The Law University Entry Requirements
21st August 2025
Applying to study Law, there is so much more to be aware of than just the grades. We will go over everything you need to know for your Law application.
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UK University Entry Requirements
When applying to any university in the world, you will need to meet the entry requirements set by the course. These can range from grades to Personal Statements and admissions tests. Sometimes these are essential requirements, while others are additional metrics that can support your application, but it’s important to understand them all and be prepared to do your best in every part of the application.
Not every university has the same entry requirements, so this page will explain all of the typical entry requirements you can expect to see in the UK, as well as which universities are the most competitive and have the most rigorous entry requirements.
What Are Typical UK University Entry Requirements?
In the UK, all university applications must be made through the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This service houses all of the primary admissions requirements for most UK university degrees.
These requirements include the basic UCAS application form, which contains your personal details, education history and university choices, your references and your Personal Statement. Your final grades, be they A-Levels or equivalent, are also collected by UCAS automatically. All of this is sent to your university choices by UCAS, so you won’t need to send any of this yourself.
Some more competitive universities may also have other requirements in place, such as admissions tests, assignments, interviews and additional application forms. Ensure you know if any additional tasks are required for the university degrees you’re applying for before submitting your application.
What Are The Hardest UK Universities To Get Into?
Some universities are harder to get into than others. This can be down to the number of applicants, limited spaces available, high expectations of students or the additional requirements in the application process. Universities will normally only put additional requirements in place if their courses are already highly competitive, so all of these factors are usually true at the same time.
The two most notorious competitive universities in the UK are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, which are two of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. However, beyond these, there are other difficult universities to get into, such as the other G5 Universities (Imperial College London, LSE and UCL), as well as the Russell Group universities.
Medical schools are also very competitive in the UK, so every medicine degree requires all applicants to complete an admissions test and interview before being admitted.
Understanding UK University Entry Requirements
Although most universities don’t feature any additional requirements beyond the standard CUAS application, there are a handful that do, so the table below explains everything you may need to be prepared for in your application:
| University | A-Level Requirements Requirements | IB Requirements | Admissions Tests | Interviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | AAA- A*A*A | 39 (w/ 766) – 42 (w/ 776) | UCAT, LNAT, PAT, MAT, TSA, BMSAT, CAT, MLAT, PhilAT, AHCAAT | Panel Interviews |
| University of Cambridge | A*AA – A*A*A | 41 (w/ 776) – 42 (w/ 776) | UCAT, LNAT, ESAT, TMUA, College Assessments | Panel Interviews |
| Imperial College London | AAA – A*A*A*A* | 39 (w/ 766) – 43 (w/ 776) | UCAT, ESAT, TMUA | Group Interviews |
| University College London (UCL) | ABB – A*A*A | 34 (w/ 655) – 40 (w/776) | UCAT, LNAT, TMUA, ESAT, TARA | Panel Interviews, MMIs |
| London School of Economics (LSE) | AAB – A*AA | 37(w/ 666) – 38 (w/ 766) | LNAT, TMUA | NA |
| King’s College London | ABB – A*A*A | 33 (w/ 655) – 39 (w/ 776) | UCAT, LNAT | Panel Interviews, MMIs |
| University of Warwick | ABB – A*A*A | 32 – 39 (w/ 766) | UCAT, TMUA | MMIs |
| Durham University | AAB – A*A*A | 36 (w/ 665) – 38 (w/ 776) | TMUA | Panel Interviews |
| University of Bristol | BBC – A*AA | 31 (w/ 555) – 38 (w/ 666) | UCAT, LNAT | MMIs |
| UK Medical & Dental Schools | A*A*A | 39 (w/ 766) – 42 (w/ 776) | UCAT | Panel Interviews, MMIs |
How To Get Into The UK’s Top Universities
These universities are all tough to get into, so be sure to check out these comprehensive guides to learn more about the full admissions processes for the UK’s top universities.
How To Get Into Oxford & Cambridge
Oxford and Cambridge are two of the most prestigious universities in the world, and their entry requirements are some of the highest in the UK. There are a lot of additional application steps to learn about, such as admissions tests and interviews, so discover them all in our expert guide:
How To Get Into Imperial College London
Other than Oxbridge, Imperial College London is one of the world’s top universities for STEM subjects. The university has been increasing it’s entry requirements over the past few years, so it’s now more important than ever to know what’s required of your application.
How To Get Into London School Of Economics
If you’re interested in studying humanities or social sciences, LSE is one of the UK’s best universities to apply to. More and more courses have been increasing their application requirements, so our guide will detail everything you need to know about applying to LSE.
University Subject Entry Requirements
Some of the top subjects have specific requirements for applicants, such as admissions tests and specific A-Level subject requirements, so our collection of entry requirement guides will help you navigate the confusing world of UK university applications, ensuring you’ve done everything you need to secure your offer.
What are the Medical School Entry Requirements in the UK?
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Applying to Medical School is a big step to take, which is why it is important to know all the entry requirements to ensure your preparations start as early as possible.
Engineering University UK Entry Requirements
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With so many different Engineering degrees available to choose from it can be difficult to work out what is required to apply for them. This guide covers everything you need to prepare for to get your engineering offer.
Economics Degree Entry Requirements UK
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If you’re thinking about studying an economics degree in the UK, you’ll need to be aware of the various entry requirements required to get your place. From grades to tests and interviews, some of the top universities for Economics in the UK have strict entry requirements, so this covers everything you to do to find success.
Computer Science Degree UK Entry Requirements
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Computer Science has become one of the most competitive university courses available due to the ever-growing importance of technology. Each degree receives hundreds of applications each year, so it’s vital that you understand and meet the standard entry requirements to have a chance of success. This guide explores all of the requirements you’ll need to meet in your application.
Maths Degree Entry Requirements UK
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Mathematics is a highly popular degree among students and is available in various different forms across many of the top universities in the UK. However, while it is popular, it’s not always easy to get a place, so this guide will explain all of the entry requirements for undergraduate maths in the UK.
Dentistry Entry Requirements: How To Become A Dentist
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Becoming a dentist is a long and difficult process. It is, therefore, not surprising that the entry requirements for prospective dentists to study at dental school are high. In this guide, we explore the process of applying to study Dentistry and what you’ll need to achieve to get your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is the central organisation that manages applications to UK higher education. Instead of applying to each university separately, students submit one application through UCAS, which then sends it to their chosen courses and institutions.
Applicants create an account, enter their details, qualifications, personal statement, and reference, then apply to up to five courses. Universities review the applications and may make conditional or unconditional offers. Students track responses through the UCAS Hub and select a “firm” and “insurance” choice.
UCAS is important as it simplifies the process for both students and universities by keeping everything in one system. It also provides useful guidance on applications, personal statements, finance, and options like apprenticeships or Clearing. For most students, it’s the essential route into UK higher education.
A Personal Statement is a short written piece, split into three individual questions, that forms part of a UCAS application. It gives students the chance to explain why they want to study their chosen subject, what makes them a suitable candidate, and what skills or experiences they can bring to the course.
A strong Personal Statement usually covers academic interests, relevant work or extracurricular experiences, and future goals. It should also highlight transferable skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, or communication. The aim is to show genuine interest in the subject and readiness for university study.
Admissions tutors use Personal Statements to see beyond grades and understand each applicant’s motivation. A well-written statement can strengthen an application and help students stand out, especially for competitive courses where many candidates have similar qualifications.
Admissions tests are exams utilised by institutions and organisations during admissions processes. While these can be used in a variety of contexts, including school admissions and recruitment, university admissions is one of the most common uses for these tests.
There’s no set format or content for an admissions test. Some tests can be subject-specific, while others will test general thinking skills. The tests may consist of multiple-choice questions, longer written answers, essay tasks or a mixture. As well as this, tests may be taken on either a computer or paper.
When you take the test can vary too. Some tests are taken before you are invited to interviews, some happen directly before an interview, and some can even take place after offers have been sent.
It’s important that you are aware of all of the details surrounding your admissions tests, including the content, format, dates and test location.
Methods for interviewing applicants for competitive degrees will vary based on the course and university. For example, Oxford and Cambridge only conduct traditional panel interviews, while Imperial College London hosts multiple types of group interviews.
As well as this, some medical schools host a unique form of interview, the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). These require applicants to move between different stations, each containing a question to answer or a task to complete.
In most cases, failing to meet a specific entry requirement will result in your application being rejected. This can happen both at the offer stage and the final acceptance stage, as you may fail to meet the grades required by your offer.
If you have received other offers, then you will still be able to accept those, including choosing one as an insurance choice. Ideally, your insurance choice should have lower grade requirements than your firm choice, as this will provide a safety net if you don’t earn the grades you need for your first pick. You will also be able to apply through UCAS Clearing if you don’t have a place secured after results day, although the top UK universities will not make places available this way.
Most universities will offer contextual offers, which provide lower grade requirements for applicants. These offers are available for applicants who have faced mitigating circumstances or are eligible for certain government benefits, such as free school meals.
These offers will typically reduce the minimum grade requirement by one or two grades (e.g. A*AA – AAA), though some can reduce it by more. This also applies to UCAS Tariff points.
