COURSE CURRICULUM

The Law (BCL) and Human Rights degree at University of Galway provides a comprehensive legal education combined with specialised study in human rights law, equipping students with strong doctrinal knowledge and a deep understanding of global justice issues. In Year 1, students establish core legal foundations through modules in Constitutional Law, Contract Law, Tort Law, Human Rights Law: Theories, Concepts and Contemporary Issues, and Understanding the Law, which supports the transition to university-level legal study, while optional subjects such as Family and Child Law or Legal French, German, or Irish allow early specialisation. Year 2 expands expertise in both domestic and international legal systems, with modules covering Criminal Law, European Union Law, European Human Rights Law, and International Protection of Human Rights, alongside Mooting and a Guided Research Essay to strengthen advocacy and research skills; additional options include Labour Law, Environmental Law, and Intellectual Property Law. In Year 3, students personalise their learning through a professional work placement in legal or public sector organisations or by studying abroad at partner universities worldwide, while Legal Irish students divide their year between the Gaeltacht campus in An Cheathrú Rua and an Irish-speaking professional placement. In the final year, students complete advanced core subjects including Company Law, Equity Law, and Land Law, and select a specialist stream such as Legal Professions or Human Rights, Crime and Equality, enabling focused preparation for careers in legal practice, human rights advocacy, policymaking, international organisations, or further postgraduate study.