Hello All,

Does anybody have any experience on how the Admission Board rates applications in NUS? I am planning to apply for Maritime Law LL.M program but I am concerned about my grades that are, I guess, quite average (I just calculated for the first time in my life that my cumulative grade average is 2,73 out of 5). I have noticed that in common law countries universities rank their applicants only on grade-basis. Working experience or any other achievements usually do not weight a thing. In my country (I come from the Nordic countries), we have a totally different system, i.e. our law schools do not put that much weight on grades but consider also applicant’s working experience, student association activity, publications, etc. We do not even have any grade-based rankings in our law schools! Furthermore, our grading scale and grading system does not correspond to the one used e.g. in Singapore. Just as an example, I have to answer over 50% (for instance at least 41 out of 80) “right” of the questions in the exams to earn even the lowest grade, or otherwise, I fail. I guess this system is more challenging than in many countries…So, I don’t understand how is it possible equitably to choose between applicants that apply with so different backgrounds and certificates/transcripts???
However, I am afraid that I don’t have any possibilities to be accepted to NUS if grades are the only thing the Admission Board evaluates. Though, I have working experience (as a trainee, paralegal, associate lawyer and legal counsel) together for over five years, I have graduated both LL.B and LL.M and I am a PhD student with a few publications in my own country and my academic references are quite ok. Should carry at least some weight..?

However, the Law school does not even request applicants to submit any evidence on other achievements.. Only the transcripts and academic references are mandatory documents which indicates that the Admission Board is not interested in anything else. Any opinions?