I am from India and have completed my Chartered Accountancy course and 3 years of L.L.B. I wish to do L.L.M. course from reputed university abroad - may be USA or UK or Ireland.

However, my future plan is to return back to India and practise international taxation advisory and consultancy services in India.

I checked many of the curriculum covered in L.L.M. but they include local laws as well and does not concentrate solely on the International Tax Treatise.

If I intend to return back to India, then US/UK/Ireland's local laws would be of no use to me. And, I am aware of the Indian local tax laws to enable me to practise in India.

My question:-
Is there any reputed university abroad which concentrates solely on the International Tax Treatise like OECD Model, EU Treatise and UN Model which would expand my international tax base to enable me to interprete such International Treatise vis-a-vis Indian local tax laws?

I am thoroughly confused. Kindly help

Try Leiden for specialist tax courses.

Thanks for the information and i will search for the details. Are there any other institute in US or UK? That would be very helpful

Beside Leiden, NYU ( But you also have to study US corporate tax), and University of Georgetown for US. In UK there is not much choice. QMUL and LSE but the last one not focused on int tax.

My program is probably suited for your interest in that I created when I was Associate Director at Coopers & Lybrand for international training of global staff. Its international tax courses are solely globally focused, using a hybrid MBA-law school case study, group approach within courses.

We also have had several students sponsored by their firms in India, by example E&Y and KPMG, over these past 11 years. The issue will be is that you may be too young in that our students normally have over 5 years experience (more in the 10 year range), but I also know of Indian-based options that work with us in providing our courses locally to less experienced practitioners.

If this is interesting, after you do some more research, feel free to contact us.

Prof. William H. Byrnes, IV
Walter H. & Dorothy B. Diamond Graduate Program Int'l Tax & Financial Services
http://www.tjsl.edu/a_faculty_w_byrnes

Hi guys,

Is an LLM in tax of value when it comes to getting employed by firms which deal in international tax. FYI, I have got an offer from QMUL and have an year's experience in tax outside the UK. Thanks in advance.

The Leiden course is truly international. As you focus on the OECD model tax treaty and EU cases, it is not too narrow for use in any jurisdiction. It also gives you the basis from which you can with confidence understand and advise on local provisions and actual tax treaties in future. I have managed to use what I only gleaned from taking a module of international tax from the excellent Kees van Raad while doing an international business masters. The materials provided and method of teaching were excellent. I know that all my friends on the pure international tax LL.M. were very, very happy with the course. It is a famous centre for tax due to Kees can Raad so it should help on the CV.

I agree with n/a that Kees' international tax program in Leiden is excellent, as is Tilburg's, and Vienna's, amongst other residential ones in Europe.

You ask a good question which is: Will an international tax degree help me in my international career obtain the position that I want?

Based on my own career services experience the last two years (and I assume that this is true for the European programs), we have twice as many recruiters approaching us now because there are plenty of positions. The issue is too few graduates who are looking for employment, as most students are sent and paid for/reimbursed by their firms.

The two skill sets that are in highest employment demand (for high salaries that is) are transfer pricing expertise, especially addressing valuation issues in methodology studies and comparables databases, followed by tax risk management especially concerning multinational compliance integrated with enterprise software. I've also noticed more recruiters asking about alumni backgrounds' with multinational planning software products like Orbitax.

Sounds to me that you may be framing your question in reverse of how I tell our applicants to approach it? If I were you, I would engage with a few recruiters myself to determine, based on your background and skill sets, what type of opportunities are out there and then what skill sets that I can obtain to enhance my positioning. Only after I had this information could I interact with the LLM program directors to determine which one would be best for me.

Hope this helps you answer your question.

Prof. William Byrnes of the Walter H. & Dorothy B. Diamond Graduate Program

@ n/a -Thanks for your reply. Leiden is great but unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, I have to choose within London.

@ William - Thanks for your insight. I did find out the opportunities and that was the reason I applied for the Tax LLM. Now that I have been accepted I just wanted to know more in detail from people who had been there before me.

Hi Piya,
Could you also share with me the opportunity that u have known. I have to start applying by mid october. Where have you applied to and been accepted to? Thanks for sharing.

Hi cashreyas,

I have sent you a PM. Good luck with your applications !