BA in Law
The BA programme at RU School of Law encourages student initiative, public speaking, and presentation training. Lectures form part of the programme as well as work sessions and seminars. Students are required to take an active part in class discussions.
Overview
Credits
180 ECTS.
Language
Language of instruction is Icelandic.
Length of study
Three years, full time.
Project based learning
Reykjavík University's School of Law focuses on project-based learning, aiming to increase active student participation in the course of their studies and prepare them better for their future careers.
This means that practical problem-solving forms an integral part of the study evaluation in all courses at the School of Law. It also ensures training for students in legal methodology in diverse subjects apart from the actual study evaluation. Teaching takes place in smaller groups, less emphasis is placed on lectures and instead students' activities are increased.
Teachers at the School of Law encourage discussions and train students by assigning them to sove practical problems. Reykjavík University's School of Law sees the development of project-based learning as an ongoing task and one of its most important undertakings.
Highlights
- A sound jurisprudential basis and command of classical and contemporary legal theories.
- Quality of teaching, diverse teaching methods, diverse study evaluation and quality of feedback to students.
- Purposeful training for students in applying legal methodology.
- Use of electronic media in the study and practice of law.
- Encouraging students to develop independent working practices.
- Practical project work.
- Limiting the number of students to ensure quality services and a personal connection between students and teachers.
- Modern learning facilities.
Undergraduate scholarship: The Dean´s List
Students achieving the best results in each examination period shall be admitted to the School of Law's Dean's List and have their tuition fees for the next semester waived.
To be eligible for the Dean's list, the full-time students must complete at least 15 credits. Only courses that students complete during the regular examination period, or earlier, shall be considered for the Dean's List. In calculating the average grade only examinations taken for the first time in a certain course apply, i.e. repeated examinations do not apply, whereas examinations taken due to illness at the time of the regular examination apply.
As a general rule approximately 2,5% of students in the undergraduate programme shall be included on the Dean's List each time.
Lögrétta: Law Student´s Organisation
Lögrétta, the Law Student´s Organisation at RU was established in 2003. The goal of Lögrétta is mainly to enhance academic work in the legal field both inside and outside the School of Law.
Lögrétta protects the interests of its members and functions as a contact between law students and the administrators of the School of Law. The president of Lögrétta looks out for the interests of law students at School meetings which he attends on their behalf. Lögrétta furthermore organises various fun activities for students with the main events being the Lögrétta Day and the annual celebration in addition to almost weekly trips to companies and institutions.
The Lögrétta Debate Society operates under the auspices of Lögrétta and holds debate meetings on those legal issues most prominent at any given time. Lögrétta also publishes the Lögrétta Journal which is a reviewed legal journal.
Lögrétta's Litigation Competition
Every year two teams compete in Lögrétta's Litigation Competition which takes place in February in the court room at RU.
Trip to Brussels
EU Law is one of the core courses at RU School of Law and a European Law Institute operates at RU. Students in EU Law take a study trip to Brussels where they visit EU institutions, EFTA, EFTA Surveillance Authority and the Icelandic Standing Committee towards the EU.
International Litigation Competitions
Law students at RU participate in the world's largest litigation competition, Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. During the competition, the students prepare prosecution and defence papers in a made-up case which is tried before an international court of arbitration. Graduate students can also participate in The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot every other year opposite Willem C. Vis.
Legal service
Law students at RU provide individuals with legal counselling free of charge. The cases can be in all kinds of areas, e.g. tax issues, labour market rights, the rights of residents in apartment buildings and legal issues concerning marriage and inheritance.
The legal service is situated in the main entrance of RU (the Sun). It can also be reached by telephone 777-8409 or by e-mail at logfrodur@ru.is. The legal service is open on Wednesdays from 17:00 to 20:00 from September 1st until the beginning of May, except during final exams in December.
Web page: logfrodur.ru.is
Structure
The programme comprises 165 ECTS from the subject core and 15 ECTS from elective subjects. A detailed description of courses is published in the course catalogue.
The academic year at RU is divided into two semesters. The autumn semester runs from mid-August to mid-December and the spring semester from January to May.
The core subjects of legal studies are covered as well as courses in book keeping and analysis of financial statements and legal research. In the spring semesters of the first and second years, students are required to work on special projects under the direction of a supervisor.
See course catalogue for further information.
1st year Fall |
2nd year Fall |
3rd year Fall |
1st year Spring |
2nd year Spring |
3rd year Spring |
In the spring term of their third year, students are given the opportunity to specialize, to a certain degree, by a choice between elective courses*. Furthermore, they have the possibility of selecting subjects in the Schools of Business and/or Computer Science and other subjects at university level.
Admission
Applicants for undergraduate studies at the School of Law at Reykjavík University need to have completed a matriculation examination or another comparable education, cf. Article 19 no. 63/2006 regarding universities. In exceptional cases, it is permitted to admit students who possess equivalent maturity and knowledge in the opinion of administrators at the School of Law.
In evaluating applicants, grades on matriculation examination or another comparable education are considered. Grades in Icelandic, English, a Nordic language and mathematics are especially taken into account. Different kinds of knowledge and experience, such as professional experience, participation in extracurricular activities, sports, music school and other things that might benefit applicants during their studies, can also affect the evaluation of applications. Applicants are therefore encouraged to specify everything they feel may benefit their application.
Applicants can request an interview with a representative from the School of Law if they want to introduce themselves, seek information and submit additional documents.
The Dean of the School of Law decides, in consultation with the Rector, how many applicants are accepted to undergraduate studies.
The Admissions Council at the School of Law decides which students are accepted to the School.
The undergraduate studies usually begin in the fall and is taught in Icelandic. The Dean of the School of Law can though decide, in consultation with the Rector, to accept applications to the School for the spring semester. The Dean is permitted to implement stricter application requirements for the spring semester.
See also Rules for BA studies at the School of Law.
Contact us
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Benedikta G. Kristjánsdóttir |
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Anna Steinunn Gunnarsdóttir Programme Administrator annasg@ru.is Tel. +354-599-6256 |
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