Study Law at Oxford University

Our agreement with Oxford University means Adelaide Law School students have access to study at one of the worlds’ top institutions.

Study at Oxford University

Eligible students will be able to complete either the Bachelor of Civil Law or Master of Law and Finance over the course of 3.5 years; 2.5 at the Adelaide Law School and 1 year at Oxford University.

Program highlights

  • Oxford University is currently ranked as the world’s #1 university by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and offers world-renowned qualifications in law.
  • Each combined program consists of 3.5 years of study; 2.5 years at Adelaide and 1 year at Oxford.
  • Financial support and scholarships are available to eligible candidates.

Study options

Study duration
Bachelor of Laws (University of Adelaide) 2.5 years 5 semesters
Bachelor of Civil Law (CBL) or Masters of Law and Finance (MLF) 1 year 2 semesters
Total study 3.5 years 7 semesters
  • Oxford Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL)

    The Bachelor of Civil Law is a world-renowned graduate course in law, designed to serve outstanding law students from common law backgrounds. It is regarded as the best masters level qualification in common law and provides an invaluable opportunity to have access to and be taught by leading scholars. The BCL aims to bring students into advanced intellectual engagement with some of the most difficult issues in law and legal theory, an engagement distinguished by rigour, depth and conceptual sophistication requiring immersion in law as an academic discipline as well as informed openness to neighbouring disciplines.

  • Oxford Masters of Law and Finance (MLF)

    The MSc in Law and Finance is taught jointly by the Faculty of Law and the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford. It is a full time, ten-month programme offering students with a prior background in law the chance to develop an advanced interdisciplinary understanding of relevant economic and financial contexts, and combines a highly analytic academic core with tailor-made practical applications derived from continuing collaboration with professional and regulatory organisations.


Key details

  • Application process

    Students will apply for admission separately to each of the Universities. First to Adelaide Law School for the Bachelor of Laws and once enrolled at Adelaide Law School, they may apply (during their penultimate year of study at Adelaide Law School) to Oxford for the BCL.

    Oxford admission decisions will be made by Oxford once four semesters of academic results from Adelaide Law School are received and assessed. Offers of admission will be conditional upon students passing all units undertaken in their fifth semester at Adelaide Law School.

    Each University will collect and assess applications according to its own admissions policies, standards and procedures. Admission to Adelaide Law School is not an indication or guarantee of admissibility to Oxford. There is no cap on the number of students accepted each academic year, however students need to have a minimum Distinction average, ideally a High Distinction average to be competitive.

    Once enrolled in Adelaide Law School you will need to complete the following steps:

    Step 1 You will need to register a Self-Reporting Study Abroad Program with the University of Adelaide’s Global Learning system. You are required to complete the Study Abroad Program Details questionnaire (please write Oxford University BCL or MLF), a Faculty Approval Questionnaire and upload your Host Acceptance Details, this may also assist in qualifying for certain funding such as travel grants, OS-HELP and travel insurance.
    Step 2 You need to apply for the BCL or MLF directly to Oxford University. Oxford applications are generally due in January for a September start.
    Step 3 You will need to apply to the Adelaide Law School for a credit assessment. You will need to provide details of the courses to be studied at Oxford University and a copy of your acceptance into the BCL program. Please forward this information to lawenquiry@ask.adelaide.edu.au

    Find out more about University of Oxford admissions

  • Course credit

    Students may be granted credit up to 12 units of unspecified law elective units (4 x 3 unit’s courses).

    Courses successfully completed in the first semester, at full time equivalent, at Oxford will fulfil the requirements for your Adelaide Law degree. A normal full-time load at Oxford is 90 ECTS per year or 45 per semester. Each credit assessment will be assessed case by case.

  • Costs

    Students will pay regular tuition and other applicable fees to the University they are attending and will be responsible for all living, travel, insurance, and ancillary costs in connection with their studies.

    Students are responsible for organising visas, travel and accommodation arrangements. Accommodation at Oxford can be organised through your admitting Oxford College, or you can organise it independently.

    You will need to ensure you can afford these study and living costs for the duration of your time at Oxford. 

    Find out more about University of Oxford fees.

  • Pre-departure

    For more information on preparing to study overseas, please view the University Global Learning resources.

  • Funding options

    Students will be entitled to apply for bursaries, scholarships or other financial aid offered by the University they are attending in a particular year and for which they are otherwise eligible, including all scholarships provided by the Oxford Law Faculty for which students from Adelaide Law School are ordinarily eligible.

  • Program completion and transcripts

    Once the final results for your BCL/MLF have been released, students must organise to have an Oxford transcript sent back to the Adelaide Law School, University of Adelaide. Once received credit processing will be completed.

  • Key dates

    Students interested in the BCL or MLF programs at Oxford can apply for the program during their fourth semester and will be assessed on cumulative academic results.

    Successful applicants will begin their studies at Oxford in early October alongside other candidates, following completion of the fifth semester of the Bachelor of Laws at Adelaide Law School. The academic year at Oxford will finish around June.

    For exact dates, please refer to the Oxford Academic calendar.