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KCL vs UCL vs LSE

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vowpailin

Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Posts: 22
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:30 PM
Hi guys,
I got an offer from LSE already, still waiting for KCL and UCL to reply. I want to do Public International Law, but not too much of traditional --the use of force and stuff. I'll be focusing on international economic law, WTO law or perhaps Foreign Relations-related subjects. Which of these three do you think is the best???

Some say LSE, some say UCL, and my KCL fellow say KCL (which I don't quite agree, I know we're weak at this particular subject but excellent at others though).. Although King's environment is so good and I'm addicted to it!

P.S. I also applied to SOAS, QMW, Nottingham (got an offer already) and Birmingham..
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gs

Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Posts: 8
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Sat Feb 11, 2006 06:23 PM
Personally, I would say LSE is ranked the highest amongst these three universities, followed by UCL and KCL. I have also applied to these universities and have been accepted at LSE, but still waiting to hear from UCL and KIng's. Just a question: how does the specialization system work at the LSE......
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jw

Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 192
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Sat Feb 11, 2006 06:39 PM

I'm Canadian... so take my opinion with a grain of salt... :)

I think in North America, London School of Economics is widely known and recognized, usually mentioned in the same breath just behind Oxford and Cambridge.

Part of the reason is because so many important public / political figures studied at LSE, such as the Kennedy brothers (U.S.) and perhaps Canada's most popular prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
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Nicolas II

Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Posts: 9
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Sun Feb 12, 2006 01:41 AM
To Vowpailin: you have been accepted to LSE but how long did it take before they took their decision?
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jw

Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 192
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Sun Feb 12, 2006 02:05 PM

Nicolas: I have been accepted at LSE. My application arrived in December and the offer of acceptance was dated the second week of January.
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vowpailin

Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Posts: 22
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Sun Feb 12, 2006 09:44 PM
Yes, I've been accepted to LSE. I applied early Dec and it took around 6 weeks for the decision to come out online. I still haven't heard from UCL or KCL.
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Max

Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 1
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:27 AM
Yeah same here sent applications off in december got accepted by LSE beginning of january and just got an offer from UCL this morning. Still waiting for KCL.
There seems to be quite a difference in the fees : LSE is much more expensive than UCL ..... is it justified ?
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vowpailin

Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Posts: 22
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Mon Feb 13, 2006 01:15 PM
Max: I am an overseas student. It's going to be expensive anyway :-(

I'm now leaning towards LSE...but I like UCL and KCL's subjects...
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Koen


Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 38
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Mon Feb 20, 2006 05:14 PM
I'm wondering if the fee difference between LSE and UCL for EU citizens is justified? Is LSE really worth the extra 3,500 £?

And another question: which university should one choose if one has the choice between KCL and UCL? (if the answer to the first question is that LSE isn't worth the extra fee)

[Edited 20 Feb 2006 by Koen]
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Ronin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 40
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Mon Feb 20, 2006 09:42 PM
As regards the difference of cost between UCL and LSE, it made a difference to me as... I did not apply to LSE for this reason.
However, LSE is very prestigious in Europe, true...and important to consider for post LLM projects. It is, definitely, what you pay.
Does it worth it for all that ? I sincerly do not know, KCL and UCL being known too.

Now, KCL or UCL ? This is the BIG question.
I had to decide and finally choose UCL.
Objectively, KCL is more known than UCL in Continental Europe, and UCL is considered to be slightly ahead KCL in the UK and English speaking countries it seems.

It depends also on your specialisation, and as far I know :
Competition law = KCL
Public law = UCL
Business Law = UCL
Financial and Banking Law = Both
Common Law (if you want) = Both
I don't know as regards other areas. It sems that QMU is better in IP and taxation.
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Koen


Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 38
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:28 PM
Thank you for the reply.
I have a slight preference for UCL at the moment, but I still have some doubts...
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Inese

Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Sat Feb 25, 2006 08:21 AM
I am choosing UCL from the three. I will be able to say whether I made the right choice starting this fall, but after going through course lists and fee amounts (which is rather important) I chose UCL.
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seja

Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 10
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Sat Feb 25, 2006 04:51 PM
when deciding in favor of UCL did you also compare UCL's and KCL's academic staff? imo, it should be one of the most important factors
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rah23

Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 52
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Mon Feb 27, 2006 06:23 PM
I have applied to LSE, UCL and Cambridge in the UK.

Having gotten into both LSE and UCL, I would be inclined to choose LSE over UCL.

Being from Canada, I think that LSE is clearly regarded as having the better reputation of the two. I have spoken to many professors and lawyers, all of whom have suggested a preference for LSE. It appears that both of them have great programs, and that the quality of education would be equally good at either, so I am basing this decision on what appears to be a consensus amoung those I have spoken to in Canada in terms of the international reputation of the two institutions.

The more difficult question for me rightnow is whether I should attend school in the UK or the US (with the intentions of coming back to Canada)!

Good luck with your decisions!

[Edited 27 Feb 2006 by rah23]
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Gss

Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 15
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Mon Feb 27, 2006 09:09 PM
Hey Rah23, I am also from Canada and will be attending LSE this Fall. What is your specialization going to be?
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rah23

Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 52
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Mon Feb 27, 2006 09:56 PM
Hey Gss,

If I do attend it will likely be in Public International Law. What about you? Are you currently practicing in Canada?
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Gss

Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 15
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Tue Feb 28, 2006 02:29 AM
Hey rah 23,
I graduated from ubc law and will be practising in NY. I will probably specialize in tax or corporate/commerical law. We should definitely touch base if you come to LSE!
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seja

Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 10
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:06 AM
hi,
has anyone else decided to go to ucl instead of king's?
i will have to make a choice between ucl and king's very soon. would be helpful to hear some more thoughts on the best alternative
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ByronStingley

Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 4
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Wed Mar 08, 2006 09:59 AM
Seems we're all in the same boat re offers. I must admit I hadn't realised LSE was that much more expensive, although I'm still leaning towards it. Quick question to you all, though. How easy is it to combine, say,an econ course with the rest of your LLM subjects?
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Gavroche

Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Posts: 2
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Tue Mar 14, 2006 06:45 PM
Hi everyone
I am a Taiwanese and I got the offers of all these three schools. I've decided to go to LSE. I want to focus on internatoinal taxation. Does anyone know the contents of related courses in this school ?
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Sofi

Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 61
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Fri Mar 24, 2006 02:39 PM
I'll probably go to UCL for LLM in Commercial and Corporate law. Anyone else going? I am from Colombia.
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santiago M

Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Posts: 4
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:53 AM
Hi Sophie, I was accepted to UCL and LSE, I“m interested in international finance and trade law so I decided to go to UCL, and soy de Bogotį!
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ny2miami

Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Posts: 12
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Sat Apr 08, 2006 08:54 PM
Listen to this dilemma:
I am accepted to Utrecht (Netherlands) for LLM; UCL for LLM, and LSE for a MSc in International Employment Relations (didn't get into the LLM).....
I am an American attorney praticing in the gerneral commercial and employment field, most likely intending on returning to the States to practice in the general field of Int'l Commercial/ Business Law. In the States, my impression is that "LSE" has the better brand name so to speak, as far as reputation and name recognition. Utrecht, is barely known here, and UCL is known, but not nearly as much as LSE. The issue is whether the "MSc" from LSE in the niche field of Int'l Employment Relations trumps the prestige of an "LLM" from either a Utrecht or UCL..... I may #@@%^&# the whole thing and just go to UCLA... any thoughts from people here?

Thanks. Good luck to everyone on their apps.
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Sterling

Joined: 03 Apr 2006
Posts: 3
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Sun Apr 09, 2006 03:55 PM
I'm a french lawyer currently working at Shearman and Sterling. I was admitted to LSE and UCL, and I decided that I will go to UCL. These are my reasons:

1. UCL is better ranked.
2. My main interest is International Business and Finance Law, and the partners of my firm recomend UCL over LSE in this topic.Indeed the LLM in International Business Law at UCL (comprising courses like Legal aspects of International Finance, International and Comparative Secured Transactions, Insolvency Law, International Business Transactions, etc) is one of the better taught modules of the UCL LL.M. Because of the practical nature of these courses, lecturers include both UCL Professors and practitioners fro leading Law Frims. Eg. Secured Transactions is taught by Profs Michael Bridge (of UCL), Frederique Dahan (Senior Legal Counsel of EBRD),Richard Calner (Partner at Norton Rose) and Ron Harmer (practitioner from New Zealand).
International Finance is taught by Prof Graham Penn (Partner at Austin Sidley), Philip Rawlings (of UCL).
3. LSE has better brand name internationally and is excelent is topics such as Law and Development etc.
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ba

Joined: 03 Mar 2006
Posts: 9
KCL vs UCL vs LSE
Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:30 PM
Listen to this dilemma:
I am accepted to Utrecht (Netherlands) for LLM; UCL for LLM, and LSE for a MSc in International Employment Relations (didn't get into the LLM).....
I am an American attorney praticing in the gerneral commercial and employment field, most likely intending on returning to the States to practice in the general field of Int'l Commercial/ Business Law. In the States, my impression is that "LSE" has the better brand name so to speak, as far as reputation and name recognition. Utrecht, is barely known here, and UCL is known, but not nearly as much as LSE. The issue is whether the "MSc" from LSE in the niche field of Int'l Employment Relations trumps the prestige of an "LLM" from either a Utrecht or UCL..... I may #@@%^&# the whole thing and just go to UCLA... any thoughts from people here?

Thanks. Good luck to everyone on their apps.


I was just wondering, how come did you not get into the LLM at LSE? Where in the US did you go to law school? I am asking because basically, If you can get in to UCL, you should have gotten into LSE. The MSC program in LSE is probably harder to get in that the LLM in terms of the quality of applicants. Did you submit your LLM application late?
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