Bournemouth Business School International (BBSI), one of the most highly-accredited business schools and English language colleges in England, offers international students the opportunity to undertake a pre-Masters course in England related to legal studies, and international and commercial law, while acquiring the advanced study skills necessary for postgraduate entry to a university in England. Our Pre-Masters Course in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law comprises 30 lessons weekly, is extremely flexible and is carefully designed for international students with either a first degree or equivalent, or a higher diploma and relevant work experience, who are seeking to enhance their career prospects by undertaking a postgraduate degree course.
The course is available in 12, 24 or 36-week study options, depending on individual requirements and your current level in English. Successful participants gain business and law qualifications awarded by BBSI and the NCFE national awarding body, and have the option to acquire the University of Cambridge ESOL International Legal English Certificate. The course syllabus also includes extensive preparation for the IELTS† Examination and Advanced Study Skills‡. Courses are conducted around a busy social and activity programme, and the maximum class size is 12, which can extend to 15 during the summer months, July-September.
UK University Placement. While undertaking your pre-Masters course at BBSI and acquiring the qualifications and advanced study skills necessary for postgraduate study at a university in England, you are provided with extensive counselling and guidance in all aspects of study at English universities, and are also given full assistance with the university application process. All students who successfully complete their course and achieve the required IELTS level for entry are assured of a university place prior to graduation from BBSI.
University Entry Requirements. Students seeking to enter a Masters degree course at a university in England must be a minimum of 20 years of age and have achieved an equivalent of IELTS 6.0 in English. Moreover, applicants must have full records of their High-School education and their diploma or first degree education. Copies of these academic records, as well as evidence of work experience, should be submitted to BBSI at the time of enrolment.
University of Cambridge ESOL International Legal English Certificate. The International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) is a University of Cambridge ESOL examination produced and assessed by Cambridge ESOL Examinations in collaboration with TransLegal, Europe’s leading firm of lawyer-linguists. BBSI is an accredited ILEC Examination Centre. English is an essential tool for any lawyer working with international matters, and employers need to know that the legal staff they appoint have a sufficient level of English to be able to communicate with clients and professionals in other countries. At the same time, law students and newly-qualified lawyers need to be able to show employers that they have the required language skills. The ILEC examination allows candidates to demonstrate their skills, and therefore to increase their employability. It is based on realistic texts, tasks and topics of the kind legal practitioners might meet in their daily working lives. Preparation for the ILEC is included automatically within this BBSI study programme.
Study Options. There are 3 study options for this Pre-Masters course:
12-Week Certificate Course. For those students with excellent high-school grades, a diploma or first-degree qualification, and a sound Upper-Intermediate to Advanced level in English, and who already have a firm offer of a place on a Masters course at a university in England, we offer a 12-week study programme that leads to Certificate awards from BBSI and NCFE, and provides the opportunity to acquire the University of Cambridge ILEC qualification.
24-Week Higher-Certificate Course. For those students with excellent High-School grades, a diploma or first-degree qualification, and a sound Upper-Intermediate Level in English or above, we offer a 24-week study programme that leads to a Higher-Certificate award from BBSI, a Certificate award from NCFE, and provides the opportunity to acquire the University of Cambridge ILEC qualification.
36-Week Diploma Course. For those students with a lower, Upper-Intermediate Level in English, who require more emphasis initially on developing their academic English prior to the introduction of more advanced professional and legal studies, we offer a longer, 36-week Diploma programme that builds more gradually in intensity and specialisation. This study option leads to a BBSI Diploma and a Certificate award from NCFE, and provides the opportunity of acquiring the University of Cambridge ILEC qualification.
Certificate Study Option
Minimum English Entry Level: IELTS 6.0 (Upper-Intermediate)
Course Duration: 12 weeks (1 term)
Course Designation: PLS 12
Main Course Entry Dates: October, January, April or July (term dates 2008)
Lessons Weekly: 30 (each of 45 minutes' duration)
Minimum Age: 20 years
Course Structure & Content:
20 lessons weekly in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(includes the full Cambridge ILEC syllabus)
10 lessons weekly in Advanced Study Skills & IELTS Examination Preparation
Awards:
BBSI Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
NCFE Certificate in Legal studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
Optional Examinations+:
University of Cambridge ESOL ILEC
(examination-annually May & November)
IELTS [Academic] (examinations monthly)
Course Objectives. The course objectives are to:
- fully prepare students academically for entry to a Masters degree course related to legal studies, international and commercial law at a university in England
- have completed the university-application process so that students secure a university placement in England on the postgraduate degree course of their choice
- acquire the necessary academic study skills for postgraduate study at an English university
- develop an understanding of current theory and practice in legal studies, international and commercial law
- acquire a sound, professional understanding and knowledge of international and commercial law concepts
- develop effective legal English communication and presentation skills
- build appropriate legal vocabulary
- develop confidence and fluency in the English language towards Advanced Level
- prepare participants for the IELTS (Academic) examination
- acquire legal English and law qualifications
Course Elements. In addition to providing students with a thorough and comprehensive grounding in legal English and advanced academic study skills, the Certificate syllabus incorporates specialised topics selected from the following:
- UK and comparative legal systems
- law of property
- international law, human rights and competition policy
- criminal law
- conflict of laws
- public international law
- international trade
- commercial, consumer and employment law
- contract Law
- current affairs and the Law
- partnership law
- intellectual property
- law of tort, including physical injury and economic loss
- company law (shares, company capital, legal entities ..)
- international legal English (drafting legal documents and letters, understanding legal documents, legal negotiations, client interviews ..)
Higher-Certificate Study Option
Minimum English Entry Level: IELTS 6.0 (Upper-Intermediate)
Course Duration: 24 weeks (2 terms)
Course Designation: PLS 24
Main Course Entry Dates: October, January, April or July (term dates 2008)
Lessons Weekly: 30 (each of 45 minutes' duration)
Minimum Age: 20 years
Course Structure & Content:
20 lessons weekly in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(includes the full Cambridge ILEC syllabus)
10 lessons weekly in Advanced Study Skills & IELTS Examination Preparation
Awards:
BBSI Higher-Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
NCFE Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
Optional Examinations+:
University of Cambridge ILEC
(examination-annually May & November)
IELTS [Academic] (examinations monthly)
Course Objectives. The course objectives are to:
- fully prepare students academically for entry to a Masters degree course related to legal studies, international and commercial law at a university in England
- have completed the university-application process so that students secure a university placement in England on the postgraduate degree course of their choice
- acquire the necessary academic study skills for postgraduate study at an English university
- develop an understanding of current theory and practice in legal studies, international and commercial law
- acquire a sound, professional understanding and knowledge of international and commercial law concepts
- develop effective legal English communication and presentation skills
- build appropriate legal vocabulary
- develop confidence and fluency in the English language to advanced Level
- prepare participants for the IELTS (Academic) examination
- acquire legal English and law qualifications
Course Elements. In addition to providing students with a thorough and comprehensive grounding in legal English and advanced study skills, the Higher-Certificate syllabus incorporates all the following specialised topics:
- UK and comparative legal systems
- law of property
- international law, human rights and competition policy
- criminal law
- conflict of laws
- public international law
- international trade
- commercial, consumer and employment law
- contract Law
- current affairs and the Law
- partnership law
- intellectual property
- law of tort, including physical injury and economic loss
- company law (shares, company capital, legal entities ..)
- international legal English (drafting legal documents and letters, understanding legal documents, legal negotiations, client interviews ..)
Diploma Study Option
Minimum English Entry Level: IELTS 5.5 (Upper-Intermediate)
Course Duration: 36 weeks (3 terms)
Course Designation: PLS 36
Main Course Entry Dates: October; January; April or July (term dates 2008)
Lessons Weekly: 30 (each of 45 minutes' duration)
Minimum Age: 17 years
Course Structure & Content:
Term 1
20 lessons weekly in Communications & Business Skills
10 lessons weekly in Advanced Study Skills & IELTS Examination Preparation
Terms 2 & 3
20 lessons weekly in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(includes the full Cambridge ILEC syllabus)
10 lessons weekly in Advanced Study Skills & IELTS Examination Preparation
Awards:
BBSI Diploma in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
NCFE Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
Optional Examinations+:
University of Cambridge ESOL ILE
(examination-annually May & November)
IELTS [Academic] (examinations monthly)
Course Objectives. The course objectives are to:
- fully prepare students academically for entry to a Masters degree course related to legal studies, international and commercial law at a university in England
- have completed the university-application process so that students secure a university placement in England on the postgraduate degree course of their choice
- acquire the necessary academic study skills for postgraduate study at an English university
- develop an understanding of current theory and practice in legal studies, international and commercial law
- acquire a sound, professional understanding and knowledge of international and commercial law concepts
- develop effective legal English communication and presentation skills
- build appropriate legal vocabulary
- develop confidence and fluency in the English language to advanced Level
- prepare participants for the IELTS (Academic) examination
- acquire legal English and law qualifications
Course Elements. In addition to providing international students with a thorough and comprehensive grounding in legal English and advanced study skills, the Diploma syllabus incorporates all the following specialised elements:
- UK and comparative legal systems
- law of property
- international law, human rights and competition policy
- criminal law
- conflict of laws
- public international law
- international trade
- commercial, consumer and employment law
- contract Law
- current affairs and the Law
- partnership law
- intellectual property
- law of tort, including physical injury and economic loss
- company law (shares, company capital, legal entities ..)
- international legal English (drafting legal documents and letters, understanding legal documents, legal negotiations, client interviews ..)
Certificate, Higher-Certificate, Diploma and
University Foundation versions of the above course are also available.
† IELTS
IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all 4 language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. IELTS is the preferred English language assessment for universities in English-speaking countries worldwide. Examinations take place monthly in Bournemouth and a place can be secured at the time of booking your course with BBSI. Candidates must book for the examination at least 6 weeks before each examination sitting.
‡ Advanced Study Skills
plagiarism
research skills
internet-based study
bibliography & referencing
extended writing assignment
critical thinking & independent thought
compilation & statistical analysis
independent learning
presentations
seminar skills
Book this course on-Line.The following Pre-Masters courses are also available at BBSI:
+ Examination fees for those seeking to undertake external examinations are not included in the BBSI course fees.
BBSI courses are carefully designed and structured at different language levels to enable international students to develop all 4 English language skills simultaneously, while developing their professional communication skills and professional knowledge in academic, vocational or professional context, in the specialised subject of their choice. Students therefore have the flexibility to focus on either academic or vocational progression, depending on their personal training needs and particular learning objectives.
Download a PDF of the BBSI Pre-Masters Course in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law.