of which is that you usually have fewer optional modules as more of your modules are compulsory to fill the core requirements of both courses).

Reply 2

bruh40

My main aims would likely to be major in Law with a Minor in Chinese i.e. 2/3 in Law and 1/3 of Credits in Chinese my only concern is whether or not that would just be too much of a workload just due largely to the fact neither are particularly easy course. In fairness coming away from it i would only really need my Law the Chinese is more of a passion project but still difficult nonetheless it would be helpful in general qualification.

Reply 3

McGinger

Just be aware that any joint subject degree means that you will not have a complete choice of the units you are able to take in either subject, because of timetable clashes and pre-requisite units. This can be very frustrating if it means you miss out on specific units.

If you are keen to work in another jurisdiction, there are specialist degrees such as :
Law with International Legal Studies LLB - The University of Nottingham
International Legal Studies | LLB | University of Southampton
Or, look at a Law degree that has a Study Abroad option in China, Singapore or Hong Kong :
Law | Global Opportunities | Newcastle University
Singapore | Liverpool Law School | University of Liverpool

You haven't said if you have a previous qualification in Chinese or if you are proposing to take it at beginners level (abinitio) - either way, remember that at most sensible Unis all students can take extra-curricula language lessons outside their degree, and this may be enough if you just want to have that language skill - you do not need to 'do a degree in it'. Example Languages for All - Department of Language and Linguistic Science, University of York

Reply 4

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by bruh40

When I say "objectives" I mean - what are you hoping to gain from it? Language proficiency while preparing for a legal career? If so, to what level? Basic conversation when visiting as a tourist, or near native proficiency to work and live in China or a Chinese speaking country? Knowledge of Chinese culture and black letter law/socio-legal studies topics to explore the intersections of these academically? Something else?

Note you don't need to do a law degree to become a solicitor in the UK, and a law degree is equally acceptable as any other degree with a graduate diploma in law (GDL) conversion course. Thus for example depending on your objectives you may in fact be better served by a single honours degree in Chinese for example...or just doing a law degree and taking some Chinese language classes through the university language centre (or taking language classes for-credit as external options in a single honours law degree).