Offer from UoN for criminology when originally applied for Law

Hi!! I applied for uni around mid November time and received offers from Exeter, reading, Nottingham Trent, and edge hill within the same month to study law. University of Nottingham got back to me 3 days ago and gave me a criminology offer saying they cannot reconsider me for my original choice - law. My head of year is saying this is because they’ve rejected me for law and they chose students with higher grades (i applied with distinction, A, B), but other people are saying this is just because the course is full. I’m not sure how Nottingham order their applications but if it is only the case that the course is full then I don’t find it very fair that people with lower grades and those who applied later than me received offers for law before I could.
Anyways, my heart is set on law but so is studying at university of Nottingham. What is the best path I should take if I still dream to study law at UoN. Clearing? Or any other suggestions please let me know!

Hi!! I applied for uni around mid November time and received offers from Exeter, reading, Nottingham Trent, and edge hill within the same month to study law. University of Nottingham got back to me 3 days ago and gave me a criminology offer saying they cannot reconsider me for my original choice - law. My head of year is saying this is because they’ve rejected me for law and they chose students with higher grades (i applied with distinction, A, B), but other people are saying this is just because the course is full. I’m not sure how Nottingham order their applications but if it is only the case that the course is full then I don’t find it very fair that people with lower grades and those who applied later than me received offers for law before I could.
Anyways, my heart is set on law but so is studying at university of Nottingham. What is the best path I should take if I still dream to study law at UoN. Clearing? Or any other suggestions please let me know!

Hi!! I applied for uni around mid November time and received offers from Exeter, reading, Nottingham Trent, and edge hill within the same month to study law. University of Nottingham got back to me 3 days ago and gave me a criminology offer saying they cannot reconsider me for my original choice - law. My head of year is saying this is because they’ve rejected me for law and they chose students with higher grades (i applied with distinction, A, B), but other people are saying this is just because the course is full. I’m not sure how Nottingham order their applications but if it is only the case that the course is full then I don’t find it very fair that people with lower grades and those who applied later than me received offers for law before I could.
Anyways, my heart is set on law but so is studying at university of Nottingham. What is the best path I should take if I still dream to study law at UoN. Clearing? Or any other suggestions please let me know!

Hi @miarichx ,
Congratulations on your offers and sorry to hear you didn't secure a law offer from Nottingham. However, a criminology offer is still amazing and can definitely still lead to you becoming a lawyer - it just means your journey into law would look slightly different:
Step 1: Criminology - first you would study your undergraduate degree in criminology. While this may not be your first choice, this degree offers a number of transferrable skills and modules which will be highly valuable to a career in law - in fact, many law firms value non-law students for the unique perspectives and experiences they bring. You can still use these three years to explore your interests in law through societies, independent research and interaction with law firms (such as open days, online courses on Forage, even vacation schemes).
Step 2: PGDL - you would then need to do study the postgraduate conversion course (which I'm doing now!). If you study this full-time, this will be a 9-month intensive study of all the fundamental topics in law. The scenario-based questions are incredibly valuable for understanding how the law can be applied in real life, and the single best answer style examinations offer excellent preparation for SQE1.
Step 3: SQEs or BPC - you will then be at the same stage as a law graduate and be required to pass the solicitors' qualifying exams or Bar Practice Course (if you're looking to be a barrister). The University of Law offers numerous preparation courses which can help you with this - and if you're fortunate to secure a training contract during your undergraduate or PGDL, you may be able to receive firm sponsorship for this!
Step 4: Qualifying Work Experience/Pupillage - you will then need to complete two years' of qualifying work experience, if you're seeking to become a solicitor, or a pupillage if you're looking to be a barrister.
Of course, if you're really set on studying an LLB then it's completely understandable if you don't want to do the above. If that's the case, consider what is drawing you so strongly to Nottingham - is it the campus/city itself or particular societies, modules etc.? If you kept your mind open, could you find similar positive points about the other universities? Based on my time, it's the friends you make rather than the location itself which truly makes the university experience so special - hopefully you'll love wherever you decide to go!
Let me know if you have any questions and best of luck for the future 😊
Holly - PGDL Student

Thank you so so much Holly, this has been impeccably helpful and I appreciate it more than anything at this time. I’m going to reference these tips when considering my future pathway so I couldnt have done it without this advice!