Curious about the worst universities for law in the UK? Based on recent rankings that factor in student satisfaction, graduate prospects, and course quality, institutions like Teesside University and the University of Northampton consistently rank near the bottom for law degrees. While these universities may offer smaller cohorts and practical opportunities, they tend to underperform in areas such as academic reputation and employment outcomes.
The rankings – revealed!
10) University of Northampton
9) University of East London
8) Teesside University
7) Buckinghamshire New University
6) University of Wales Trinity St David
5) Birmingham Newman University
4) University of Bedfordshire
3) Wrexham University
2) University of the West of Scotland
1) University of Greater Manchester
10. University of Northampton
Coming in as the tenth worst university for law in the UK is the University of Northampton, established in 1999. This university scores particularly low on student satisfaction, scoring just 2.97 out of 5. However, graduate outcomes are rated quite highly at 73 out of 100, making Northampton a potentially good choice if you’re looking to go straight into the world of work after studying an undergraduate degree in law, rather than continuing your studies to become a lawyer.
9. University of East London
The ninth worst university in the UK for law is the University of East London. The university has three campuses located in Stratford and Docklands, making it a good choice if you want to study in London. Wicked star Cynthia Erivo also did the first year of their degree at this university! However, it’s worth noting that graduate outcomes score lowly here at just 55 out of 100.
8. Teesside University
The eight worst university for law in the UK is Teesside University, located in Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire. Teesside is fairly easy to get into, with new students having an average number of 108 UCAS points. It also scores fairly highly in terms of student satisfaction at 3.02 out of 5. This university is known for providing high quality courses in fields like computing, animation and computer games design. According to University Alliance, Teesside University is also highly regarded for its diverse courses in forensics and policing, making it a good choice if you don’t have your heart set on studying law.
7. Buckinghamshire New University
Coming in at seventh worst in the UK for law is Buckinghamshire New University. It’s located in the town of High Wycombe, making it worth considering if you don’t want to go to university in a larger city. The university has also moved up a couple of places in the rankings since last year, showing that the law course is important to the university! Graduate prospects also score highly at 76 out of 100, making Buckinghamshire New University a good candidate if you’re looking for a more careers-orientated law education.
6. University of Wales Trinity St. David
Hailing from Wales is the sixth worst university for law in the UK, the University of Wales Trinity St. David. The law courses here are based at the Swansea campus, meaning you’d get a wonderful waterfront view to go with your studying! However, graduate prospects are slightly lower than some of the other universities on this list, scoring 70 out of 100.
5. Birmingham Newman University
The fifth worst university in the UK for law is Birmingham Newman University. This university is located in Bartley Green, near to Birmingham city centre, so it’s perfect if you want to live and study somewhere quieter but still have a bustling city within arms reach. However, you should definitely keep in mind that student satisfaction is low, scoring just 2.70 out of 5 and there’s no data on graduate outcomes available. The reviews describe the staff as helpful and friendly though, so this university shouldn’t be discounted entirely.
4. University of Bedfordshire
Coming up next is the University of Bedfordshire, the fourth worst university in the UK to study law! Previously known as the University of Luton, this university scores pretty highly in terms of student satisfaction at 3.21 out of 5. On the other hand, graduate outcomes are pretty low at 64.00 out of 100. However, if you’re looking to study to become a lawyer, don’t discount the University of Bedfordshire as students are clearly pretty happy with the teaching.
3. Wrexham University
The third worst university for law in the UK is Wrexham University, located in North Wales. It’s quite a small university, compared to others, with just over six thousand students in the 2023/24 academic year, so it’s worth putting Wrexham on your list if you prefer a slightly quieter life! Student satisfaction here is scored highly at 3.40 out of 5 – that’s higher than many universities in the top 20! However, graduate outcomes are scored pretty low at 64 out of 100, which is worth keeping in mind.
2. University of the West of Scotland
The penultimate university on this list is the University of the West of Scotland, which ranks as the second worst place in the UK to study law. Like Wrexham, student satisfaction is quite highly regarded, scoring 3 out of 5. However, it’s surprisingly difficult to get into this university compared to others in this article, as new students have an average score of 131 UCAS points.
1. University of Greater Manchester
Drum roll please! Coming in as the worst university in the UK for law is the University of Greater Manchester. Unlike its fellow, the University of Manchester (which is ranked number 24th in the UK for law), the University of Greater Manchester ranks low in many factors, like student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate outcomes. However, it is important to note that it’s overall ranking is pretty decent at 72 out of 100, so the University of Greater Manchester shouldn’t be discounted if you’re interested in studying there!
Overall…
These universities have been ranked based on various factors such as student satisfaction, employability of graduates, and more. By highlighting these universities, we aim to provide prospective law students with valuable information that will help them make an informed decision when choosing a university to attend. It’s important to note that this ranking is not meant to discredit the universities listed, but rather to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the current state of law education in the UK.
FAQs on the Worst UK Universities for Law
Based on recent rankings and student feedback, universities such as the University of West London, University of Sunderland, University of the West of Scotland, Leeds Trinity University, and York St John University are among the lowest-rated for law degrees in the UK.
These rankings are based on metrics like student satisfaction, graduate outcomes, entry standards, research quality, and overall course reputation. Lower scores across these areas can affect a university’s law ranking.
Not at all. While top-ranked law schools may offer certain advantages, your success will depend on your personal drive, work experience, and ability to network. Many students from less prestigious universities go on to have successful legal careers.
Yes. Lower-ranked universities often offer smaller class sizes, more personalised teaching, and strong focus on practical skills. Some also have local legal partnerships that provide hands-on experience during your course.
Think about what matters most—location, teaching style, career goals, or student life. Compare course content, look at graduate prospects, visit open days, and talk to current students before making your decision.
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