Hello everyone,

I am an international student, and I wanted a better idea on which programme would be a better fit, having received offers from both Durham and QMUL. Based off what I have read so far, Durham seems to be the better option however I have several people vouching for QMUL's CCLS. If anyone could shed light on the following, I'd be grateful:

1. Prestige / Hiring prospects: Which college fares better in terms of reputation and prestige? Does any one fare better than the other when it comes to hiring, vis-a-vis Magic/Silver Circle firms?
2. Location: Self explanatory, social and cultural life aspects
3. Faculty / Amenities / Opportunities
4. Overall

Thank you!

You probably have choose by now, but the prestige/hiring prospects are better in Durham IF you are an undergrad.

At the postgrad/LLM level you will face the same difficult to enter into magic circle law firms regardless you graduate from Durham or QMUL (or even a Master’s from Oxbridge). 

Based on my experience graduating in the LLM at QMUL and seeing my colleagues applications in the US, the UK legal market is completely different from the US market. Most of the times you will join as a solicitor in a  City law firm just if you grant a training contract. 

In the UK you will be competing for training contracts with students who just finished their undergrads from Oxbridge and other reputable universities (including Durham, QMUL and other Russel Group unis) and law firms tend to prefer these candidates who studied the law degree in the UK.

It is not impossible but it’s a fierce competition that rarely international students win just holding the LLM (or with a network between their legal firm in homecountry and the law firm in the UK). You will have better odds in the UK legal market by applying to in-house positions with multinational companies, brokerage, asset and investment management firms. These firms make massive hiring of international candidates for 1-year contract or permanently even if you are not qualified in E&W and also hire for legal counsel positions after passing the SQE.

Anyway, you should apply one year in advance for training contracts, so start applying now for the TC of next summer. Good luck!

[Edited by csaa26 on Oct 03, 2023]

With respect to the other points of your question, I received offers for the LLM in Corporate Law at Durham and the LLM in Banking and Finance Law at QMUL (also LLM in International Banking Law at UCL).

In the end I chose QMUL for the modules scheduled for that year. The two modules I most wanted to study in Durham’s LLM were cancelled after I applied, therefore I would not be able to attend classes with specific lecturers and I would be obliged to take modules I did not want to fulfil the mandatory credits. Similar situation with UCL.


Location: I rather live in London than the rainy north Durham. But if I was young I would try to go to Durham to experience the collegiate system (cheaper and I believe you get more involved in the uni life). In London you interact and network but it is a big city. The pros: you can participate in City law firms events to build your network.

Amenities: QMUL have an excellent library in the Mile End campus (East London) and you can use the facilities of the IALS and Senate House libraries in central London. Most of UoL postgrad law students go to IALS (QMUL, Kings College, LSE), it is an incredible law library.
QMUL offers a lot of opportunities to help with researches conducted by PhD candidates or professors. There are plenty of internships and placements shared with students, CV review sessions and orientations for legal markets. Also, the law firms and bar temples invite students for seminars and other events. There are at least two tutorials for each full-credit module with small classes and the lecturers are leaders in their fields with extensive experience local and internationally.

Overall, I enjoyed my time at QMUL, I could take all modules of my interests, had the chance to intern at a RegTech for a few months. I also joined the mentoring scheme, participated in several events and seminars and had the chance to network with great professionals.

Hello everyone,

I am an international student, and I wanted a better idea on which programme would be a better fit, having received offers from both Durham and QMUL. Based off what I have read so far, Durham seems to be the better option however I have several people vouching for QMUL's CCLS. If anyone could shed light on the following, I'd be grateful:

1. Prestige / Hiring prospects: Which college fares better in terms of reputation and prestige? Does any one fare better than the other when it comes to hiring, vis-a-vis Magic/Silver Circle firms?
2. Location: Self explanatory, social and cultural life aspects
3. Faculty / Amenities / Opportunities
4. Overall

Thank you!