Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

The LLB degree provides students with a sound knowledge of the general principles of the South African legal system, and an ability to use legal materials effectively.

Overview

If you want to practice law, you need at least an LLB degree.

You have several options if you want to study law at Wits - please see below or click here for detailed information. 

  • The four-year stream (Programme Code: LFA14)
    Students enter this stream directly from matric.
    The four-year programme comprises mostly law subjects with several Humanity or Commerce subjects at first year level. You must take certain core law subjects if you wish to graduate with an LLB. Other subjects form a set of electives you can choose from.
  • The three-year stream (Programme Code: LFA13)
    Students enter this stream after having completed a bachelor’s degree without doing any law courses. Since they have had an opportunity to develop their critical and analytical skills in a first degree, they are equipped to deal with legal studies in an effective manner and may finish the LLB in three years.

  • The two-year stream (Programme Code: LFA12)
    Students enter this stream when they decide to complete a Wits BA(Law) or a BCom(Law) before entering the LLB. Since students are given credit for the law courses completed in the BA or BCom degrees towards the LLB, they can complete the LLB in two years.

Curriculum

Four-year stream

First-year
  • Law of Persons
  • Family Law
  • Introduction to Law for LLB students
  • (Certificate of Competence in Computer Literacy)

AND

You must complete one or more courses from any other Faculty in the University, to the value of 36 LLB credits.

Second-year
  • Constitutional Law
  • Constitutional Law: Bill of Rights
  • Criminal Law
  • Delict
  • Jurisprudence
Third-year
  • Business Entities
  • Contract
  • Civil Procedure
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Ethics and Law: Theory and Practice
  • Evidence
  • Property
  • Public International Law
Fourth-year
  • Practical Legal Studies
  • Administrative Law
  • Customary Law
  • Insolvency
  • Labour Law

AND

  • Four electives

Three-year stream

Second year (first year of registration)
  • Law of Persons
  • Family Law
  • Introduction to Law for Graduates
  • Constitutional Law Constitutional Law: Bill of Rights
  • Criminal Law
  • Delict
  • Jurisprudence
Third year (second year of registration)
  • Law of Succession
  • Business Entities
  • Contract
  • Civil Procedure Criminal Procedure
  • Ethics and Law: Theory and Practice
  • Evidence
  • Property
  • Public International Law
Fourth year (third year of registration)
  • Practical Legal Studies
  • Administrative Law
  • Customary Law
  • Insolvency Labour Law 

AND

Four electives

Two-year stream

Third year (First year of registration)
  • Law of Succession
  • Business Entities
  • Contract
  • Civil Procedure
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Ethics and Law: Theory and Practice
  • Evidence Property
  • Public International Law
Fourth year (Second year of registration)
  • Practical Legal Studies
  • Administrative Law
  • Customary Law
  • Insolvency
  • Labour Law

AND

Four electives

Entry Requirements

Four-year stream (LFA14)

APS 46+

English Home Language OR Additional First Language Level 6

Mathematics Level 4

Maths Literacy Level 6

Wait-listing: Students who come to Wits immediately after Matric may apply for the four-year LLB. Applicants with an APS of 40-45, as well as English 6 AND Mathematics 4 OR Maths Literacy 6, will be wait-listed, subject to place availability.

Three-year stream (LFA13)

No matric APS calculation.

Subject to assessment criteria as determined by the School of Law and place availability. Applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree at an institution other than Wits are required to apply for the three-year LLB programme (select year of study 2). Applicants must have completed the degree within no more than the prescribed minimum period of study plus one year, and must have obtained an average of at least 65% in the final year of the undergraduate degree.

Wits applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree without Law modules are also required to apply for the three-year LLB. Applicants must have obtained an average of at least 65% in the final year of the undergraduate degree (select year of study 2).

Two-year stream (LFA12)

No matric APS calculation.

Subject to assessment criteria as determined by the School of Law and place availability. Wits students who have completed a BA Law or a BCom Law are eligible to apply for the two-year LLB (select year of study 3).

University Application Process

  • The Student Enrolment Centre at Wits handles all student applications.
  • Please click here for an overview of the application process. 
  • Check the admission requirements for your degree. Check if any additional selection requirements apply. 
  • Submit your application, required documentation and application fee before the closing date.
  • Once you have applied, an admissions consultant will be assigned to your application.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • If you are an international applicant and/or have a foreign qualification, please click here.

Compliance with the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place at the University. The University has a specific number of places for first year undergraduates, approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees for the first year of study. The Fees website also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal. 

The Financial aid office provides information on student funding and scholarships. University-funded Scholarships include Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships, University Entrance Scholarships, Equality Scholarships, Sports Scholarships and National Olympiad winner awards. For information about NSFAS funding, please visit the NSFAS website. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.

Wits Plus applicants: terms of payment are in accordance with University regulations, and students are not eligible for University bursaries/NSFAS or residential accommodation.