University of Portsmouth - UoP
speciality: Law

The University of Portsmouth sets a commendable standard for inclusivity and support for disabled students. During my time studying Corporate Governance and Law for my Master’s degree, I was particularly impressed by how the university made necessary adjustments to accommodate disabled students. I had a classmate who faced mobility challenges, and the university promptly ensured that lecture halls, materials, and resources were accessible to them. This not only demonstrated the university’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment but also showcased its responsiveness to individual needs.

Additionally, the university’s continuous adaptation of programs to meet the needs of the job market and employers was exemplified during my studies. They actively sought industry insights and trends to update the curriculum. For instance, in one of my courses, we explored contemporary corporate governance practices, focusing on the latest regulatory changes and corporate sustainability, which had a significant impact on my understanding of the field. This commitment to relevancy and adaptability greatly benefits students in their academic journey and future careers.

As a student who started in the midst of the pandemic, in October 2020, I experienced the online learning style of the University and the drift back into on-campus learning.

Me and my friends go to different universities, so I was able to compare their experiences to mine, and it goes without saying that mine was the smoothest sail into on-campus learning! Not only was my course tutor extremely supportive, but there were also constant well-being checks on all the students to ensure that the sudden change was not too overwhelming, and if it was, a lot of support was available!

It is now that I am more than happy with the university of choice!

The University of Portsmouth’s Law School overall is very good. It provides ample materials on all modules through a blended learning format due to Covid-19. However, some lecturers can have a negative approach to how some students learn and will not provide extra support if needed.

Studying law is very tasking yet relaxing. The tutors are always available to help you during seminars and are open to all questions even silly ones. Upon entering the university of Portsmouth I discovered the range of diversity that the school has as it has students from all backgrounds and is very inclusive of them they also support them being an international student myself I have received a lot of pastoral aid when settling down in my first year, especially during the height of the pandemic where I felt isolated.

The school is not limited to any social clubs this is because as long as you have a passion for it they are always open to making it a club and helping you to build that club to attract club members through The Union.

Many people will say that they will never recommend law to anyone but I think I am different as I’d definitely tell a friend to study law at the University of Portsmouth because not only does it prepare you for the working environment whilst studying it allows you to build skill sets that you will be able to apply to various everyday situations.

In terms of improvement, I feel the school as a whole should offer more whole school events rather than degree events to mix and integrate students more.

Overall, I would recommend the university for someone considering a law degree. I found that the course overall was well-structured over the three years, with the quality and frequency of seminars being a key reason for this. This may depend on individual preferences, but I always found seminars to be very helpful in understanding lectures, but I often found lectures to be tiring and difficult to concentrate on, dependent on the time of the lecture and the lecturer. However, that may be due to my preferred learning style.

It is definitely worth noting the law department’s swift adaption to the COVID-19 restrictions. When the university closed, the entire law department worked out how they would be delivering the remainder of the course within a few days. I found that the way in which the university delivered its online teaching was sufficient and comprehensive and did not feel disadvantaged in comparison to if I had been able to attend face-to-face lectures/seminars.

I also note that the expertise/quality of lecturers, especially in my final year, was of a very high standard. Having a lecturer who has vast demonstrable knowledge of their area of law is encouraging, motivating and makes learning much easier!

However, I would note that I felt a lack of support in trying to find a placement. I intended to take a year out of studying to gain relevant work experience, but I struggled to; balance a comprehensive job search with studying; get input from the university career service beyond improving my CV/Cover letter; and felt a general lack of support in this area from the university. Though I ended up gaining valuable experience, it was not the placement year I had in mind.