Law courses (Jurisprudence)

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 449.

Course guidance

The academic year is divided into three terms. The tutorial is central to undergraduate teaching at Oxford. You will meet your college tutor(s) every week. A tutor may be either a college fellow or college lecturer who has expertise in a specific area. The tutorial normally involves a tutor and two undergraduates (your tutorial partner/s), with at least one tutorial a week for the eight weeks of term. Each tutorial lasts one hour. Firstly, you need to prepare your work. Then you need to read your work out or the tutor may start a discussion of the work. Your progress will also be checked through 'Collections' (examinations). The exams are designed to test your work done in the previous term and/or vacation work in preparation for the term ahead.

Lectures and seminars are complementary to tutorials. Students need to attend tutorials, lectures and seminars. The lecturer is an expert in the subject, who provides you with an analysis of the subject matter and enables you to understand your subject properly. Many subjects use small group teaching where you get more individual attention from lecturers. Students have practical classes each week. Some subjects also include field trips and excursions.

There are two Law courses at Oxford: Course I is a three-year course and Course II is a four-year course which follows the same syllabus. There is also an extra year which students spend abroad at a university within the European Union.

The Oxford Law degrees aim to develop in their students a high level of skill in comprehension, analysis and presentation. Students are expected to read from primary sources (such as cases and statutes). They are to think hard about what they have read, analyze what the law is. Students prepare essays and presentations for discussion in tutorials and classes.