| Branch | Social and Legal Sciences | |
| Duration | Four academic years | |
| ECTS credits | 240 Basic subjects, 60; compulsory subjects, 140; optional subjects, 34 (includes the 8 credits corresponding to professional internship); end-of-degree project/dissertation, 6 |
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| Languages | Catalan, Spanish and English (depending on the subject). English will be gradually introduced as the teaching language until guaranteeing that at least 10 ECTS credits are taken in English, in addition to a subject devoted to legal English. | |
| Timetables | Morning and afternoon (full time dedication); morning or afternoon (part time dedication with registration limited to the maximum number of credits permitted by the regulations). | |
| Places | 320 | |
| Price of first year | € 1,047 | |
| Organised by | Faculty of Law |
The UPF degree course in Law provides general, theoretical and practical training that provides an understanding of the structure and workings of legal systems and their regulations, assimilation of the basic regulatory contents of the various branches of law and the ability to apply techniques of reasoning and interpretation of legal regulations. This general and basic legal training is complemented by an introduction to the knowledge and methodology of other branches of the social sciences (economics, statistics and political science).
The ultimate objective is for graduates to be aware of the law as a regulatory system for social relations that is rooted in constitutional principles and when appropriate, in the exercise of personal independence, and to be aware of and be able to use all the tools within this system. The acquisition of legal knowledge and skills is a dynamic activity that requires the student's active participation. The course combines two types of teaching over the four years - master classes and practical teaching. The purpose of the master classes is the critical transmission of knowledge and the establishment of basic concepts, based on a prior reading of materials. The seminars and practical classes reinforce the lawyer's ability to solve problems and use basic skills, such as argument, writing briefs and oral presentation. The individual and group tutorials facilitate the lecturer's monitoring of the students' learning process and the students' ability to see their progress and improve their results. The opportunity to undertake an external internship also contributes to a more comprehensive training and improves professional prospects.
The syllabus in the UPF degree in Law contains basic training subjects (60 credits), compulsory subjects (140 credits) and optional subjects (34 credits). It is also possible, on an optional basis, to undertake a professional internship (8 credits). The syllabus is completed by the production and defence of an end-of-degree dissertation (6 credits), which must enable progress in the command of concepts and knowledge in one or several branches of law and a lawyer's basic skills in particular to be assessed.
The basic subjects are taught at the beginning of the degree, in order to provide students with transversal training in the social sciences field which enhances their ability to understand legal issues from various perspectives. The compulsory subjects are at the core of the legal studies that are deemed essential for any career prospects in the law field and in particular, to be able to pass the admission tests for becoming a lawyer or the competitive admission processes to other legal professions, after the appropriate additional training.
The syllabus also enables some degree of specialisation, which can be acquired by taking some or all of the subjects in one of the seven optional tracks available. The Faculty of Law encourages student mobility by means of exchange programmes with other European universities, as part of the agreements signed with higher education institutions in the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Italy and France, among other countries. The aim thereof is to improve foreign language skills and to contribute to an international focus within the graduates' professional profile.
Two double degree programmes are offered: the bachelor's degree programme in Law and Business Management and Administration and the bachelor's degree programme in Law and Economics, which allow to earn both degrees in five academic years and one trimestrer.
Graduates in Law from the UPF acquire general and specific skills during their studies. The general or transversal skills enhance the personality and can be beneficially applied in professional life in any social or economic field. Among these skills are the ability to detect and analyse social conflicts and the means to settle them; the ability to communicate and negotiate; the stimulation of initiative and the willingness to lead; the ability to associate knowledge and develop critical reasoning; fluency in the technical use of foreign languages; the ability to work as part of a team, and ethical commitment. The specific skills are useful for working in a legal environment, and are above all based on the ability to distinguish the sources of law and use them correctly; on the ability to recognise the institutions and principles of private law and public law; on the command of legal argument; on the assimilation of constitutional principles and values when Interpreting legislation, and on the production of reports, opinions and other legal documents.
Barrister, solicitor, civil servant, judge, notary, registrar, public prosecutor, academic and research staff, tax inspector, employment inspector, member of the diplomatic corps, official in international organisations, legal consultant, bank employee, financial services and insurance, legal adviser to non-governmental organisations.
240 ECTS credits
Catalan, Spanish and English. English as a language for teaching and use in class will be introduced gradually, until the students are taking at least 10 ECTS credits in English, as well as a specific subject studying Legal English.
Morning and afternoon (full-time); morning or afternoon (part-time with registration limited to the maximum number of credits permitted by the regulations).
Approximately € 900
Faculty of Law
Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27. 08005 Barcelona
Telephones: 93 542 17 18 / 1771 / 1861 / 1737
Fax: 93 542 19 34
E-mail: facultat.dret@upf.edu