University of Oxford BCL or MLF

General Information

Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + Oxford Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL)
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + Oxford MSc in Law and Finance (MSc LF)

Many legal practitioners and academics regard the Bachelor of Civil Law (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. The University of Oxford prides itself on offering BCL students closer contact and interaction with its scholars than is offered by any other master’s program in the world.

For more information, please visit Oxford Law Faculty BCL.

The Master of Science in Law and Finance (MSc LF) is a degree offering from the University of 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 visit Oxford Law Faculty MSc LF.

Successful applicants will depart in their sixth and final semester of the Melbourne JD to complete the one-year program abroad (beginning in October - Michaelmas Term). For exact dates, consult the Oxford academic calendar.

For further information, please visit University of Oxford, Faculty of Law.

Eligibility

All applicants must:

  • consult with the Academic Programs Coordinator (law-global@unimelb.edu.au) who will provide each applicant with a Letter of Nomination,
  • complete all core subjects and all except 3 elective subjects (37.5 points) of the Melbourne JD prior to departing for this Degree Partnership,
  • must adhere to the admissions policies, procedures and standards of Oxford, and will provisionally assessed on three semesters of academic results, however may need to provide transcripts at the completion of their fourth semester, and
  • have (and maintain) a 65% average or above, however applicants with an average of 75% or greater are considered competitive.

Students are advised to seek appropriate course planning advice if they are considering a Degree Partnership as early as possible (ideally in the first year of their studies, or as soon as they decide to pursue this opportunity).

Application Process

Students must consult with the Academic Programs Coordinator (law-global@unimelb.edu.au) who will provide each applicant with a Letter of Nomination, prior to applying directly to Oxford.

  • Application deadlines change year-to-year and are dependent on the program they are applying for (usually in November for the BCL and September for the MSc LF); however, students are advised to confirm directly with Oxford.
  • Students are liable for all non-refundable application fees.

There is no limit on the number of students accepted in the Oxford Degree Partnership per Melbourne Law School academic year.

For successful applicants, the Academic Programs Coordinator will enrol the student in a generic study abroad subject equivalent to three (3) elective subjects, which will appear on their student record and count towards their enrolment at the University of Melbourne. Students are advised to seek appropriate course planning advice to ensure they have sufficient space on their Melbourne Law School study plan prior to applying.

Course Requirements

  • Students will be awarded the BCL upon completion of four (4) courses OR three (3) courses and a dissertation at Oxford as required by the course structure.
  • Students will be awarded the MSc LF upon completion of three (3) core courses and either two (2) electives (chosen from law or finance) OR one (1) elective and a dissertation at Oxford as required by the course structure.

Study Costs

Students are required to pay the fees for their program directly to the partner university and will be fee exempt for the equivalent component(s) at the University of Melbourne.

  • Students are liable for all remaining travel/transportation, living expenses, textbooks, passport, visa and personal expenses associated with the Degree Partnership during the academic semester abroad.
  • Students may estimate their minimum annual financial commitment using the online calculator, however must take their personal circumstances in to account.

Scholarships and Funding

Funding opportunities may be available from any of the following:

Students requiring a letter for Centrelink confirming their participation in the overseas program must contact the Academic Programs Coordinator at law-global@unimelb.edu.au no less than 3 weeks before departure. Failure to do so may result in loss of payments such as Austudy, Youth Allowance and Disability Support Pension.

Insurance

Participating students may be eligible for free University of Melbourne travel insurance.

Awarding Credit Upon Completion

Upon completion of the overseas program, students must ensure their overseas transcript is sent to the Academic Programs Coordinator (law-global@unimelb.edu.au), so credit from the program can be applied as Advanced Standing to the student's Melbourne Law School program. The generic study abroad subject will then be removed as a placeholder from the student's record.

The result(s) gained at the host institution will not be recorded on the student's University of Melbourne transcript and will not affect the student's Weighted Average Mark (WAM). Students are advised to retain a copy of their overseas transcripts to demonstrate the obtained result(s).

Graduation and Final Rankings

Melbourne Law School students who undertake international opportunities in the final semester of their course will often have to delay their graduation. Melbourne Law School advises students not to make any plans to attend a graduation ceremony until they have received a formal invitation to graduate.

Final rankings can only be calculated after all transcripts have been received and the student has graduated from their Melbourne Law School program.

Please note, however, Advanced Standing received from undertaking an overseas program is not included in final rankings.

Admission to Practice

Students seeking Admission to Practice in Victoria are required by the Board of Examiners to provide a Student Conduct Report (SCR) from each university in which they have been enrolled, including those based overseas, for each completed course.

Students should firstly approach their host institution's program contact to request the SCR. If the host institution is unsure of the wording to use in the SCR, students may provide them with a template (DOC).

  • In the event an SCR request has been made and rejected (for whatever reason) students will need to provide evidence of the original request and the host institution's response.
  • In the event an SCR request has been made to which no response has been received, students will need to provide evidence of the original request and a follow-up request.

Enquiries

For enquiries regarding international opportunities at Melbourne Law School, please contact the Academic Programs Coordinator at law-global@unimelb.edu.au. Please provide 2-3 dates and times when requesting an appointment.