AIMS

The basic aim of this Degree is to provide a professional education in Law, taking a general approach to the discipline with a view to training experts capable of fulfilling a wide variety of professional roles. At the same time, the optional subjects available in the final year reflect the versatile nature of the Degree course.  With this aim in mind, the course programme offers training in all legal areas, leading not only to the acquisition of a series of specific skills in a range of disciplines, but also of a series of generic skills, enabling graduates to work in a range of changing professional environments. The course will also prepare future graduates for specialisation in post-graduate study, where they may acquire more specialised training for specific professional profiles.

Accordingly, and bearing in mind the range of skills defined for this degree, the following general aims of the University of Alicante Law Degree can be highlighted:

1. To transmit an interest in the study of the Law among students, in all its theoretical, empirical and professional facets.
2. To provide students with the knowledge, skills, abilities and aptitudes necessary to work in any of a wide range of professional legal posts.
3. To help students to develop the capacity to apply their legal knowledge in solving practical problems, tackling them with sufficient decision-making capacity.
4. To stimulate students’ capacity to produce quality documents, professional reports and scientific papers in the field of the Law, and to defend them publically in the corresponding forums.
5. To encourage the acquisition of the skills required for independent learning.

Within the framework of the following general principles:

• Respect for basic rights and equality between men and women.

• Respect for and promotion of Human Rights and the principles of universal access and design for all, in accordance with the terms of Final Provision Ten of Act 51/2003 of 2 December, on equal opportunities, non-discrimination and universal accessibility for persons with disabilities.

• In accordance with the values of a culture of peace and democracy.

• Credit structure of the degree course
• Distribution of credits per subject type
• General description of the course programme
• Optional subjects and routes
  

GENERAL STRUCTURE

The University of Alicante Law Degree course programme consists of 240 ECTS credits, distributed over 4 years, each worth 60 ECTS credits and, in turn, divided into two 30 ECTS semesters. The programme covers all theoretical and practical aspects to be acquired by students.

In order to make the course compatible with other activities, students are permitted to take a part-time course consisting of 30 credits per academic year.

DISTRIBUTION OF CREDITS PER SUBJECT TYPE

GENERAL COURSE PROGRAMME

The first half of the course programme comprises the core subjects. This is followed by 138 compulsory ECTS credits, aimed at ensuring that students acquire the necessary skills, plus 6 ECTS credits corresponding to the Final Project, which is carried out in the final semester. The final 36 ECTS credits correspond to optional specialisation-aimed subjects and, as the case may be, work experience. These are taken in the final year of the course programme and allow students to configure their own line of specialisation.

The core credits cover ten subjects over the first two years and aim to provide students with the concepts and methodology of the Law, along with additional content in their training as lawyers (economics, accountancy and the origins and foundations of our legal system). The core subjects are Roman Law, History of the Law, Economics, Accountancy, the Law as it pertains to Freedom of Belief, Theory of Law and Philosophy of Law.

The compulsory subjects comprise Constitutional Law, Civil Law, Procedural Law, Administrative Law, Criminal Law, Commercial Law, Labour and Social Security Law, Financial and Tax Law, Public International Law and International Relations, Private International Law, European Union Law and the final project. 

The optional subjects are taken in the fourth year and are organised into three branches, based on the main professional profiles of Law Graduates, i.e.: the Legal Administration, business legal consultancy and the State Administration.

Routes must be chosen as a block. Passing the five subjects of any one route will be mentioned in a supplement to the degree. The aim of grouping the optional subjects into routes is to give students a more in-depth knowledge of a particular area of subjects, within the more general nature of the degree course as a whole (198 ECTS credits are common to the core and compulsory subjects, whilst the optional routes each account for 30 credits). Each of the three routes is made up of a coherent group of subjects, to guide students in the completion of their studies.

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS ROUTES

The proposed routes of optional subjects, each consisting of five subjects, in turn each worth 6 ECTS credits, are as follows:

Route 1.  The Legal Administration:

- Enforcement of civil law and special civil procedures

- Evidence in criminal proceedings

- Damages

- Bankruptcy Law

- Prison Law

Route 2.  Economic and Business Law

- Corporate Law

- Consumer Law

- Corporate Tax Law

- Social Security Law

- Economic Criminal Law

Route 3.  Public Law

- Administrative litigation

- Spatial planning, Urbanism and Environment

- Tax and budgetary procedures

- Constitutional Law and interpretation

- Nationality and foreign nationals

In addition to these routes, students are also offered the possibility of taking 6 ECTS credits through outside work experience. This work experience programme has been established as an optional part of the programme in order not to handicap students already engaged in labour or professional activities. Students may therefore choose freely between outside work experience, the optional subject “Introduction to International Relations” or an optional subject from either of the other two routes.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT (IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Students who study an undergraduate degree at the University of Alicante must confirm a minimum level of B1 in a foreign language (a B2 is recommended) in order to obtain the diploma.  

The required language level is in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

The language accreditation requirement can be obtained previously or at any time during university studies. However, the language requirement will be necessary in order to be able to assess the final year project.

The different forms of obtaining such language requirement can be consulted in the additional information in this section.  

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LANGUAGE TEACHING COMPETENCE CERTIFICATE

Students who want to have a career in non-university teaching when they finish their studies are recommended to obtain the teaching competence certificate (Valencian and/or foreign languages).

This certificate can be obtained by taking specific itineraries in your university studies or by taking the UA teaching competence course in Valencian, German, French and English.

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FINAL YEAR PROJECT (TFG)

All the official undergraduate degrees must be completed by preparing and defending a final year project, which must be done in the final phase of the studies and be aimed at the assessment of competences associated to the degree.

The final year project must be an original, independent and personal work. The elaboration of it may by individual or coordinated. Each student will prepare this project under the supervision of a tutor, allowing students to show the received training content in an integrated many, as well as the acquired competences associated to the undergraduate degree.

In order to register in the final year project, students must comply with the requirements established in the “Regulations for continuation studies for students registered in undergraduate degrees at the University of Alicante”. Among the requirements established to be able to register in the final year project, a minimum of 168 credits must be passed in undergraduate degrees with a total of 240 credits, and a minimum of 228 credits in undergraduate degrees with a total of 300 credits or more.

In order for the final year project to be assessed, a B1 level of a foreign language (B2 is recommended) must be confirmed.

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• Access routes
• Procedure for applying for admission
• Number of places and pass marks
• A.R.A. Groups (High academic achievement)

ACCESS ROUTES

Admission to this degree course is open to any applicant who meets one of the following entrance requirements:

1.     SPANISH BACCALAUREATE (LOMCE) UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAM (PAU): Although students can access university by means of any Baccalaureate specialization, the recommended one is Humanities and Social Sciences.

Admission scores for this degree can be improved by taking the specific modules of the University Entrance Exam (PAU) as indicated in the table below with their respective weightings.

TABLE 1

2.     PREVIOUS BACCALAUREATES WITH OR WITHOUT A PASS IN THE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAM (PAU): Students who have completed their Baccalaureate under previous education systems and have passed the PAU will be able to use the mark obtained in their application.

However, students can take specific exam modules during the voluntary PAU exam period in order to improve their admission score as shown in table 1. They can also sit for the obligatory PAU exams, in which case they will have to take all the exams scheduled during this period.

3.     VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: Vocational educational qualifications such as senior technician, senior technician of plastic arts and design, or senior technician in sports is the preferred professional area although access to this degree may be through any professional field.

Admission scores can be improved by taking the PAU exam in up to 4 of the modules in table 1.

4.     STUDENTS FROM EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION OR OTHER STATES WITH WHICH SPAIN HAS AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT: Accreditation is required and issued by Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED).

Students can sit for exams in subjects included in the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE), organised by the UNED, in order to improve their admission score up to 14 points as indicated in the weightings in Table 1.

5.     STUDENTS FROM FOREIGN EDUCATION SYSTEMS: Prior to applying for the validation of their foreign Baccalaureate, students may sit for up to 4 exams in subjects offered by the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE) organised by UNED (at least one subject from the core subjects).

The weightings indicated in table 1 will be applied to core and/or optional subjects.

6.     OTHER: University degrees and other similar qualifications. University entrance exam for students over 25 (preferential option: Social and Legal Sciences). Access on the basis of professional experience (applicants over 40 years of age). Access to applicants aged 45 years or more by means of an exam.

Weightings of the subjects of the specific phase of the Proof of Access to the University (PAU) in the previous years

High School Diploma Subjects

Academic Years 2010-11 2011-12

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Academic Years 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

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Academic Year 2015-16 2016-17

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PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR ADMISSION: PRE-ENROLMENT AND REGISTRATION

• Anticipated number of places offered during the first pre-enrolment session: 400

• In order to apply for a place, the procedure and pre-enrolment periods established each year must be observed.  Information concerning the application procedure  (Pre-enrolment).

• Applicants admitted to a course must formally register within the timescale established annually in the enrolment calendar. Registration Information.

NUMBER OF PLACES AND PASS MARKS

• "Pass marks" indicated correspond to the results of the first adjudication of June.
  
• The definitive marks can be inferior to the here collected.

A.R.A. GROUPS (HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT)

The groups of high performance academician (ARA), to reinforce the potential of the most distinguished students since the beginning of their university studies offering part of teaching in English, as well as a series of aid and support for their training.

Students who want to receive teaching on a group ARA must request it at the time of enrolment take place. Shall be assessed the academic record and accredited knowledge of English.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

TIMESCALE FOR IMPLEMENTATION

The new Law Degree course will be implemented year by year.

Once a course has been phased out, the subjects corresponding to that course will no longer be taught. Students who do not wish to take the new degree course subjects are entitled to sit four examinations in the two academic years following the end of each year. Any students wishing to continue their studies after sitting and failing these tests will be required to follow the new plan, according to the adaptation system established in the new plan.

An adaptation procedure has been put in place for students following the current course programme, to guarantee their rights with regard to teaching and assessment as established by the law.

DEGREE IN LAW. SYLLABUS SUMMARY

Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC) of the Title

• Structure of the Centre for Quality
  • Comission of Internal Quality Guarantee
  • Other Commissions  
• Handbook SGIC
• Procedures
  • Strategic (PE)
  • Key (PC)
  • Support (PA)
  • Measurement (PM)

• Management of the SGIC (Access to ASTUA)

Follow-up of the Title

• Self-reports UA
• External reports AVAP 
• Other reports
• Improvement Plans
• Progress and Learning Outcomes