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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When do you have to start preparing for IE Madrid?

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

Always bear in mind the preparation work needed for admission to IE University, 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 IE University 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.

Located 5.5 kilometers outside of the center of Coventry, England, the green campus of the University of Warwick covers 290 ha (720 acres). Although the university was founded in 1965, it quickly found its way to the top 10 of UK for its undergraduate student experience, based on teaching quality and learning resources, academic level of accepted students, employment prospects, research quality and retention rates (The Complete University Guide). Moreover, it joined the prestigious Russell Group of 24 public research universities in 1994.

Additionally, the University of Warwick joined the prestigious Russell Group of 24 Public Research Universities in 1994.

Warwick boasts 25,600 full-time students and 2,400 academic and research staff. About 27% of the student body comes from overseas and over 114 countries are represented in the student body. About 6,300 students live in housing across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate residences. All of the residences provide a dining, residential tutors and a warden responsible for student welfare.

A Few Words About The University of Warwick

Academics at Warwick are organized into the Faculties of Arts, Medecine, Science and Social Sciences, which together have 29 academic departments. The University of Warwick excels in several academic disciplines and is particularly well reputed for economics and management.The Complete University Guide ranked Warwick’s Economics department 3rd overall in its rankings for 2019. Fully 19 of the 27 subjects offered by Warwick were ranked within the top 10 nationally in 2019, with Creative Writing taking first place.

In 2015 revealed that the university received 25,071 undergraduate applications and made 18,380 offers in 2014-15 for an acceptance rate of 15.8%. Particular competitive courses include Law, Economics and courses within the Warwick Business School.

In 2017, the university was one of only a few universities (along with Cambridge, >Imperial College, >LSE, Oxford, >St Andrews, and >UCL) to have no courses available in Clearing, a process that matches students with available courses late in the summer before starting university. As you might expect, Warwick is very selective and it is necessary to achieve at least a ‘mention bien’ in the baccalaureat, or A Levels grades AAB-A*AA in order to be considered for entry.

The campus has seen impressive growth over the past several years as Warwick has inaugurated a new Mathematics and Statistics Building, a new Computer Science Building, new Business School buildings, the Digital Laboratory, the new Heronbank Residences and an expanded Sports Center, and the projects continue. Campus life is lively and the University of Warwick Students’ Union is one of the largest students’ unions in the UK. It currently has over 260 societies and 67 sports clubs including basketball, rowing and ice hockey. Students also run a radio station Radio Warwick (RAW) and publish a student newspaper, The Boar.

When do you have to start preparing for the University of Warwick

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

Always bear in mind the work involved in the preparation needed for the admission to Warwick, it is strongly recommended start preparing your candidate file from the beginning of your final year in order to maximize your chances of success.

What is the profile of the students at the University of Warwick?

A product of a changing society at the end of the 19th century, Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), opened its doors to students in 1893 to train personnel for the tourism industry. Today, 125 years later, EHL is still the #1 hospital management school in the world, training over 2,600 students from over 100 countries for careers in the world’s finest hotels and resorts.

Among it’s 25,000 alumni are:

• Georges Plassat (class of 1972), CEO of the Carrefour Group;
• Peter C. Borer (1975), COO of The Peninsula Hotels and Executive Director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited;  
• Dominique Seiler (1990), Head of Talent Acquisition at UBS Switzerland;
• Christian Clerc (1992), President of Worldwide Hotel Operations at the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Academics

As an international institution, EHL gives students the choice of studying in English or French. Degree programs offered include the Bachelor’s degree (BSc) in International Hospitality Management, which prepares students to enter junior management positions in top companies, and a Master’s (MSc) program in which students can develop their professional success as hospitality managers. Both degrees are recognized and accredited in Europe and the US.

Students of the Bachelor’s program develop the skills, connections and resources to launch an international career. Upon graduation, students are prepared to lead, as managers or entrepreneurs, in Europe and around the world in the global hospitality industry and in a variety of other service businesses.

With 7,000 industry partners, over 140 companies recruiting students directly on campus, 25,000 alumni and 64% of graduates securing a senior or executive position, EHL makes a strong case for maintaining its position of leadership in the hotel management training industry.

Curious about how EHL got started? Check out this Timeline of its history!

Master’s Degree in Hospitality

The Master of Science (HES-SO accredited) in Global Hospitality Business allows students to experience studying in 3 elite universities in Switzerland, Hong Kong and the USA.

The course at a glance:

• Perfect for young hospitality professionals and graduates
• Full-time, 16-month program
• Emphasizes contemporary management theory, real-world experience & business projects with global companies

Students accepted into this program will be part of a truly global learning experience. After an initial semester in Lausanne, students travel to 2 world class campuses in Hong Kong and the USA to experience different cultures and cities renowned for their vibrant student life. You will see global hospitality businesses in action as you participate in field trips to hospitality hubs such as Paris, Berlin, New York, Shanghai and Macau among others.

Course highlights include:

Lausanne

Business field trips to Paris, Berlin, Lisbon

Hospitality business strategies in Europe, the Middle East & Africa

Hospitality real estate finance & investment

Project management tools

Hong Kong

• Hospitality business strategies in Asia
• Revenue management
• Business field trips to Macau, Shanghai, Beijing

Houston, USA

• Hospitality business strategies in the Americas & the Caribbean
• Innovative hospitality technologies
• Business field trips to Washington, D.C., Mexico, Las Vegas

Applying to EHL

EHL is seeking candidates who can think creatively and critically, who are open-minded and multilingual, optimistic, service-minded leaders.
Admissions requirements to the Bachelor’s program include:

• A high school diploma (transcripts/grade reports)
• Essay (a motivation letter or personal essay demonstrating your interest)
• English proficiency (IELTS 7, TOEFL 100, CAE B)
• 18 years of age

Interested applicants should go to apply.ehl.edu and create a login. After completing the application, students will be invited to complete an online interview.
The final stage of the admissions process is a visit day that includes a personal interview and group activities. The goal of this experience is for the EHL admissions committee to assess the candidate’s motivation and his or her understanding of hospitality trends and challenges.

Admissions requirements to the Master’s program include:

• A bachelor’s in hospitality, tourism or business management
• At least 1 year of related work experience
• English proficiency (IELTS 7, TOEFL 100)

Your Master’s application should include:

• CV/résumé
• Motivation letter/personal statement
• Copy of transcripts (grade reports) and diploma in English
• 2 recommendation letters
• English proficiency test scores
• Copy of passport
• Fee of CHF 175

Interested applicants should go to apply.ehl.edu and create a login. After completing the application, students will be invited to complete two interviews, including one with a partner university.

Master’s application deadline: April 1st
Admission can be reached at bachelor@ehl.ch

What are the tuition fees for EHL?

Below is a summary of fees for international students enrolled in the BS in International Management adapted from “Breakdown of fees & expenses February 2019 – International Students”. (Additional information including fees for Swiss students here).

Fees (in CHF)	Prep. Year	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	4 Year TOTAL
Tuition	21,423	35,236	21,423	30,363	108,445
Infrastructure & fees	8,892	12,621	7,868	10,517	39,898
Food & Beverage credit	2,950	3,740	2,057	2,864	11,6111
TOTAL	33,265	51,597	31,348	43,744	159,954
Other compulsory fees	Prep. Year	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	TOTAL
Health insurance	1,620	1,620	1,620	1,620	6,480

Students from the following countries may be eligible for loan programs:

• Canada: Canadian student loans
• France: Student loans and scholarships for French citizens
• Switzerland: Canton scholarships and education loans
• UK: Career Development Loans for British students and UK residents
• USA: Federal and private loans for US citizens and permanent residents

Below is a summary of fees for international students enrolled in the MS in International Management adapted from “Breakdown of fees & expenses February 2019 – International Students”.

Tuition & fees		in CHF	in CHF	in CHF
Compulsory expenses	1	24,00	17,280	19,920
Facilities and services	2	2,270	7,868	10,517
Food & Beverage	3	1,620	2,057	2,864
Field trips	4	7,000	3,360	3,880
TOTAL		34,890	20,640	23,800

Established in 1973 as the private business school Instituto de Empresa, today IE University (IEU) offers programs entirely in English to its 3,000 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and executive education students, nearly 70% of whom are international. Its first undergraduate class graduating in 2013, IE University has experienced remarkable success as an institution as it is now a top 50 global university in business & management studies (QS World University Rankings 2016) and No. 1 School worldwide in the QS Distance Online MBA Ranking.

It’s core values of technological immersion, innovation, entrepreneurial mindset, humanities and diversities are truly setting IEU apart as it “Reinvents Higher Education”.

IE Madrid in a few words

IE University has two campuses: Segovia, located a few kilometers from the center of Madrid and the Madrid campus in the financial district (Barrio de Salamanca). Degree programs allow students to experience both campuses.

The IE University campus in the city of Segovia offers an authentic campus experience. It is housed in the Convent of Santa Cruz la Real, a historic building declared a national heritage site in 1931. Segovia is only 25 minutes from Madrid by high-speed train, and welcomes students from over 80 countries in a global university setting, with an atmosphere that is both academic and lively.

The IE University campus is located in the Maria de Molina area or financial center of Madrid, a leading European capital. Our students benefit from a global learning environment, top-tier networking opportunities and buildings equipped with state-of-the-art facilities – all shared with the prestigious top-ranked IE Business School. IE is currently building a brand new campus also in the financial district of Madrid, exclusively for undergraduate students to be completed in 2020.

Starting in 2020, undergraduate students will have a brand new home called “Campus IE” to call their own. Campus IE will form part of the Caleido, an ambitious architectonic complex set to change Madrid’s skyline. The purposeful vertical design of the newest campus respects high standards of sustainability and leaves ample room for large open green spaces open to the city of Madrid and its residents. The future complex will also include an extensive shopping area, restaurants, leisure & sports facilities, art and culture structures.

IEU campus life provides clubs for every interest, whether it be professional, sports, social or geographic. Main events on campus include the IE Winter Ball, a fun event for a social cause; the annual, student-organized TEDxIE Madrid; Global Village celebrating the wealth of cultural diversity on the IE campus; IE LGBT@WORK promoting the free exchange of ideas and a networking platform; and the Social Responsibility Forum an interactive space for graduate students and professionals to share knowledge and generate ideas.

How do I apply?

As part of our Admissions Process, IE University requires candidates to take their Admissions Test to measure their competencies, skills and personality characteristics. It also evaluates their English level. Students may also opt to take the ACT, SAT or LNAT in place of IE University’s entrance exam.

Although not mandatory, students may wish to add English scores to their application. Standards as are follows:

• TOEFL: minimum 90, 100 points recommended
• IELTS: minimum 7 points
• Cambridge: CAE (with marks A, B and in some cases C with a strong oral conversation) or CPE

Students wanting more support in English may enroll in a Language Proficiency Track (LPT) their first year to reinforce their English skills.

When do you have to start preparing for IE Madrid?

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

Always bear in mind the preparation work needed for admission to IE University, 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 IE University 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.

Academic Matters

The University of Durham has a wide range of study options, from Anthropology to Physics to Sports Science to Finance.

Students in their first year also can choose ‘open modules’ either inside or outside their main department. So, for example, a student of Biosciences could take a module in Chinese language or Middle Eastern history. This is an invaluable opportunity to deepen a particular interest in your own subject, or to learn about something completely different from your main course of study and so widen your general knowledge and culture.   For a list of current ‘open modules’ please see here.

Students at Durham also have the opportunity to study abroad for a year, as the University has links with over 120 universities across the world. To read some testimonials from students who have spent a year abroad, please see this page.

The main university library holds over 1.6 million items and access to over 6 million e-books and e-journals, and in exam season is open 24/7.

Teaching at Durham is within your department rather than your college.

To order the 2020 undergraduate prospectus, please click here.

How to Apply to Durham University

The University of Durham, along with Oxford and Cambridge, is a collegiate university, and has 16 colleges. Applicants apply to a college (or can make an open application, where they are assigned a college). The list of colleges and their codes can be found here.

As with all UK universities, candidates apply through UCAS. On UCAS, candidates upload a letter of motivation (Personal Statement); one of their teachers must also upload a letter of recommendation and provide predicted exam marks for the student. Students may only submit one Personal Statement for all the universities they apply for (maximum of 5 choices). The Personal Statement, no more than 4,000 characters, should explain why students want to study their 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.

International students will also need to send a scan of their qualifications, including English language tests, to the Recruitment and Admissions Office, along with their UCAS personal identification number and date of birth. Evidence of a recognised standardised English language proficiency test may include the IELTS or the TOEFL.

For the specific requirements of your choice of degree programme, please visit the course page of your chosen course.

Can I visit the university of Durham?

To register your interest to attend an Open Day, click here.

Fees

Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, students from the EU, EEA and Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for host fee status or financial support from Student Finance England (more information here).

EU students in 2025/2026 will pay the overseas fee for the duration of their course.

When taking into account the cost of any university, you should also consider the cost of living.

Durham provides an estimate for the cost of living, which can be found on its website. Students should plan to budget between £1,000 and £1,600 for each month of living and studying in Durham. This amount should be budgeted for 6-9 months of the year, depending on whether you will stay at Durham during the holidays.

From this, you might predict an annual average budget of around £10,000 per year, including accommodation, transport, personal expenses etc.

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.

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

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!

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.