Key information
| Entry qualifications | BBB |
|---|---|
| Course duration | 1 year |
| UCAS code | M10F |
| Admissions test | LNAT |
| Application deadline | 13 January 2027 |
About the course
The Foundation Year in Law introduces you to key areas of legal study and supports your transition to undergraduate learning. You will begin with a broad foundation, exploring subjects such as Criminal Law, Constitutional Law and Roman Law, and develop your understanding through the study of legal cases and concepts.
Throughout the course, you will build your ability to analyse unfamiliar problems, construct clear arguments, and develop your confidence as an independent learner. You will work with a range of materials and begin to understand how legal reasoning is applied in different contexts.
In your final term, you will complete an extended essay on a topic of your choice, allowing you to explore a legal issue in greater depth and develop your skills in independent research and writing.
Preparation for Undergraduate Studies
Alongside your subject studies, you will take the Preparation for Undergraduate Studies course. This will help you develop core academic skills, including academic writing and communication skills, and opportunities for reflective practice, to support your progression to undergraduate level.
Entry requirements
The typical A-level entry requirements are BBB.
There are no specific subject requirements for Law with Foundation Year, but students are expected to have studied a subject involving essay writing.
We do accept other types of qualifications. More information about the academic entry requirements and accepted qualifications is available on the Foundation Year in Law course page on the University of Oxford website.
All applicants must take the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) as part of their application.
Admissions test
| Test | LNAT |
|---|---|
| Test window | Take the test before 13th January 2027 |
| Registration opens | 1st August 2026 |
| Deadline for requesting access arrangements | Apply for exam adjustments before booking your test. Some requests can take up to 3 weeks to process. |
| Deadline for requesting a bursary | Apply for an LNAT bursary at least 10 days before booking your test. |
All applicants must take the Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) as part of their application.
Registration for the LNAT is required and it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they are registered for the test. We strongly recommend making arrangements in plenty of time before the deadline.
Visit the LNAT website for all information on:
- when and how to book you test appointment
- when and how to apply for access arrangements and bursaries
- how best to prepare for your test
- what to expect on the day of your test
Bursaries for the LNAT
UK candidates in financial need may be eligible for a bursary to cover the full cost of the LNAT (taken in the UK).
The bursary scheme is intended to support applicants who would otherwise be unable to afford the test fee. Eligibility criteria and supporting evidence requirements are set out on the LNAT website.
Applicants should apply for a bursary before booking their test, as fees cannot usually be reimbursed retrospectively. As processing can take time, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible and before the test registration deadline.
Further information about eligibility and the application process is available on the LNAT website.
Subject pathways
Law with Foundation Year
Subject requirements
A subject involving essay writing.
Admissions test
LNAT
Teaching staff
Dr David Campbell
"The Foundation Year course in Law provides an exciting opportunity to explore law in myriad ways; from its historical context to its connection (or otherwise) with morality. Oxford has one of the best law schools in the world and studying here can open the door into an exciting career in many fields."
Dr Anna Williams
"Undertaking the Foundation Year course in Law provides students with excellent preparation for the undergraduate legal study. Throughout the course, students develop their independent judgement, strong analytical skills, and ability to construct compelling verbal and written arguments. These are skills that students will draw on throughout the rest of their academic studies and in their careers to come."
Pearl Crumb
"The Foundation Year in Law enables students to be exposed to Oxford's eccentricities in terms of the University's teaching traditions. Whilst the Foundation Year in Law presents the opportunity for students to get to grips with our tutorial system, it further allows students to become acquainted with Roman law, a subject unique to Oxbridge and taught in Oxford since 1149. Having completed the Foundation Year at Lady Margaret Hall in 2022, I can confidently say that the one-year-course undoubtedly allowed me to thrive as an undergraduate."
