LSE or Oxford for Law?

Question

I have places at both universities, (I have made my offers and am taking a gap year), but am unsure which place to take. At first sight, Oxford seems the axiomatic choice. But I greatly prefer the law course at LSE; Oxford's system is very strange. For one thing, an Oxford law student must take all exams at the end of three years, instead of having them spread out as LSE course offers. Plus, working in London would be fantastic experience, whereas my college at Oxford is primarily made up of modern and quite frankly ugly buildings, as well as being relatively far away from the city centre. Your suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for the answers. I have to go to Oxford anyway because I put it down as my first choice...I have an annoying habit of making decisions and then constantly fretting over them later. I believe Oxford was the better choice, (I was trying to defend LSE to justify even raising the question!). But I have yet to meet someone from Oxford who is not overwhelmingly in love with the place. I thought that maybe they drugged freshers and institutionalised them in the first week - like something out of a horror movie....'one of us, one of us'...

Answer 1

And London's made up of beautiful architecture and you will be able to afford to live right in the city centre?

I went to Oxford and have never regretted it - everything's close together (even "relatively far away" can't be more than a mile at the absolute most, not at an undergraduate college), it's a beautiful city, and I so enjoyed my second year with no exams at the end. And if you want to go into London, it's only an hour away.

If the LSE course is right for you, then go for it. Personally I'd advise taking the Oxford place.

Answer 2

Lse Law Course

Answer 3

Oxford's system is the traditional one for the U.K, while that at the LSE is more international in its approach, so I'm surprised you think of the program at Oxford as the strange one. My sense is that there is overall more prestige to the Oxford program, although if you are looking at a particular area of law related to business, LSE might be just as good. I wouldn't worry too much about WHERE the programme is, since while you are a student, most of the amenities of either city will be unaffordable to you, and the architecture of the buildings you are in can't possibly make any difference (and Oxford being Oxford, everything is near the city centre. I can't think of a place to which walking would be too far).

It sounds, though, as if you have already made up your mind. LSE is a good school, although one doesn't think of it particularly for law. Personally, I would kill to spend three years living in Oxford again (I like London too, but not with the same passion), but if the architecture, the amenities of downtown, and the exam schedule are your primary considerations, you won't listen to us anyway.