Hello!

I'm from New Zealand hoping to do my masters specialising in corporate and commercial law at a UK university in the 2011/2012 academic year. I really like the look of LSE but am of course going to apply for others. I have an LLB with a 75% average and a BA in political studies with a 78% average. I also am currently working at the NZ equivalent of a "magic circle" law firm (although i'm aware that academic qualifications and not so much practical working experience is what counts). I just want to get an idea of a few things; firstly how difficult is it to get an offer from somewhere like LSE? Secondly, as i have been out of university for about 2 years i think i would only be able to get 1 academic reference and the other would either be a professional or otherwise - is this going to be a problem? If anyone has any other pearls of wisdom - especially if youre from New Zealand that would be really helpful.

Thanks!

Hi,

I can't really comment on your chances of admission as I am not familiar with the NZ grading system. Obviously admissions standards at LSE are very competitive and they reject more people than they admit.

Your second query I am in a better position to answer. I am also a few years removed from law school. With all of my LLM applications I submitted one academic and one professional reference. All the schools to which I applied processed my application without any problems -- with the exception of LSE. They requested that I submit an additional academic reference. This became a bit of an ordeal and caused a huge delay in the processing of my application (>2 months). Such delays can be very damaging to one's chances of getting in (admissions are rolling, so it's generally easier to get in with an earlier application). I got rejected. I don't whether I would have been admitted but for the delay, but I certainly regretted putting myself at such a disadvantage for no real reason. So, I would strongly recommend digging up another academic reference for LSE.

even i am a 75 percenter for my BALLB and i managed to get an offer. But i guess it also depends on other things like your references...

I am from NZ. My uni marks are slightly better than yours (although not by much) and I have managed to get offers from all of the courses I applied to except for LSE and UCL, which I am yet to hear back from. I was in a similar position to you in terms of struggling to get two academic references but that doesn't seem to have held me back. I think you are in with a good shout. I would recommend applying as early as possible though (ie October or November) as this will give you the best chance of acceptance. I may have left it too late to get into the LSE.

I'm from NZ too. I think it depends on what University you're at - i.e. Otago requires 80% for an A- whereas Victoria requires 75% for an A-. Also, did you get first class honours? If you've got first class honours and an A- average, you have a pretty good shot at all the universities. (Even if it's upper second class honours and B+ average you should be okay because my LSE and UCL offers only required that as my academic condition)

Alcibiadesnz is right about applying as early as possible. I applied in October/November and got my offers in Jan.

Hi,

I had a similar problem. I applied to UCL, King's and LSE for my LLM. As I had completed my LLB many years ago, I was only able to furnish one academic and one professional reference. [Most of the lecturers at the university I went to were no longer there or could not remember me well enough]

I received offers from UCL and King's. LSE rejected me.

I completed my undergraduate degree at LSE and though I can't make any judgement concerning your marks as I'm unfamiliar with the marking system in NZ; I can emphasise that LSE takes the personal statement very seriously and it can often make or break and application. They receive the highest number of applications in the uk per place so after the base level of academic qualification, they really focus on the written statement.