Well, folks, I just mailed the University of London my External LLM application. THEN I did some research...D/L examinations are graded by the same faculty at the same time as the Internal examinations, including all those London School of Economics people. Meanwhile, the Internal students have been attending seminars and lectures conducted by that faculty. Brrr! MY exam papers will be compared with THEIR exam papers! Ummm. Do I have a PRAYER here? Joybaum
I just yesterday mailed my application to the U of L external MSc program in epidemiology, and I am very pleased that external and internal exams are graded according to the same standards. Then there is no way for anyone to claim that the degree is "easier" than an internal degree. Hope you get some good news soon on your application. I'll be watching the mailbox myself. Alex
Alex: Thanks for the reply. No, I agree that Internal and External degrees MUST be treated exactly the same. I don't disagree with the CONCEPT; I'm just nervous about the CONSEQUENCES! Joybaum
I think the key is fully understanding what the examiners are looking for in exam papers. I have been told by students and lawyers who have taken both U.S. and U.K. law classes that there are tangible, important differences between what makes for a well-written and reasoned law school examination answer in the U.S. and a counterpart answer in the U.K. Good luck with the application. Assuming you decide to go forward with it, I'd welcome your posts commenting on the experience.
David: I will certainly keep you all posted. I am also pretty well set on registering, if I am admitted. Your reply to my posting was intriguing. U.S. law school exams are "issue spotting" exercises. The student is given a fact pattern, usually, and spends one to three hours identifying all the nasty legal problems that the fact pattern suggests. This method of evaluation has come in for a great deal of well-merited criticism. If the English approach is different, I'm all for it. Joybaum
Sorry about the previous post-- hit the wrong key. I'm enrolled in a U of L program in public policy. I'm interested in others' experience with U of L DL generally and with that program specifically.
