Degrees Offered
- Bachelor of Arts – Honours (B.A. Honours)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
How Trent Swansea Law Dual Degree Program Works
The Trent-Swansea Law Dual Degree is a direct-entry program for students applying from high school. A minimum high school grade average of 80% is required for admission. In addition to meeting the grade requirement, applicants must also fulfill the university’s general admission criteria and, if applicable, any additional requirements specified by their chosen degree major.
University admission requirements are outlined in the Academic Calendar, available at: https://www.trentu.ca/registrar/academic-calendar/undergraduate-calendar. Relevant details can be found in the Policies & Administration section (starting on page 599). Information specific to Ontario students regarding additional admission requirements for certain majors is on page 608.
The Law Dual Degree program is affiliated with eighteen (18) degree majors within the Humanities and Social Sciences. A full list is available in the Special Programs and Opportunities section of the Academic Calendar (beginning on page 494).
Available Degrees by Campus
Below is a breakdown of available degree majors by campus:
Durham GTA campus only:
- Communications
Peterborough campus only:
- Canadian Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Economics
- Environmental & Resource Studies
- Gender and Social Justice
- Geography
- Global Development Studies
- History
- Human Rights & Social Justice
- Indigenous Studies
- Political Studies
Available at both campuses:
- Criminology
- English Literature
- Media Studies
- Philosophy
- Sociology
- Business Administration
The UK Connection
Through a partnership with Swansea University in Wales, the Trent Swansea law dual degree program allows you to earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Honours or a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree from Trent, along with a law degree from the prestigious Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law in the UK—all in just six years, with no LSAT requirement.
This direct-entry program begins with two years at Trent, where you will major in one of 18 academic disciplines. You will then spend years three, four, and five studying law at Swansea University in the UK. In your final year, you will return to Trent to complete the remaining credits for your honours bachelor’s degree while also taking Canadian Law courses.
This comprehensive program prepares you for the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) exams, an essential step toward becoming a licensed lawyer in Canada. By earning dual degrees, you will develop a competitive edge in the legal field, gaining expertise in applying legal concepts to real-world scenarios while honing valuable skills in communication, negotiation, collaboration, research, analysis, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Many universities in Canada offer “combined” or “dual” law programs, primarily through Canadian law schools. These programs typically require students to complete an undergraduate honours degree, write the LSAT, and gain admission to law school before beginning the combined program.
A program structurally similar to Trent’s is Laurier’s Law & Arts degree, which partners with the University of Sussex in the UK. Learn more about Laurier’s program here. Simon Fraser University is also developing a program with a similar structure.
Overview of Years 1-6
- Years 1 & 2: Students begin at Trent, pursuing one of 18 undergraduate honours degree majors.
- Years 3, 4 & 5: Students complete a single honours 3-year LLB program at Swansea University Law School in Wales, UK. This program is equivalent to a 3-year law degree from Canadian and American law schools, with differences in country-specific content. Since Canada, the UK, and the US share a common-law legal system, Swansea’s LLB program is accredited for all Canadian jurisdictions.
- Year 6: Students return to Trent to complete upper-level courses for their undergraduate degree, along with four Canadian law courses (Foundations of Canadian Law, Canadian Criminal Law, Canadian Ethics & Professionalism, and Canadian Administrative Law) to prepare for the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) exams. These courses count toward their undergraduate degree, rather than adding extra coursework. Any law graduate from outside Canada must write these exams to become licensed to practice in Canada.
Admission Requirements for Direct Entry to Swansea Law School
- Completion of at least 10.0 university credits over two regular academic years
- Minimum 77% cumulative grade average
- No LSAT required
- Eligibility for a UK Study Visa
Program Growth & Student Support
- The first cohort began in 2018. Since then, 25 students have graduated, with another 27 expected to graduate in June 2025.
- Approximately 75 Trent students are currently studying at Swansea Law School across all three years of the LLB program.
- The program supports students with law-focused activities such as mock trials, negotiation sessions, career development, and networking opportunities. During their first two years at Trent, students engage in these activities to explore law as a career before committing to Swansea.
- Students who choose not to continue to Swansea face no penalty and can complete their undergraduate degree at Trent instead.
This structured approach gives students the flexibility to explore law while providing a direct, LSAT-free pathway to earning both an undergraduate degree and an LLB, preparing them for a legal career in Canada.
