Law

For further information on how to apply, entrance requirements and selection criteria, please see the University website and the Faculty of Law's website.

Since law was first taught as a degree subject in Oxford in the late nineteenth century, New College has been a strong college for law students and many distinguished and well known lawyers and legal academics studied here. To this day, New College continues to have a lively, engaged and high-achieving body of law students, attracted by our commitment to teaching an intellectually stimulating course of equal value to those who do and those who do not go on to practice Law.

New College has a Law Society that organizes a number of events during the year, including mooting competitions and careers events, as well as a prestigious Annual Lecture. It also arranges an Annual Dinner, which provides opportunities for students to meet with former members of New College. A book prize was established in 2012 in memory of Lord Rodger, a former student and tutor at New College who became a Supreme Court Justice and throughout remained a great friend and supporter of New College students. This prize is awarded to the best first year law student.

We admit around 8 undergraduates a year onto the Law course, and this will often include a student accepted on the four year Law with Law Studies in Europe course. 

New College’s law students are one of the most diverse bodies of law students in the University. They come from a wide variety of ethnic groups, social backgrounds, and educational institutions, from all across the UK as well as many other countries. The majority of UK students come from comprehensive schools, including a good number from schools which do not frequently send candidates to Oxford or Cambridge. We also welcome applications from mature students. Some of our law students have studied predominantly science subjects at school or college, whilst others have specialised in the arts or social sciences.

Despite their diversity, all of our law students have some things in common: as candidates, they were all able to demonstrate sound academic achievements at school or college; although not necessarily intending to enter the legal profession, they all exhibited a strong desire to study law, as well as self-motivation and the capacity for independent work. In addition, many of our successful candidates had applied their energy and initiative to areas of activity which were of importance to them - whether work in the community, sport, or artistic or intellectual pursuits. It is important to us that our students enjoy their studies, and it is important to us to challenge them intellectually, and to provide them with the environment in which they can thrive academically and work towards the highest achievements. 

New College also welcomes applications from students wishing to read for a graduate degree in Law. We admit students to read for the BCL or MJuris, or to carry out research for the degree of MLitt, MPhil or DPhil.