The Faculty of Law is an intellectually vigorous, engaged, and diverse faculty, with a vibrant culture of research, teaching, and social engagement.
University of the Western Cape Law Department
- Department of Criminal Justice & Procedure
- Department of Mercantile and Labour Law
- Department of Private Law
- Department of Public Law and Jurisprudence
University of the Western Cape Law Centre
- African Centre for Transnational Criminal Justice
- Centre for Legal Integration in Africa
- Centre for Transformative Regulation of Work
- Global Environmental Law Centre
University of the Western Cape Law Institute
- Dullah Omar Institute for Constitutional Law, Governance and Human Rights
University of the Western Cape Law Niche Area
- Children’s Rights and Family Law in the African Context
University of the Western Cape Law Programme
Undergraduate Programmes
- Four Year LLB
- Five Year LLB
- Two Year LLB
- Three Year LLB
- BA (Law) [Not yet offered]
- BCom (Law)
Admission Requirements
Four Year LLB
Minimum requirements for applicants who matriculated from 2008:
(a) The National Senior Certificate for Bachelors Degree study plus a score of no less than 37 points calculated according to the university’s approved points system, as well as the following specific programme requirements:
- Level 4 (50-59%) in English (Home or First Additional Language)
- Level 3 (40-49%) in another language (Home or First Additional Language)
- Level 3 (40-49%) in Mathematics or level 5 (60-69%) in Mathematical Literacy
OR
(b) A qualification or level of competence which the Senate of the University has deemed to be equivalent to the requirements stipulated (a) above.
Five Year LLB
Minimum requirements for applicants who matriculated from 2008:
(a) The National Senior Certificate for Bachelors Degree study plus a score of no less than 37 points calculated according to the university’s approved points system, as well as the following specific programme requirements:
- Level 4 (50-59%) in English (home or first additional language)
- Level 3 (40-49%) in another language (Home or First Additional Language)
- Level 3 (40-49%) in Mathematics or level 5 (60-69%) in Mathematical Literacy
OR
(b) A qualification or level of competence which the Senate of the University has deemed to be equivalent to the requirements stipulated (a) above.
Two Year LLB
A BA (law) or B Com (law) degree
Three Year LLB
A Bachelor’s degree without legal subjects
BA (Law)
Minimum requirements for applicants who matriculated from 2008:
(a) The National Senior Certificate for Bachelor’s Degree study plus a score of no less than 37 points calculated according to the University’s approved points system, as well as the following specific subject requirements:
- Level 4 (50-59%) in English (Home or First Additional Language);
- Level 3 (40-49%) in Additional Language (Home or First Additional Language); and
- Level 3 (40- 49%) in Mathematics or level 5 (60-69%) in Mathematical Literacy
OR
(b) A qualification or level of competence which the Senate of the University has deemed to be equivalent to the requirements stipulated in (a) above.
BCom (Law)
Minimum requirements for applicants who matriculated from 2008:
(a) The National Senior Certificate for Bachelor’s Degree study with 4 subjects at a rating of 4, with a score of no fewer than 30 points calculated according to the University’s approved points system, as well as the following specific subject requirements:
- Level 4 (50-59%) in English (Home or First Additional Language), and
- Level 3 (40-49%) in Another Language (Home or First Additional Language), and
- Level 4 (50-59%) in Mathematics
OR
(b) A qualification or level of competence which the Senate of the University has deemed to be equivalent to the requirements stipulated in (a) above.
Postgraduate Programmes
Doctoral Degrees (LLD/PhD)
The Faculty offers doctoral degrees in a number of specialisation areas, including the following:
- Comparative Labour Law;
- Comparative Constitutional Law;
- Criminal Justice; Environmental Law;
- Human Rights Protection;
- Law, State and Multi-Level Government; and
- Mercantile Law.
Admission requirement
Admission to the doctoral programme is based on the submission of an (approximately 2 pages) abstract with research questions.
Masters Degrees (LLM /MPhil)
The Faculty of Law offers LLM/MPhil degrees in a number of speacialised areas namely:
- International Human Rights Law
- Labour Law
- Law, State and Multilevel Government
- Mercantile Law
- Criminal Justice
- International Family Law
- International Trade
Below are details of specialisations for which there are possibly a limited number of academic bursary opportunities in 2023
- Comparative Constitutional Law
- Transnational Criminal Justice
- Tax Law
- Global Environmental Law
- LLM in International Trade, Investment and Business Law
Comparative Constitutional Law
The programme has a strong comparative focus that transcends South African Constitutional Law and seeks to expose students to the methodology of comparative constitutional law and different options of constitutional design and operation.
Modules:
- Comparative Constitutional Law
- Constitutional Law, Politics and Theory
- Constitutional rights interpretation
- Constitutional Design in Divided Societies
Transnational Criminal Justice
The programme examines how the criminal law aspects of international law and the international law aspect of criminal law combine to provide a legal mechanism for national and international response to human rights violations both at the level of the international criminal justice system and in the context of transitional justice in postconflict societies.
Modules:
- International Criminal Law
- Transitional Justice
Tax Law
This programme covers domestic and international taxation, as well as tax administration principles. Students will be taught by eminent scholars in the field of taxation, including Judge Dennis Davis.
Modules:
- International Tax Law
- Tax Administration Law
Global Environmental Law
The programme focuses on International Law, as well the regional law of the Southern African Development Community, pertaining to the environment, from the perspective of South African law. The overall purpose of the programme is to facilitate an understanding of the application of international and regional norms as well as policies in the South African domestic law.
Modules:
- International Environmental Law
- Advanced Environmental Law
LLM in International Trade, Investment and Business Law
The University of the Western Cape’s LLM in International Trade, Investment and Business Law equips bright minds to navigate the legal and administrative structures of international markets. The programme develops students’ crucial thinking skills and supplies them with practical, transferable capabilities to positively influence global economic development.
UWC’s LLM graduates hold their own in the global effort to facilitate transnational business.The course was established in 2003, with the University of Pretoria, to address the skills shortage in managing the legal challenges of international trade and business in Africa.
Admission Requirements
- Four-year LLB degree (or South African Qualifications Authority equivalent)
- Admission is based on merit: > 60% average during LLB
- Relevant work experience will be an advantage.
Other postgraduate programmes offered by the Faculty
- Postgraduate Diploma in Public Law
- Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law
University of the Western Cape Law Contact Details
Administrator
Tel: 021 959 3291
Email: [email protected]
Administrative Assistant
Tel: 021 959 3617
Email: [email protected]
Faculty Officer
Tel: 021 959 3486
Email: [email protected]
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