The first full cohort of the Trent-Swansea Dual Degree Programme have recently graduated from the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, with five out of sixteen students graduating with First Class Honours.
Through the Trent-Swansea partnership, Swansea offers a dual degree leading to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Trent, and a Single Honours Law (LLB) degree from Swansea’s School of Law. The partnership allows students to achieve the two degrees in just six years, rather than the usual seven (undergraduate degrees in Canada are usually four years in duration).
Students on the programme spend their first two years at Trent, then travelling to Swansea to complete their three-year LLB degree, before moving back to Trent for their sixth and final year, to finish the second of their two degrees that are achieved through this programme. The sixth year in Trent is also dedicated to tuition for the equivalency exams that they will need to pass in order to be professionally recognised in Canada.
Two graduates of the Dual Degree Programme who did particularly well were Alexis Rudat and Victoria Smith, who have both achieved first class honours degrees
Alexis was awarded the Oxford University Press Law Prize for Highest Achievement in her graduation ceremony for being the top performing student in the whole law cohort. Victoria also did exceptionally well, graduating in the top 10% of her year group.
These latest results build on the successes already achieved from the Dual Degree Programme, with Shelby Hayes being the first student to have graduated the programme in 2020, also with First Class Honours. The School of Law hopes that this series of brilliant results from the Trent-Swansea partnership will continue, with around 30 further students set to join the School of Law from Trent in September 2022.
Speaking on her time at Swansea, Alexis said:
“As a Canadian student from the Trent/Swansea Dual Degree program offered through Trent University, Swansea University has felt like a home away from home.
"It has been a dream come true to receive my legal education in this charming coastal city. I adore that both campuses are near the ocean since I have found that there is something very calming and therapeutic about undertaking your studies near a body of water. If you are looking to study law in a breath-taking location where you can travel both locally and abroad all while being surrounded by a supportive and inclusive community, then I absolutely recommend studying here at Swansea.”
Talking about the Trent-Swansea Dual Degree Programme, Victoria said:
I had the most amazing experience studying at Swansea. As an international student, I felt right at home. The people are all so kind and welcoming and it truly is a city I could fit right into, like a home away from home.
"I feel so grateful for the opportunity to go abroad and learn a different legal system, being able to take this knowledge back to Canada with me to use in my future career as a lawyer. All of the staff at the law school are so amazing, I never felt alone or that there was no one I could turn to for help. I am forever grateful for Swansea and everything that accompanied it – making new friends, being able to explore not only the UK but also a lot of Europe, getting an amazing education, and outstanding contacts within the law school staff that have offered me help in the future for whatever I need from them.
Find out more about the Trent-Swansea Dual Degree Programme.