Master of Juris (MJur)

at University of Oxford

You will choose four courses from a list of around 40 different options, including a dissertation option (to be submitted at the end of Week five of the third term). All options are taught by a combination of lectures and/or seminars and tutorials apart from the dissertation option, which involves one-to-one sessions with an assigned supervisor. Students will be able to choose to take two half options in law in place of one course, or four half options in law in place of two courses, thereby allowing you to study a wider range of subjects. 

Seminars are normally led by a senior member of academic staff but are typically interactive in nature, and you will be expected to participate in the discussions arising from the material covered. Tutorials involve an intensive discussion between a tutor and a small group of students, usually between two and four, providing an opportunity for you to present your ideas and discuss your work with leading academics. Typically, seminars will introduce you to a particular area of study and familiarise you with general concepts and ideas which will then be investigated in greater depth in the tutorials. For most tutorials you will be expected to write an essay, which typically will be marked and returned to you at the next tutorial.

Outside of the seminars and tutorials, you will be expected to read extensively in order to acquire the necessary knowledge to engage with course material at an appropriate level. The balance between teaching and independent study will vary from option to option, but as a rough guide, a student may expect a ratio of four hours of independent study to every one hour of teaching

Proven and potential academic excellence

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
 

• a first-class undergraduate degree with honours in law.

Entrance is very competitive.

In the absence of an undergraduate degree in law, candidates may be admitted with a postgraduate diploma or master's qualification in law at distinction level, though this is rare, and is generally only possible if the candidate has completed the programme in question before applying for the MJur.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA usually sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience
 

• This is an academic programme and therefore positions held in the legal profession are not usually a consideration in the assessment process.

• Publications are not expected. They may, in certain circumstances, advantage an application but it is appreciated that the opportunity to publish may vary considerably depending on factors such as the stage the student has reached in their graduate career and the structure of the course(s) they have studied. Consequently, a lack of publications will not be assessed negatively.

English language proficiency

Minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level requirement

IELTS Academic

 7.5  

TOEFL iBT, including the 'Home Edition'

110

Home    
£27,460

Overseas    
£41,480

MJur graduates pursue a range of careers after completion of the degree. Many enter legal practice, either as solicitors or barristers and legal advocates. Others enter government service of various sorts as legal advisors or in related roles. A significant number will proceed to the MPhil and DPhil, and thenceforth into an academic career.

The University of Oxford has an excellent careers service with which the department has close ties. The Careers Service organises a number of events of specific interest to students wishing to pursue a career in law, and offers one-to-one advice from members of staff with knowledge and experience specific to the legal sector.

The Law Faculty has an extensive network of relationships within the legal profession and each year offers a number of talks and events run by law firms and barristers’ chambers.