I am applying to these three schools for fall, 2005 entry for an LLM in Int'l Law...I am an American who has been practicing law in the US for two years, judicial clerkship for one. I know it is expensive, but I really want this experience and to get into the Int'l field. I also know it is very late, but they say the deadlines are June/July and I'd be willing to be put on a waiting list (in the event that someone may drop their space and I could still get considered for this year). If I don't get in this year, could I ask them to hold my applications for consideration next year?

Also, I think my best chances are at Westminster, since I know KCL and UCL are competitive. Can someone tell me how competitive Westminster is? Any advice at all please--thanks!

Hi there,

I think you should just try and ask them if they will consider your application for 2006 in case there are no places left for 2005. Nothing to lose there, and I don't see why they shouldn't.

It's true that Wmin is ranked lower than KCL and UCL, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will take you on and KCL or UCL won't. Indeed, I sometimes wonder how on earth they choose students, maybe they throw dice... For instance, I received an unconditional offer from Nottingham Trent (without them even knowing my TOEFL and exam results!) and a conditional offer (depending on these results) from KCL. Being ranked much lower than KCL, you'd have thought Wmin would offer me a place as well. They were not satisfied with or lost my academic references, however, and after sending them a second time I never heard from Wmin again... Obviously they were not interested. So my advice is to just apply to each of the universities you're interested in, you can't predict the outcome anyway.

By the way, if you want to do an LLM in International Law, how about Edinburgh? Colin Miller, who is constantly advertising Edinburgh on these pages :-P (no offence, Colin, my Scottish heart is still crying because of my going to London), might be able to give you information on their programme. You should be quite quick with your application, however, the deadline is on 30 April, if I'm not mistaken.

Good luck
Nicky