Hey all, I have been checking through the top law schools/LLM programs in UK-Ireland recently, and I noticed that the minimum requirement is 2.i which is upper second class honours (75-80%) I suppose? However I am currently doing my undergraduate degree in Canada and I am doing double majors and not the honours degree...do you think I am eligible for application? Also, do they look at overall grades, or just grades from the last two years of undergraduate degree? What about a lower second class (70-75%) degree?

Thanks guys! :)

They will look at your results from every year. I can only really give you advice for the way the Irish system works. We have a different letter grading system than the U.S./Canadian style from what I gather. Here's how it goes; A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, D, F. To get a second class honours grade 1 you basically need all B1's. A first would be mostly A1's with maybe one or two A2's? Some universities don't grade on a curve, so it really is up to you to get 70% or 80% right to get a 2.1. Despite the 'a 2.1 is a must when applying' in the brochure, the universities will consider a 2.2, but probably not a pass! You may have other things that will put you over the top, such as work experience, etc.

It's not all doom and gloom though. Most of the Irish universities love taking in non-EU students, as they get to charge them tuition! University is free for EU citizens. Not really sure what tuition would be for you? Could be 3,000, could be 13,000. Either way, it's less than you'd pay back home.

This can be applied to the UK, too. The systems are pretty similar, although I'd ask a Brit for some more specific advice!

As far as universities in Ireland go, if you are just coming for an LLM, the best place to go is University College Cork (UCC). It's got the best reputation at masters level in the country. Following that would be University College Dublin (UCD). There probably will be a load of people saying, "But what about Trinity? Surely it's super-dy-dooper!" Well, Trinity is a fantastic college, and it is one of the ancient universities, but it's reputation for law is at undergraduate level. It's masters program is not that well respected.

The reason UCC shades it over UCD for me is that it is so ridiculously expensive to live in Dublin. Cork is a fantastic place to live and work. (I am from Cork though, so I'm a bit bias!)

I will be doing the LLM in Criminal Justice there next year. I want to go on to be a Barrister, and the masters will be great fun. Plus, I'll finally get to live and go to college in my own home town for once. No more of this 6 years in a different county spending thourands on rent that I could be saving!

Other universities in Ireland that have LLM programs are NUI Galway, and the University of Limerick.

If all else fails, found a branch of Amnesty International or Green Peace in your current university and Harvard will let you in! LOL

Hope this helps!
WL