SFU-Exeter Pact Speeds Lawyer Pathway

Simon Fraser University is breaking new ground in legal education with an exclusive international partnership that offers students a faster route to becoming a lawyer.

The new SFU-Exeter Accelerated Law Program gives students the opportunity to graduate in only six years with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from SFU and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Exeter, qualifying them to pursue legal careers in Canada and the UK.

The University of Exeter is a member of the elite Russell Group, a collection of the UK's most distinguished research-intensive universities. The Exeter law school is ranked in the top 150 law schools in the world by Times Higher Education and the top 15 in the UK by the Times and the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

"Bringing together leading research universities from Canada and the UK in this dual degree program is a unique opportunity," says FASS dean Laurel Weldon. "As a first of its kind program in British Columbia, students now have a new pathway to complete a comprehensive undergraduate education - which provides a solid foundation for career and personal development - along with their legal education, while saving at least one year of tuition to practice law sooner."

The first cohort of students will start in the fall of 2026. Interested students can apply starting Oct. 1, 2025. Program graduates will help B.C. meet the forecasted demand for lawyers in Western Canada over the next decade and beyond.

As part of the program, students will spend their first two years working toward a declared major in SFU's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. After three years abroad in the LLB program at the University of Exeter Law School, students return to SFU for the final year to finish their Bachelor of Arts degree. The final year includes the Certificate in Foundations of Canadian Law, which prepares them to be certified to practice law in Canada.

In addition to offering students a faster route to becoming a lawyer, the SFU-Exeter program does not require students to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or compete in a lengthy admissions cycle. Once accepted into the SFU-Exeter Accelerated Law Program, students are automatically admitted to Exeter provided that they remain in good academic standing after completing 60 academic credits while at SFU and that they are eligible for a UK student visa.

Students will receive assistance in preparing to move abroad, including help navigating the UK's student visa application process, as well as a guaranteed spot in university-run housing during their first year at Exeter. Under the partnership, students receive a significant tuition discount at Exeter, in addition to extensive advising and professional support from both institutions throughout the duration of the program.

"We are excited by this partnership with SFU, which puts the academic and career interests of our students at its very heart," says Richard Bowyer, acting head of the University of Exeter Law School. "Not only will students qualify for legal practice more quickly compared with traditional routes, but they will acquire knowledge and experience of two jurisdictions and benefit from our law school's research-led teaching."

Exeter's award-winning Community Law Clinic further provides students with the opportunity to advise real clients under the supervision of a qualified lawyer, developing students' skills and making them competitive for jobs with the best law firms.

"Exeter combined world-class teaching, a welcoming community, and a stunning campus environment," agrees George Ikonomou, a Canadian alum of Exeter Law School currently working as an associate at Gehlen Dabbs Cash LLP in Vancouver.

"It's an experience that shaped my professional path and enriched my personal life in ways I'll always value. My time at Exeter gave me more than just an outstanding education, it gave me lifelong friendships and connections that have stayed with me across countries and careers. Studying at Exeter was the foundation for an international career that's taken me across borders and industries. Between studying law, finding the best pizza in town, sharing a pint with friends, and joining countless societies, Exeter gave me the perfect mix of hard work and great fun."

About Simon Fraser University

SFU is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Over the past 60 years, SFU has been recognized among the top universities worldwide in providing a world-class education, and working with communities and partners to develop and share knowledge for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. Committed to excellence in everything we do, SFU fosters innovation to address global challenges and continues to build a welcoming, inclusive community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. With campuses in British Columbia's three largest cities-Burnaby, Surrey and Vancouver-SFU has ten faculties that deliver 368 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs for more than 37,000 students each year. The university boasts more than 200,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.

About the University of Exeter

The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university that combines world-class research with high levels of student satisfaction. Exeter has over 30,000 students and sits within the Top 15 universities in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and the Complete University Guide 2025. Exeter is also ranked in the top 200 globally in both the QS World Rankings 2025 and THE World University Rankings 2025. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), more than 99 per cent of our research was rated as being of international quality, and our world-leading research impact has grown by 72 per cent since 2014, more than any other Russell Group university.