Bachelor of Laws
This degree is subject to the Regulations for First Degrees.
The LLB programmes includes three parts, Intermediate (taken at the end of the first year), Part I and Part II. Each part is examined in the Summer Term; if the examiners require candidates to be re-examined for the Intermediate or Part I examinations, these take place in the LLB re-sit period.
At the discretion of the School, and with the permission of the other college concerned, arrangements may be made for students to take courses at other colleges of the University in legal subjects not taught at LSE.
CLASSIFICATION SCHEME FOR THE BACHELOR OF LAWS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING IN OR AFTER THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2007/08
This Classification Scheme is approved by the School Board of Examiners for BA/BSc Degrees.
Last updated: July 2013
This classification scheme must be read in conjunction with the Regulations for First Degrees, the LLB degree regulations, the relevant online undergraduate course guides and the Code of Good Practice for Undergraduate Programmes: Teaching, Learning and Assessment.
1. |
Award of Marks | |
First Class Honours |
70 - 100 | |
2. |
Eligibility for Award of Degree |
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2.1 |
In order to be considered for a degree, a candidate must have attempted and completed every element of the assessment for Part I of the Degree and thereafter Part II of the Degree. | |
2.2 |
In order to be eligible for the award of a degree, a candidate must have satisfied the examiners by passing Part I of the Degree and thereafter have satisfied the examiners by passing Part II of the Degree. | |
2.3 |
All LSE undergraduate students are enrolled on course LSE100. However, LSE100 is not counted for the purposes of classification. | |
3. |
Treatment of half units | |
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For the purpose of determining classification marks only, the marks obtained for each pair of half-unit courses should be combined and averaged (with the resulting average mark being rounded to the nearest whole mark). Half-unit courses should be paired using the following criteria in the order set out below: | |
3.1 |
according to the stage of the degree: half-units taken in the same year should be paired; | |
3.2 |
according to the marks awarded for each half-unit: the two half-units with the highest marks, then those with the next highest marks should be paired. | |
4. |
Classification Marks | |
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The classification of each candidate shall be based on all eight marks of the full subjects taken for Parts I and II of the Degree. In all cases, the marks shall be based on the mark obtained by the candidate at the latest attempt of the examination for each course. | |
5. |
Classification Guidelines | |
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A candidate who is eligible for the award of a degree and who has achieved the minimum requirement for the award of an honours degree of a particular class or division, or a pass degree as set out in sub-paragraphs 5.1 to 5.5 below shall be classified in that class, division or pass grade, subject to (a) and (b) below: | |
(a) |
a candidate whose marks include fail marks, but who has otherwise achieved the minimum requirement for the award of an honours degree, should normally be classified in that class, division or pass grade next below that determined in accordance with sub-paragraphs 5.1 to 5.4. | |
(b) |
a candidate who has marks of a higher class than that for which he is being considered shall have those higher marks regarded as some compensation in determining whether the aggregate mark is near enough to the 'normal aggregate'. | |
5.1
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For first class honours: | |
5.2
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For upper second class honours: | |
5.3
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For lower second class honours: | |
5.4
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For third class honours: | |
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5.5
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For a pass degree: | |
5.6 |
For candidates registered from 2011/12 onwards: | |
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A candidate whose marks include a mark gained in a non-Law course and who would normally be classified in a particular class, division or pass grade under rule 5.1.2., 5.2.2, 5.3.2, 5.4.2, or 5.52 [the "normal aggregate" rules] will not be so classified where the examiners consider that it would be inequitable to do so. | |
6. |
Appeals and Offences | |
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Appeals against decisions of Sub-Board of Examiners will be handled according to the Appeals Regulations. Assessment offences will be handled according to Regulations on assessment offences: plagiarism or Regulations on assessment offences: offences other than plagiarism. All Regulations are published in the School Calendar. | |
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7.
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General Proviso | |
SCHEME OF PASS AND REFERENCE RULES FOR PARTS I AND II OF THE LLB DEGREES
PART I
A. |
A Pass | |
(1) |
A candidate shall pass if she/he passed in three subjects and in the fourth attained a mark of at least 35, provided she/he has 1 mark over an aggregate of 160 for every mark by which her/his mark in the fourth subject falls short of 40; | |
(2) |
A candidate shall pass, though she/he failed in two subjects, provided she/he attained not less than 38 in each of these subjects, and provided also that she/he has 3 marks over an aggregate of 160 for every mark by which each fail mark falls short of 40. | |
(3) |
Any candidate with one or two condoned fail marks will be given one opportunity in the LLB re-sit period, if they wish, to re-sit the relevant examination(s). If the candidate fails the re-sit(s), the original condoned fail mark(s) will be reinstated. If they pass the re-sit(s) the mark(s) achieved will be entered on their official transcript, however, for the purposes of classification of the law degree after the completion of the Part II examinations the mark(s) of 40 will be considered to be the mark(s) that they attained. | |
B. |
A Reference | |
(4) |
A candidate who fails to pass in one subject may be referred in that subject provided that she/he has at least 30 marks in that subject and at least the pass mark in the other subjects, and provided that her/his total marks exceed an aggregate of 160 by at least the amount of her/his deficiency in the subject in which she/he has failed; | |
(5) |
A candidate who fails to pass in two subjects may be referred in both of them provided that she/he has at least 30 marks in one failed subject, at least 38 in the other failed subject, and that her/his total marks exceed an aggregate of 160 by at least twice the amount of her/his deficiency in the subjects in which she/he has failed. | |
(6) |
Any candidate who is referred in one or two subjects and passes the re-sit(s) will have the mark(s) achieved entered on their official transcript, however, for the purposes of classification of the law degree after the completion of the Part II examinations the mark(s) of 40 will be considered to be the mark(s) that they attained. | |
C. |
A Fail | |
(7) |
A candidate who fails in one subject and despite achieving at least 30 marks in that subject does not satisfy the conditions set out in paragraph B(4) above, fails the Part I examination and must re-sit all subjects at the next available opportunity | |
(8) |
A candidate who fails in two subjects, but does not satisfy the conditions set out in paragraph B(5) above, fails the Part I examination and must re-sit all subjects at the next available opportunity. | |
D. |
A Bad Fail in One Subject | |
(9) |
A candidate who fails to achieve at least 30 marks in any one whole subject, or its equivalent in two half subjects, fails the Part I examination and must re-sit all subjects at the next available opportunity. | |
E. |
The LLB (re-sit period) Part I Examination | |
(10.1) |
Candidates who are referred are entitled to re-sit all failed subjects in the LLB (re-sit period) Part I Examination. | |
(10.2) |
Candidates who fail are entitled to re-sit the entire Part I Examination in the LLB (re-sit period) Part I Examination. | |
F. |
The number of attempts at the Part I Examination | |
(11) |
Candidates who are eligible to sit the Part I Examination are entitled, if they have been referred or failed the Part I Examination, to a total of 3 attempts at the Part I Examination or that part of it in which they have been referred. | |
PART II
A. |
A Pass | ||
(1) |
A candidate shall pass if she/he passed in three subjects and in the fourth attained a mark of at least 30, provided she/he has 1 mark over an aggregate of 160 for every mark by which her/his mark in the fourth subject falls short of 40; | ||
(2) |
A candidate shall pass, though she/he failed in two subjects, provided she/he attained not less than 38 in each of these subjects, and provided also that she/he has 3 marks over an aggregate of 160 for every mark by which each fail mark falls short of 40. | ||
B. |
A Fail | ||
(3) |
A candidate who fails in one subject and despite achieving at least 30 marks in that subject does not satisfy the conditions set out in paragraph A(1) above, fails the Part II examination (see paragraphs D and E below) | ||
(4) |
A candidate who fails in two subjects, but does not satisfy the conditions set out in paragraph A(2) above, fails the Part II examination (see paragraphs D and E below) | ||
C. |
A Bad Fail in One Subject | ||
(5) |
(i) |
A candidate who fails to achieve at least 30 marks in any one whole subject, or its equivalent in two half subjects, fails the Part II examination. (see paragraphs D and E below) | |
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(ii) |
If a student starting in or after the 2010/11 session fails the Part II examination she/he must re-sit all subjects at the next available opportunity. |
D. |
The Part II Examination | ||
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(6) |
The Part II examination is only held once a year. There is no LLB (re-sit period) for the Part II examination. | |
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(7) |
If a student starting in or after the 2010/11 session, is referred in one or two subjects and passes the re-sit(s) they will have the mark(s) achieved entered on their official transcript. However, for the purposes of classification of the law degree the mark(s) of 40 will be considered to be the mark(s) that they attained. | |
E. |
The number of attempts at the Part II Examination | ||
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(8) |
Candidates who are eligible to sit the Part II Examination are entitled, if they have failed the Part II Examination, to a total of 3 attempts at the Part II Examination. | |
SCHEME OF PASS AND REFERENCE RULES FOR THE LLB INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION
1. Award of Marks | |
First Class |
70 - 100 |
2. Eligibility for Passing the First Year
2.1 In order to be considered for the Intermediate Examination, a candidate must have attempted and completed every element of the first year of the LLB degree.
2.2 In order to pass the Intermediate Examination, a candidate must have satisfied the examiners by passing all 5 examinations that make up the Intermediate Examination.
3. A Reference
A candidate who fails in fewer than two subjects may be referred in those failed subjects only provided that she/he has at least 30 marks in each of them. (NB: Property 1 and Introduction to the Legal System count as half subjects for this purpose).
4. A Fail
A candidate who fails in two or more subjects fails the Intermediate Examination and must re-sit all subjects at the next available opportunity.
5. A Bad Fail in One Subject
A candidate who fails to achieve at least 30 marks in one subject fails the Intermediate Examination and must re-sit all subjects at the next available opportunity.
6. The LLB (re-sit period) Intermediate Examination
6.1 Candidates who are referred are entitled to re-sit all failed subjects in the LLB (re-sit period) Intermediate Examination.
6.2 Candidates who fail are entitled to re-sit the entire Intermediate Examination in the LLB (re-sit period) Intermediate Examination.
7. The number of attempts at the Intermediate Examination
Candidates who are eligible to sit the Intermediate Examination (see 2.1 above) are entitled, if they have been referred or failed the Intermediate Examination, to a total of 3 attempts at the Intermediate Examination or that part of it in which they have been referred.
8. General Proviso
While the examiners shall have regard to the rules and guidelines, they reserve the right to depart from them if, in their judgement, this would be equitable for any individual candidate or any group of candidates.
