Melbourne Law School JD - Oxford University BCL or MLF

The Oxford Bachelor of Civil Law

Many legal practitioners and academics regard the BCL as the best masters-level qualification in the common law world. It is taught by outstanding scholars through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Oxford prides itself on offering BCL students closer contact and interaction with its scholars than is offered by any other Masters program in the world.

For more information, please consider Oxford Law Faculty's ebrochure of the program. 

The Oxford Masters of Law and Finance

The Masters (MSc) of Law and Finance is a new degree offering from Oxford, that marries the expertise of the Law Faculty with the financial and commercial acumen of the Said Business School in Oxford. It explores the important theoretical and practical issues at the intersection of law, finance and economics.

It is an ideal Masters degree for any graduate seeking to develop their career as a practitioner in corporate law and finance, investment banking, financial regulation or academic corporate law and finance.

For more information, please consider the ebrochure of the program.

Application

Melbourne JD students apply during the fourth (second semester of second year) semester to study the BCL or MLF.  Applications are normally due in early January for commencement of the program in early September.

Application dates for the Oxford BCL/MLF degrees can be found via the Oxford University website.

Applicants will be assessed on four semesters of academic results in the Melbourne JD.

Prior to commencing the BCL or MLF, you must have completed 5 semesters of the JD degree, including the 17 compulsory units. Successful completion of the BCL or MLF at Oxford will normally be accepted by Melbourne Law School (MLS) in substitution of the final (sixth) semester of the JD degree at MLS.

Students apply through the same admissions procedure as any other applicants for the BCL or MLF degrees. There is no ceiling on the number of students accepted each Academic year, but students must have a H1 or very good H2A average to be competitive.

If you are nearing the end of your first year and see yourself as competitive you should consult Associate Professor Matthew Harding in the first instance. Students in later years can also consult Associate Professor Harding if near this threshold.

Study Duration

The JD combined with either the BCL or MLF programs amount to 3.5 academic years; 2.5 years at Melbourne Law School, and 1 year at Oxford University.

Students are granted advanced standing (credit) for the equivalent of 3 x 12.5 credit JD subjects. You must complete 21 MLS subjects including 17 compulsories (to meet Australian professional qualification requirements) and 4 electives prior to departure. The final three subjects required to take out the JD degree are cross-credited after you have completed the BCL or MLF.

You will remain enrolled at Melbourne Law School during the sixth semester of the JD. During this time you will be enrolled into a generic 37.5 credit point (3 subjects) Study Abroad placeholder subject which is equivalent to the number of subjects that will be credited back on completion of your studies at Oxford.

Students enrolled in the BCL or MLF undertake their studies in Oxford from approximately mid September to mid July of their third year of studies at Melbourne Law School. For exact dates please consult the Academic calendar on the Oxford website.

It should be noted that there are various pre-course training requirements for the MLF (mostly relating to maths and accounting). Reference should be made to the ebrochure for further details.

Please note that Oxford's subjects are year-long and as such students will not complete their JD until they have successfully completed their BCL around June each year.

You must organise to have an Oxford transcript sent back to the Study Abroad and Exchange Advisor at Melbourne Law School once you have completed your studies to receive advanced standing for your studies at the University at Oxford. They do not send a transcript back to Melbourne Law School automatically.

Study Costs

Students are liable for all tuition, travel and living expenses associated with the BCL and MLF. You should investigate the costs associated with the program from the outset to ensure that you can afford to study and live in Oxford. A good place to start is the University of Oxford Fees and Funding webpage.

If you are accepted and enrolled into the University of Oxford Law School you do not pay tuition fees for the final 3 Melbourne Law School subjects to complete your JD. The fees for these 3 subjects are waived due to your participation in the Degree Partnership program.

Students are responsible for arranging visas and accommodation. Accommodation is usually offered by the your admitting Oxford College but can also be arranged privately.

Funding

Oxford offers a wide range of scholarships for which you may be eligible to apply. Further information can be found via their website.

When you apply to go to Oxford you will be automatically considered for the Allen Myers Scholarship.

Further information about the Allan Myers Scholarship is available from Jennifer Steadman, Advancement Officer, Melbourne Law School, tel 03 9035 3501, email j.steadman@unimelb.edu.au

Mr Allan Myers AO QC also funds a generous scholarship for Australian graduate students at Christ Church, Oxford, for which MLS students and graduates are encouraged to apply. Further information about the 2012-2013 Christ Church scholarship, including details on how to apply, will be made available on the Christ Church website in late 2011.

By completing the University of Melbourne Registration form you are automatically considered for the Melbourne Global Grant (administered by Melbourne Global Mobility).

If you receive Centrelink benefits (Youth Allowance, Abstudy or Austudy) you are potentially able to continue receiving them while overseas but still enrolled at Melbourne Law School.

You should also investigate scholarship options outside of those mentioned here, potential places to start include the JASON website.

For other financial advice and planning advice please see the website for the University Financial Aid Office.

Melbourne Law School also has some limited funding available for students to apply for to assist with their living expenses overseas.

If you have any questions please consult the Law School's Study Abroad and Exchange Advisor.

Pre-Departure

If your application is successful before you depart for Oxford you MUST complete the University of Melbourne online registration form.  Registration via this form will ensure that we have a record of your overseas student status and that you are considered for available Melbourne Global Grants.

You are also required to complete the Melbourne Global Mobility Pre-Departure Orientation Video and Quiz. If you do not watch the video and successfully complete the quiz then you will not be considered for any Melbourne Global Scholarships, and will be at risk of having your overseas experience cancelled by the University.

Further Information

For initial enquiries please contact the Study Abroad and Exchange Advisor in the Law School Student Centre: law-studyabroad@unimelb.edu.au. 

Melbourne Law School's Academic coordinator for the Oxford degree partnership program is Associate Professor Matthew Harding.