Hello
I am a current LLM student at Cambridge. Unlike most, I didn't apply to any other university although I did look into them. I would, however, accept that the general feeling is that the BCL has the edge for common law. But, having talked to people in the field some of whom studied and taught at Oxford, I think it is accepted that Cambridge is definitely superior for international law and so anyone interested in this area should choose Cambridge over Oxford.

It's really a personal choice. While others might disagree neither is "better" than the other. Oxford is a more intensive program in the sense that you have more contact hours, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that makes it "better". Having had the choice, I went to Cambridge and certainly don't regret it. As the previous poster indicated, what you plan to study and what you want to do after you study might have a bearing on your choice.

However, see the previous posts on this topic - its the same stuff year after year. People try to make up massive differences between the programs, the faculty, the experience. They don't exist. It depends what you want and, when you read the posts, the bottom line ends up being: you can't make a bad choice. So pick one, and have fun with it.

I'm with mj83 on this one. I am currently doing the LLM at Cam.... and whilst it's good, it's not as good as the BCL. In professional circles, the BCL is seen as the No.1 post grad programme. Cam is a mere second.... Moreover, having had the classes here and talked to people on the BCL, the BCL is more intense - you have supervision and tutorials etc..... Whereas, Cam is walk in the park, you have 8 hours of lectures a week, rarely any tutorials and no essays, to hand in... you have to do everything off your own accord..

Having said that, if you want to do international law... then Cam is the place to be.......................

that's my two pennies on the matter....

To throw a slight spanner in the works, it should be noted that some LLM courses (2 of the 4 I am doing) do have some small group sessions in addition to lectures. While this probably isn't as structured or as intense as the BCL tutorials, it would be wrong to think that there is never any support outside lectures.
Personally I prefer not to have constant deadlines.

If you are in two seminar classes, does that mean you can have two classes examnined by way of written work, rather than by exam?
Id like to take two exams, one thesis, and one seminar where the grade is based on a submitted essay. Is this possible at Cantab's LLM?

Not at Cambridge - you can only submit one dissertation in lieu of an exam (so you'll have 3 exams minimum). However, you can submit a further essay in some of the courses (worthf 1/3 of your grade) that means you still sit a 2-hour exam worth 2/3 of your grade.

Can't speak to the Oxford requirements.

Is anyone riding the fence pending scholarships and/or college admission?

Yes, I'm in the same boat - funding would make up my mind between the two, but I don't think we'll hear about Cantab funding until maybe August/ September - by which point the decision will already be made.

Does anyone know how many contact hours are there for the BCL per week? Does it differ between the terms?

Hmmm....anyone?

Also, can someone tell me whether any/some exams for the BCL are open book unseen exams? I believe at Cambridge some are.

All exams are closed book and unseen. Jurisprudence, which counts as one subject, is a take home exam. You have 6 weeks to write 3 questions. Closed or open book exam -- this should not be a key consideration whether to go to Oxford or Cambridge.

Yes, of course - just was wondering....

treatise, how many contact hours are there per week for the BCL?

thanks again for your thoughts!

One more question, LL.M. students at Cambridge are obliged to write the so called Seminar Paper for one subject and defend it on August, or is there a possibility of doing 4 written exams and finish in June?
Thanks!

There is no general obligation to defend your LL.M. dissertation, though if you are on the brink of an exceptionally high or low grade, or if there is suspicion that you have cheated, then the committee could likely require you to defend. You could also write four exams and not submit a dissertation.

Even if you had to defend, you would likely be done in June, since graduation normally falls in late June or early July!