Dear Sir/Nadam

I have just finished my LLB course at London University as an external student at Hong Kong. I only got a third honour. I have never took any legal tution course . I studied by myself. May be that is one of reasons why I couldn't get a good mark. I applied for LLM course at Sydney University. They rejected my application and offer me a course of postgraduate diploma. Unless I get an overall average mark of 65 or above, otherwise I will not be transferred to LLM course. Right now I cannot make up my decision whether I accept the offer.

Anyone can answer me whether it is hard to get an overall average mark 65 at postgraduate diploma course? Can I regard an overall average mark 65 as the same level of second lower honour at LLB? Please give me some opinion. If I fail to acheive, can I retake it once again. I know Sydney University is a high grade one, that is the main reason why I am so worried.

thanks!
Faithfully


Victor Chiang

Dear Sir/Nadam

I have just finished my LLB course at London University as an external student at Hong Kong. I only got a third honour. I have never took any legal tution course . I studied by myself. May be that is one of reasons why I couldn't get a good mark. I applied for LLM course at Sydney University. They rejected my application and offer me a course of postgraduate diploma. Unless I get an overall average mark of 65 or above, otherwise I will not be transferred to LLM course. Right now I cannot make up my decision whether I accept the offer.

Anyone can answer me whether it is hard to get an overall average mark 65 at postgraduate diploma course? Can I regard an overall average mark 65 as the same level of second lower honour at LLB? Please give me some opinion. If I fail to acheive, can I retake it once again. I know Sydney University is a high grade one, that is the main reason why I am so worried.

thanks!
Faithfully


Victor Chiang

I think you are right - to get an upper second in Australia I have heard you need to get 80 - but I could be wrong.

I'm in a similar predicament but my destination is a little different. I did the LLB via the external route in Singapore. I've got a second lower. I have not applied but really keen to get into usyd cuz umelb is way way way too costly.

Is it true that the LLM will only take a year and if i only want to get called to the roll of solicitors in NSW, but not necessary to work in Australia, can i simply take a postgrad dip in law instead. Basically i really want to be called as a solicitor in australia.

If i were to take either course, would it be possible for me to get sponsorship from one of the aussie firms? eg. freehills, blakes...

But replying to our friend in hongkong, aussie grading system is not as similar to the UK ones which we have both experience. 65 is not as tough in aussie uni as compared to uk ones. But passing mark is also higher.

For your information here is the grading system at uni of Sydney, this will give you a guide to how it works there:

Grading system:
Grade: mark: letter: ranking:
High distinction 85-100 HD top 3-5%
Distinction 75-84 D next 15%
Credit: 65-74 CR next 30%
Pass: 50-64 P next 35%

At the University of Sydney, departments are required to use a norm referenced system, when awarding final grades as opposed to a criteria referenced system. This means that there is a restriction of the number of grades that can be awarded in each category, particularly with Distinction 75-84%, High Distinction 85-100% and Credit 65-74%. A Pass grade is considered to be 50-64%. Most University Students would be receiving a Pass grade or a Credit. As you can see from the above Ranking, only a small percentage of students are allocated top grades. (From the website: www.usyd.edu.au)