In 1754, an institution of higher learning was chartered by royal decree in the colonial city of New York. It would become Columbia University in the City of New York, one of the top universities in the United States and indeed in the world. In 2017 Columbia’s undergraduate acceptance rate was 5.5%, which made it the third most selective college in the United States and the second most selective in the Ivy League. It is currently ranked 16th by QS World University Ranking 2018, 2nd among U.S. colleges and 2nd among Ivy League schools for 2017 by Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.

Columbia University in a few words

In 2017, its student population was 32,429 (8,868 students in undergraduate programs and 23,561 in postgraduate programs), with 42% of the student population identifying themselves as a minority and 28% born outside of the United States.

Since its creation, Columbia University has educated American and world leaders, beginning with Alexander Hamilton : class of 1777-, later to become the primary economic advisor to George Washington, the first American President. The University is well-acquainted with success as just this year, In addition, Professor Joachim Frank shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry. The University itself awards the famed Pulitzer Prize each year in twenty-one categories for excellence in newspaper journalism, literary achievements and musical composition. This year, the University also graduated a diverse group of 16,000 students from more than 100 different countries.

Campus

Despite its location in busy Manhattan, the 32 acre (13 hectare) campus of Columbia University is gated, and therefore provides the best of both worlds within the Morningside Heights neighborhood on the border of Upper West Side and Harlem.

Among the most-loved places to spend time on campus, the “Low Steps”, the nickname for the staircase leading up to Low Memorial Library, probably take the prize. The building is also one of many buildings National Historic Landmark sites at Columbia. Built in 1895 by then University President Seth Low as Columbia’s central library, it would later be replaced by the Butler Library, the university’s largest single library with over 2 million volumes. Philosophy Hall also bears the historical honor as the site of the invention of FM radio with WKCR, the radio station run by Columbia students.

Almost two dozen undergraduate dormitories (purpose-built or converted) are located on campus or in Morningside Heights. As a consequence, undergraduate students are guaranteed on-campus housing during their studies.

Academic matters

There is a long-standing tradition of newspaper publication and media broadcasting at Columbia. Of note, the Columbia Daily Spectator is America’s second-oldest newspaper written entirely by students, and The Columbia Review has the honor of being the nation’s oldest college literary magazine. Its Columbia Television (CTV) is also the second-oldest student television station in the nation.

Columbia University is an inclusive community with 42% self-identifying as a minority. Additionally, the Columbia Queer Alliance is the oldest gay student organization in the world, founded as the Student Homophile League in 1967. As proof of their political engagement, Columbia’s students participated in the student protests of 1968 over two issues related to perceived racial aggression (the building of a gym in neighboring Harlem) and the university’s membership in a weapons research think-tank controlled by the Pentagon. The students protests were successful on both counts.

Academics

Research has an important place at Columbia and the University prides itself in the fact that even undergraduate students participate in this endeavor. Indeed, the University can claim major accomplishments in many areas including biological and biomedical sciences. The school was site where the uranium atom was split, and where the laser was invented. Columbia was also the first American university to confer MD degrees for medical studies beginning in 1767. Engineering is yet another area in which Columbia shines. The university is a top supplier of young engineering entrepreneurs for New York City, and over the past 20 years, graduates of Columbia established over 100 technology companies.

In addition computer and information sciences and support services, visual and performing arts and social sciences are all popular academic programs. In social sciences, the School of International and Public Affairs has drawn upon the resources of the faculties of political science, economics, and history since its inception 1946. Today its most notable academic is the internationally celebrated expert University Professor Joseph Stiglitz, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2001 and named by the magazine Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2011.

The university is organized into twenty schools, including undergraduate as well as graduate schools and Barnard College, an all-female institution. Graduates of Barnard are issued diplomas authorized by both Columbia University and Barnard College. The university also has several affiliates outside of the US, called Columbia Global Centers in Beijing, Amman, Paris, Mumbai, Istanbul, Nairobi, Rio de Janeiro and Santiago de Chile. Each is intended “to promote and facilitate international collaborations, new research projects, academic programming and study abroad, enhancing Columbia’s historical commitment to global scholarship” (https://globalcenters.columbia.edu).

How do I apply?

According to Columbia, about 10% of the Class of 2017 were educated abroad, representing over 30 countries. As the University says, “We also value the fact that international applicants, regardless of citizenship, have much to offer from their backgrounds and experiences as global citizens” (https://barnard.edu/admissions/internationalstudents). In addition to the requirements listed below for Columbia University, applicants may also chose to participate in an optional interview with an alumnus/a of the University.

To apply to Columbia, you will need to use the Common Application, a centralized platform through which you can apply to most American colleges and universities. You will need to fill in information about your family : including the occupation of your parents -, provide your transcript or high school grades, submit 2 teacher recommendation letters, submit one “school report”, draft a résumé or CV, send official test scores (SAT, SAT Subject Test scores, ACT and English language test scores : note that the essay portion of the ACT/SAT is not required), declare a major or intended area of study, describe your extracurricular activities and as with most highly selective colleges complete the essay questions on the Common App as well as answer additional essay questions specific to Columbia.

You must submit all your materials before the appropriate deadline. If you are sure that Columbia is your first choice, then you may want to apply for Early Decision, which may increase your chances for admission. Early Decision materials must be submitted by November 1st. The University stipulates that you must complete ACT/SAT/an English language test by November. Materials for Regular Decision must be submitted by January 1st. In this case, students may opt to take the ACT/SAT/an English language test (TOEFL, IELTS, DET) as late at February. SAT subject tests are not required by Columbia, however it is probably a good idea to take the tests that correspond to your interests and strengths. Finally, the University will accept your highest scores from each section of the ACT/SAT separately. This is known as “superscoring”.

The Application

Your application for a Bachelor’s at Columbia University must comprise the following elements :

• The”Coalition Application” or “Common Application”, which is composed of questions specific to Columbia :
  • Lists and descriptions of all activities and accomplishments of the student (“achievements, activities, employment and summer activities”),
  • “Personal essay”
  • “Columbia-specific questions”
  • Official transcript of your school report card.
  • Recommendation from a school counselor and school profile (“school profile”)
  • A completed “Mid-Year Report”
  • Score from SAT or ACT
  • Score from a standardiZED English exam (IELTS, TOEFL, DET)
  • these recommendations must come from teachers of academic subjects
  • For candidates applying to engineering one of these recommendations must be from a teacher of mathematics or science
  • Supplementary materials
  • Optional interview with an alumnus/a

When do you have to start preparing for Columbia University

Taking into account the numerous specific requirements for American universities like taking exams; consistently participating in extra-curricular activities including clubs, music, sports, and side projects; and the numerous essays to write, we recommend that students begin start to think about their path to Stanford as soon as they begin high school. The application itself is typically completed during the fall semester of students’ last year in high school.

What is the profile of students at Columbia University

“The admissions process at Columbia is a “holistic” one, taking many factors into careful consideration. Columbia does not rely on standardized testing and grades alone and instead looks at all parts of every application to help inform its judgment. Admissions reads personal statements to try to understand each candidate and what motivates him or her. Admissions reads teacher recommendations carefully to understand a candidate’s contributions in the classroom and what that candidate might offer his or her Columbia classmates.”

It is worth noting that applying to Barnard College, is also open to female students. Out of 7,716 applicants, 15%, 603 students, were admitted to the class of 2011. That’s 10% more than at Columbia University overall.

Are you ready to study at Columbia?

We’re here to help you succeed in your application.

The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1582 and is the 6th oldest university in the English speaking world.

Numerous buildings in the center of the sublime old city of Edinburgh are part of the university.

In 2018, Edinburgh was ranked 19th in the world in the QS World University Ranking.

The University of Edinburgh

Considered to be among the best universities in Europe (6th according to the U.S News’ Best Global Universities Ranking), the University has played a fundamental role in the reputation of Edinburgh as one of the great intellectual centers of Europe during the Enlightenment, which has even earned the city the nickname of ‘The Athens of the North’.

The University is also home to many famous former students like Charles Darwin, David Hume, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sir Walter Scott as well as 23 Nobel pries, 1 Fields medal and 3 U.K Prime Ministers.

The University of Edinburgh receives 60 000 applications per year, which makes it the second most popular university in the U.K by volume.

With the University of Saint Andrews, it is the most selective university in Scotland and it therefore requires A grades at A Level or at least a ‘mention bien’ in the baccalaureat in order to be considered for admission.

Edinburgh is particularly known for Architecture, Chemical Engineering, East and South Asian Studies, Linguistics, Middle-Eastern and African Studies, Social Politics and Veterinary Sciences. The Times World University Rankings has also ranked Edinburgh 30th in the world for Social Sciences.

How do I apply ?

The selection process at the University of Edinburgh is divided into multiple steps which we will describe to you below :

• The Conditional Offer of Admission Finally, if you succeed in the selection process, you will receive a ‘conditional’ offer of admission. This means that you will not definitely be accepted unless you obtain the minimum grade in the Bac and in an English exam (generally the IELTS).
• The application on UCAS You must first submit your application on the UCAS platform, the equivalent of Parcoursup in England. This file comprises a cover letter (Personal statement) as well as a letter of recommendation from one of your teachers.

When do you have to start preparing for the University of Edinburgh?

The deadline for applying to the University of Edinburgh is fixed at January 15th of your final year.

In all cases, take into account the preparation necessary for admission to Edinburgh, we strongly advise you to start preparing your application from your penultimate year to maximize your chances of getting accepted.

What is the profile of the students at Edinburgh University?

Given its high selectivity, we recommend that you only apply to this university if you can show very solid academic results and that you are sure to obtain a ‘Bien’ grade in the Bac.

Are you ready to study at Edimburgh University?

We’re here to help you succeed in your application.

University College London (UCL) is ‘London’s Global University.’ Located in the heart of London, but with over 18,000 students from outside of the UK (out of around 39,000 in total), the University is one of the most international in the UK. Founded in 1826, UCL  was the first university in the United Kingdom to be secular, accepting candidates regardless of religion, and awarded the first 4 bachelor’s degrees to British women in 1880.

Famous alumni include Mahatma Gandhi, Kwame Nkrumah (the founder of modern Ghana), and members of the band Coldplay. Today, it is one of the top universities in the UK, and hovers near the top 10 # worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019, QS World University Rankings 2019). It is the third-largest university in the UK, part of the ‘Russell Group’ of elite British universities, and part of the Golden Triangle (including Oxford and Cambridge) of research-intensive universities.

Life at UCL

On campus, students can enjoy a brand new student center, the or find a quiet corner in the beautiful law library. There are several green areas in this bustling part of London including the charming Gordon Square and the larger Russell Square, both popular for picnicking. The much larger Regent’s Park is about 10 minutes away. To help create a community feel each department has its own common room, where students from the same course, or different ones, can meet, relax, or study together.

Accommodation

UCL guarantees housing in residential halls to all first year students. Accommodation can be catered and most halls are centrally located and within walking distance or a short bus or tube ride from the main campus.

UCL offers two catered halls: Ifor Evans and Ramsay Hall but students can also choose to stay in an Intercollegiate hal (International Hall, Garden Halls, Lilian Penson Hall) where they will be mixed with students from other London universities.

Academic Matters

Increasingly well known and consistently highly ranked internationally as noted above, UCL offers a constantly evolving range of courses. Recently added, the BASc Arts & Sciences course allows students to discover a broader range of subjects, while Law, Biomedical Science, Economics and Computer Science continue to be the most popular (and most selective!) courses. See the full of list of bachelor’s and master’s courses on UCL’s website.

Considered highly selective, UCL is one of a few universities in the UK not to offer courses in Clearing as reported by THE.

Master’s degrees can be either taught or research programs and include a wide range of programs including architecture, economics, education and philosophy. Find out more about all courses on offer here.

How to apply:

Bachelor Candidates

Undergraduate candidates apply via the British online platform UCAS, and upload a letter of motivation (Personal Statement), predicted grades for the Baccalaureate in each subject, and a letter of recommendation from one of their teachers. Note that students send only 1 Personal Statement for all the universities they apply for (maximum of 5 choices.

The Personal Statement, maximum 4,000 characters, should explain why students want to study a chosen course, what aspects particularly interest them, what steps they have already taken to engage with the subject (reading, conferences, internships etc), and, if possible, what aspects they are looking forward to studying. For advice on how to write a Personal Statement please see here.

Generally, UCL asks for a ‘bien’ grade in the Baccalaureate. However, the most popular courses require a minimum of 15.5/20 in the Baccalaureate as well as an assessment day, where students may have to sit exams and have an interview.

If you succeed in all these stages, you will receive a ‘conditional offer’ of admission. This means that you will be accepted if you attain the required marks (most often a bien in the Baccalaureate and in a standardized English test.

When should students start preparing?

It is strongly recommended that students begin preparing in from the end of Year 11 or beginning of Year 12. If possible, start any reading and thinking about what to write about in a Personal Statement as early as possible.

It is recommended that you try to find aspects of your chosen course that genuinely interest you and to think deeply about why you wish to study this subject : after all, you are applying to study this subject full time for at least 3 years.

The deadline for application to UCL is 15th January of Year 13.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, all UCL open days will now take place online.  

UCL’s Undergraduate June Virtual Open Days are live. For more informations, please see this page.

Masters & PhD Candidates

Graduate candidates generally apply directly to the program that they are targeting. Admissions are rolling, which means there is no deadline, however, when a course is full, no further students can apply. Responses are generally given with 6 weeks of application submission.

The Application must include:

• Academic transcript
• Application Fee
• English language requirement
• Personal statement
• 2 Letters of reference
• Research Proposal (PhD candidates only)

Depending on the course, students may need to submit additional materials such as GRE scores or a portfolio. See this page for more information.

When do you have to start preparing for UCL?

The deadline to apply for a Bachelor’s at UCL is at the end of your final year.

Always bear in mind the preparation work needed for admission to UCL, it is therefore strongly recommended that you start preparing your application at the start of your final year to maximize your chances of success.

A year of tuition at UCL ranges from just over €20,000 to €24,000 depending on the course. The University offers some Financial aid opportunities, which may cover up to 100% of enrollment fees. Students may apply for IE Loans, IE Scholarships or outside funding and should do so by completing their Financial Aid application.

Are you ready to study at UCL?

We’re here to help you succeed in your application.

Situated right in the center of the city of Montréal and established 1907, HEC Montréal is the oldest business school in Canada and a member of the ‘Conférence des Grandes Ecoles’.

The excellent quality of research and their teaching in management, allowed the school to obtain the three most prestigious accolades: AACSB, AMBA et EQUIS.

One of the big advantages of HEC Montréal is that teaching can either be in French, bilingual (English) or trilingual (English and Spanish).

HEC Montréal in a few words

With more than 13 000 students from 147 countries, HEC Montréal is truly an international school with 127 partner schools in 40 countries across the world.

HEC Montréal offers the choice of 3 possible courses at Bachelor’s level: regular, bilingual and trilingual.

• The regular program is principally in French and offers optional English lessons.
• The bilingual program has certain lessons in English and optional lessons in French or English.
• The trilingual program offers lessons in French, English and Spanish and an exchange abroad.

The “Bachelor” or Baccalaureate in Administration of Affairs (B.A.A) is a general undergraduate degree which is accessible to French students at the start of a preparatory year at HEC Montréal, a year of of scientific or commercial preparatory class or a university year.

What is the selection process at HEC Montréal ?

The process of selection at HEC Montréal is divided into multiple steps that we will describe to you below :

The application on the HEC Montréal website

You must submit your application on the HEC Montréal website which must comprise the following elements :

• Your score in an English test (IELTS, TOEFL) for the bilingual programs
• Your official school report of the three semesters of your penultimate year and the first semester of your final year.
• Your predicted results of the Bac.

When do you have to start preparing for HEC Montréal ?

When do you have to start preparing for HEC Montréal ?

The deadline for applying to HEC Montréal is fixed at February 15th of your final year for autumn enrollment and at October 1st in for winter enrollment.

What is the profile of the students at HEC Montréal ?

The required grades for joining the BBA with a preparatory year at HEC Montréal are the following :

• Series ES specialty mathematics with an average of 13/20 and a grade of 14/20 or more in mathematics.
• Series S or ES specialty mathematics with a ‘Bien’ grade (14/20) or more
• Series S with a ‘Assez bien’ grade (12/20) or more in mathematics

What are the school fees at HEC Montréal ?

The school fees for French students for a year of the Bachelor’s are around 8900 Canadian dollars (around 5700 euros)

Are you ready to study at HEC Montréal?

We’re here to help you succeed in your application.

If you’re interested in studying law in America’s most famous city, then Fordham University’s LL.M. program could be the perfect fit for you. Students at Fordham choose from 8 possible degree specializations over their two semesters of study, gaining a unique mix of practical experience and in-depth subject mastery.

In addition to the learning students do in the classroom, Fordham offers robust externship opportunities at some of New York’s most prestigious law firms as well as close to 20 in-house clinics for LL.M. students to practice their lawyering skills even before they graduate.

Fordham’s LL.M. Degree in a Few Words 

Over the course of 2 semesters (starting in either August or January), LL.M. students hone their legal skills in one of 8 different disciplines while also studying the core principles of the American legal system. Students come from all over the world-typically around 40 nationalities are represented in each LL.M. class of around 180 students-and complement their classroom learning with extensive experiential learning opportunities that prepare them for a successful legal career.

For international students, the program provides an orientation course-capped at just 15 students per section-on American legal writing and classroom methodology, as well as a series of seminars throughout each semester offering additional support. Furthermore, each of the 8 specializations prepares students (including international students) to sit the New York bar examination should they choose to practice law post-graduation.

Academics

The LL.M. degree is a full-time program over the course of 2 semesters. However, Fordham also allows students to complete the degree part-time over 2 years, a great choice for students who choose to pursue a professional career alongside their studies. 

Students have a choice of 8 different degree specializations, ranging from Corporate Compliance Law to International Dispute Law and even a first-of-its-kind track in Fashion Law. It is also possible to complete a third semester in order to obtain a dual-concentration. 

One of the most impressive parts of Fordham’s LL.M. program is its wide range of opportunities for students to gain first-hand legal experience. For example, each semester students may choose to volunteer at one of 18 different clinics run by the university. There, students will work side-by-side with practicing lawyers on clients’ real cases. There are clinics specializing in Criminal Defense, Entrepreneurial Law, Family Advocacy, Immigrant Rights, and many others. If that’s not enough, students can also pursue a for-credit externship at one of New York City’s many law firms, governmental organizations, nonprofit clinics, or other organizations.

In 2020, U.S. News & World Report ranked Fordham School of Law the #3 Best Part-Time Law School in the Country, as well as one of the Top 50 Law Schools overall! LL.M. Guide also named Fordham in its Top 10 list for Competition Law.

How Do I Apply? 

New York City is without a doubt America’s most well-known city. It offers residents unparalleled cultural and professional opportunities, from seeing a play on Broadway to taking a stroll in Central Park to working at one of the country’s most powerful law firms.

LL.M. students take part in a wide range of student organizations. They may choose to write for one of the university’s law journals, such as the highly-regarded Fordham Law Review, or join a student organization such as the Student Bar Association or Fordham Law Women. 

Each year, Fordham’s international students join their peers from other universities at the International Student Interview Program, a job fair featuring more than 150 of America’s top law firms seeking to recruit some of the most talented law students.

How Do I Apply? 

Fordham’s LL.M. program uses the Law School Admission Council LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (LSAC LL.M. CAS) website for its applications. Prospective students are invited to apply on a rolling basis for the Fall Semester from September 15th until March 1st, and for the Spring Semester from June 1st until October 1st.

There are 5 required parts for Fordham’s LL.M. application. First, applicants need to submit transcripts from all of the universities they attended; note that international students must already hold a degree in law. They also must write a personal statement of 500 words or less describing their future plans and ambitions. Applicants will also submit 2 letters of recommendation, with at least one of the letters ideally coming from a law school professor. Students should also attach an up-to-date resumé or CV.

Finally, international applicants from a country in which English is not the primary language must also submit their TOEFL or IELTS scores. However, if their previous law education was entirely in English, applicants may instead opt to have an interview in order to demonstrate their English proficiency. Note that applicants who do not meet the minimum TOEFL or IELTS requirements may still be accepted to Fordham if they agree to enroll in its full-time Legal English Institute alongside their LL.M. studies. 

The Application

• Transcripts
• Personal Statement
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Resumé or CV
• TOEFL or IELTS 

When do you have to start preparing for Fordham?

It’s always a good idea to start preparing your applications early, especially when you’re interested in one of the country’s best law schools. You should also ensure that the professors (or other supervisors) writing your recommendation letters are able to vouch for your abilities as a student. Consider talking to them about why you think an LL.M. degree is the right next step for your career. Furthermore, take time to write a personal statement that shows Fordham’s School of Law why you would benefit from their unique program.

Since Fordham’s LL.M. program admits students on a rolling basis, it is in your best interest to apply early! Diligent applicants will begin preparing their materials at least a month in advance.

Affording Fordham

The total cost of the LL.M. program, including tuition and health insurance, is $62,652. In addition to the cost of tuition, Fordham estimates that students will spend an additional $20,470 on room and board as well as just under $2,000 on books and other course materials. Although attending an LL.M. program like Fordham’s is a significant expense, the university does offer a variety of selective scholarships to its top students. There are 3 different merit-based scholarships that cover 100% of the program’s tuition (note that applying for these scholarships requires an additional 500-word essay), as well as several partial scholarships available to the university’s strongest applicants. Fordham’s financial aid office has also prepared a list of external scholarships that students may choose to apply for to help offset the cost of tuition.

Article Written by Ryan Buggy for Your Dream School, November 2019

We’re here to help you succeed in your application.

Yeshiva University’s Cardozo School of Law is one of America’s most well-known law schools, where students benefit from its ideal location in downtown Manhattan.

Students interested in pursuing an LL.M. degree have a choice of 3 different specialized degrees as well as an LL.M. in General Studies that offers its own range of optional concentrations. Particularly well known for its programs in Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property, Cardozo provides its students a mix of in-class and experiential learning as well as significant administrative support as they navigate their career both as students and beyond.

Cardozo’s LL.M. Degree in a Few Words 

Cardozo students have the option of completing the LL.M. degree either full-time over the course of 2 semesters or part-time over a period of up to 3 years. Its class of approximately 75 students represents over 2 dozen different countries, with graduates pursuing a range of careers from practicing attorneys to legal academics. 

The school provides its students a combination of academic, professional, and social support to ensure that each one-particularly those coming from abroad-have the tools they need to succeed at an American law school. For international students, Cardozo offers both an introductory class on the American legal system as well as an intensive seminar on legal writing and research. 

Academics

Cardozo has 4 different LL.M. programs: Comparative Legal Thought, Dispute Resolution and Advocacy, Intellectual Property, and General Studies. Furthermore, students in the General Studies program have the option to specialize in fields such as Corporate Law, Fashion, Arts, Media, and Entertainment (FAME) Law, Real Estate, and several other concentrations.

The LL.M. degree requires students to take a minimum of 24 credit-hours, which they complete through classes, clinics, externships, or even via writing a thesis. The program in Comparative Legal Thought prepares its students to pursue an academic legal career through a required thesis, and the degree in Dispute Resolution ensures its students complete an experiential component as part of their studies (though students in any program are welcome to pursue these opportunities as well!).

Students are invited to participate in the school’s many in-house and external clinics. These include in-house opportunities in fields such as Immigrant Justice and even a unique clinic in legal issues pertaining to Indie Film, as well as a variety of placements at public legal clinics and externships within the private sector.

One of the school’s greatest strengths is its extensive faculty advising. LL.M. students have access to a Dean who assists them with both course selection and the academic support they need throughout their time at Cardozo. Furthermore, counselors in its Career Services Office can help students navigate the countless professional opportunities that its location in New York City affords them.

In 2020, U.S. News & World Report ranked Cardozo School of Law the #6 Best Dispute Resolution Program in the Country (and #1 in New York), and LL.M. Guide includes Cardozo in its Top 10 lists for both Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property Law.

Campus Life

Located in New York’s iconic Greenwich Village, Cardozo students have access to a wide range of cultural and professional opportunities. New York is home to some of America’s most famous artistic, theatrical, and musical venues, as well as unparalleled professional opportunities.

Cardozo students enjoy a vibrant on-campus community. One of its most valuable student organizations pairs new students with more advanced students (such as those in its J.D. program), helping newcomers navigate the different resources and communities available to them. The school also hosts a variety of networking events with both professionals in New York City as well as Cardozo alumni, including an association specifically for European alumni.

How Do I Apply?

Applicants to Cardozo’s LL.M. program are encouraged to use the Law School Admission Council LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (LSAC LL.M. CAS) website, but may also apply via a physical application mailed to its admissions office. Students seeking to begin during the Fall Semester may apply from September 1st until June 15th, and for the Spring Semester from June 1st until December 1st. Note that international applicants must either already hold a degree in law or be licensed to practice in their country with prior professional experience.

There are 5 parts to Cardozo’s LL.M. application. First, applicants must submit a current resumé or CV. They also must write a personal statement (maximum 2 double-spaced pages) detailing their motivations for enrolling in Cardozo’s LL.M. program. Applicants will also submit at least 1 letter of recommendation. Additionally, applicants must send official transcripts from their previous higher education experience, ideally having been verified by the LL.M. CAS International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service.

International applicants whose prior degree was not taught primarily in English must also submit their TOEFL or IELTS

The Application

• Resumé/CV
• Personal Statement
• Minimum 1 Letter of Recommendation
• Official Transcripts
• TOEFL or IELTS

When do you have to start preparing for Cardozo?

Cardozo makes application decisions on a rolling basis. Applicants should be sure to begin preparing their materials at least 1 month before they intend to submit their application. Be sure that your personal statement clearly describes why you are pursuing an LL.M. degree at Cardozo, and that the writer of your recommendation letter can speak to your academic and legal abilities!

Affording Cardozo

The cost of tuition and fees for the LL.M. program is $62,408. In addition to the cost of tuition, Cardozo estimates that students will spend a further $28,664 on room and board as well as transportation, health insurance, and other incidental costs.

Cardozo provides multiple competitive merit-based scholarships to its top LL.M. students. Applicants interested in these scholarships do not need to submit any additional application or essay to be considered for these awards. Unfortunately, Cardozo does not offer any other forms of financial aid for its students, but does provide them with resources for seeking outside aid.

Article written by Ryan Buggy, November 2019

Are you ready to study at Cardozo ?

We’re here to help you succeed in your application.

Located in an American capital well-known for its student population, Boston University (BU) is not to be missed if you’re interested in pursuing an LL.M. degree in the U.S.

Students at BU can specialize their LL.M. degree in one of 5 different fields, including its highly-ranked programs in Tax Law and Banking & Finance Law. Although students typically complete their LL.M. degree over the course of two semesters, BU also offers a 3-semester program and a 2-year program for students who seek to increase their English proficiency while they pursue their LL.M. Furthermore, the school allows students to obtain an Executive LL.M. in International Business Law or an LL.M. in Tax Law either entirely online or via a partial-residency option.

Boston University’s LL.M. Degree in a Few Words 

The roughly 330 students pursuing LL.M. degrees at BU come from all over the world to enroll in one of the university’s 5 different LL.M. programs over the course of 2 semesters. Certain students instead choose to complete the degree over 3 or 4 semesters while simultaneously taking classes through BU’s Legal English Certificate Program, a great option for international students who desire additional language support. 

Through a combination of in-class and experiential learning, BU students master their subject area while also taking advantage of the university’s dynamic social and professional programming. The LLM Discovery Series, a program designed especially for international students, takes students on visits to law firms and government offices where BU alumni work, allowing them to learn more about the American legal system and expand their professional networks.

Academics

BU is home to 5 different LL.M. programs: American Law (designed for international students), Banking & Financial Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Business Law, and Taxation. Each of these programs can be completed in 2 semesters full-time or over the course of up to 2 years for students interested in taking English classes alongside their law classes. Additionally, the degrees in Taxation and International Business Law may be completed either online or in partial residency for students who are unable to live in Boston.

Something that sets BU’s LL.M. programs apart from their peers is the potential they offer students to further concentrate within a field. For example, students in the Taxation LL.M. program can choose to specialize in Financial Services, and those in the International Business program can concentration in International Environmental and Energy Law. The American Law LL.M. even includes a built-in internship opportunity, the American Law Internship Program, where they work with a group of advisors to select a placement in a legal career at a business, non-profit, or government office located in Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., or California.

To supplement their learning during the academic year, students may choose to complete one of BU’s summer programs. These include a program in Financial Services Fundamentals, specifically designed for students interested in financial law but who lack significant prior financial training; Legal English & Foundations of the US Legal System, which helps foreign students familiarize themselves with the language and foundations of the American legal system; and US Business Law for the International Lawyer, which is particularly helpful for foreign lawyers who handle international business dealings.

In 2020, U.S. News & World Report placed Boston University School of Law in its Top 25 Best Law Schools the Country! LL.M. Guide included the school in its Top 10 lists for U.S. Tax Law, Banking/Finance Law, and Online LL.M. Programs. Impressively, the National Law Journal names its Taxation program the second-best in the country!

Campus Life

Boston offers an exciting mix of historic neighborhoods and institutions as well as a vibrant student community, with many of America’s most iconic universities located within a few subway stops of one another. Students at BU benefit not only from the many professional opportunities available to them in a financial and governmental capital, but also from an impressive artistic and cultural community.

While pursuing their LL.M. degree, students may also choose to participate in one of the over 3 dozen student organizations that the School of Law has to offer. These include affinity-based groups, volunteer associations, and pre-professional organizations who host conferences and invite speakers to enrich BU’s already bustling community. BU also holds pro bono clinics for students who want to serve the community while also honing their skills as lawyers.

How Do I Apply?

To be eligible for one of BU’s LL.M. programs, international applicants usually must hold a law degree from their home country, although certain students may be able to apply if they are practicing lawyers who do not hold a degree in law. BU accepts applications via the Law Student Admissions Council (LSAC) online application system. The deadline for international students seeking to begin during the Fall Semester is April 15th, and for the Spring Semester the deadline is October 31st. BU makes its decisions on a rolling basis, with candidates generally receiving a decision 3-4 weeks after they submit their complete application.

There are 6 parts to BU’s LL.M. application. First, applicants must submit transcripts detailing their prior higher education experience. They also must submit at least 2 (maximum of 4) recommendation letters (in English, or with an official translation) from academic or professional references. Applicants will also submit a personal statement explaining why they seek to pursue an LL.M. at BU, describing their academic interests, and sharing their professional ambitions. Applicants also need to include an updated resumé or CV.

International applicants need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores unless their prior law degree was earned at an institution teaching primarily in English. Finally, students must also complete BU’S International Student Data Form, which deals with their financial situations and is necessary for immigration purposes.

The Application

• Transcripts
• 2-4 Recommendation Letters
• Personal Statement
• Resumé/CV
• TOEFL or IELTS
• International Student Data Form

Affording Boston University

The cost of tuition and fees for the LL.M. program is $56,982. In addition to the cost of tuition, BU estimates that students will spend a further $19,800 on room and board as well as transportation, health insurance, and other incidental costs.

BU provides multiple merit-based scholarships to its top LL.M. students. The majority of these scholarships do not require any additional application to be considered. Furthermore, BU has partnerships with several international universities, including Sorbonne Université and Université Paris II : Panthéon-Assas; students at these universities may be eligible for additional scholarship money. 

Article Written by Ryan Buggy for Your Dream School, November 2019

When do you have to start preparing for Boston?

BU makes application decisions on a rolling basis. Given how competitive BU is, students should prepare their application no later than 1 month before they intend to submit it! It is important that an applicant’s personal statement clearly represent their motivations and ambitions, and that their recommendation letters offer a positive depiction of their capabilities as a law student.

We’re here to help you succeed in your application.