Month: June 2024

Reading Time: 2 minutes

When it comes to pursuing a legal education, overseas study consultants say that selecting the right university is a decisive factor in shaping one’s career. With countless institutions offering law programs around the world, it can be challenging to pinpoint the ones that stand out for their academic rigour, faculty expertise, global reputation, and impactful alumni. In this blog, we delve into the top five global universities for law, highlighting their unique strengths.

Harvard University

The university offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in law. The J.D. students have multiple options for joint degree programs with various subjects like business, government, public health, and urban planning. Another interesting program is the Harvard Law School and the University of Cambridge J.D./LL.M. Joint Degree Program. Approximately 1,750 J.D. students attend Harvard Law School every year. The J.D. program is a three-year program. Abroad study counsellors enlist why Harvard maintains its top rank – its world-class faculty, unparalleled resources, diverse student body, and hands-on, real-life experiences.

Stanford University

Like Harvard, Stanford University also offers a J.D. degree in law. Additionally, it offers three types of joint degrees – JD/Master’s, JD/MD, and JD/PhD. Stanford admits around 180 students for a J.D. degree each year. Abroad study consultants recommend Stanford Law School (SLS), as it has one of the lowest student-to-faculty ratios in the US, i.e., 7.3:1. So, students have increased interactions and better support from the faculty. SLS teaches practice-ready skills that employers demand. As a result, their JD students have a higher chance at prestigious clerkships and a high bar passage rate.

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is the only university from the UK that makes it to the top 5 law schools’ list. The university offers a Law (BA) Hons course in undergraduate study. It is a three-year course. Students study the interdisciplinary relationships of law with philosophy, economics, ethics, and criminology rather than only fundamental subjects. Approximately 262 students attend law school at the University of Cambridge every year. Abroad study counsellors suggest the Law (BA) Hons at the University of Cambridge, as it gives student exchange schemes. It allows students to study the laws of different countries, like South Africa, for a year.

Columbia University

Columbia University also offers a J.D. degree in law. Moreover, it has dual and joint degrees like a four-year J.D./MBA program. The Law School presents students with international study opportunities at premier institutions of law. The total J.D. degree enrolment in the 2023-24 was 1410. Overseas study consultants vote for Columbia Law School because 95.4% of 2023 graduates cleared the bar exam in the first attempt. Also, 75.9% of 2023 graduates got jobs at National Law Firms.

New York University (NYU)

New York University is in 4^th position with Columbia University in this reputable list. New York University’s Law School gives a J.D. degree to undergraduate students. Also, it gives dual J.D. degrees in subjects like taxation, international law, economics, history, philosophy, politics, and French studies. Around 1389 students attended NYU Law School in 2023-24. Abroad study consultants recommend NYU Law School because it has a top ranking in specialised law areas, for instance, #1 in criminal law and international law and #3 in intellectual property law in the US.

Now that you are aware of the world’s top law institutions, it is time to start applying. Weigh your options and understand how the institution’s key points align with your personal and professional aspirations. Research well the documents required to apply. Make sure you submit a strong, rejection-proof application.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Psychology offers an in-depth study of the human mind and behaviour. Abroad study consultants advise that studying psychology fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication. Psychology students can have fulfilling careers in multiple fields such as clinical psychology, counselling, education, health, and organisational behaviour. Every year, Times Higher Education (THE) ranks international universities based on 18 stringent factors. Here, we enlist the top 5 educational institutions to study psychology.

Stanford University

The Stanford University psychology undergraduate program equips students with a strong foundation in psychological theories and empirical research on human behaviour. There are three undergraduate degrees: BA, minor, and honours. With the BA degree, students have the flexibility to pursue other interests as well. The minor degree includes a brief but broad exploration of psychology. Senior honours students conduct original research under faculty mentorship. BA (Hons) is a four-year program. It comprises 70 units of coursework. 52 students completed their BA (Hons) in psychology from Stanford University in 2019-20. Abroad study counsellors observe that Stanford keeps its top rank due to a low faculty-student ratio, i.e., 6.4:1.

Princeton University

The psychology major (known as psychology concentration at Princeton) provides advanced courses on:

• sensation
• perception
• movement
• language
• decision-making
• reasoning
• social interaction

Like at Stanford University, major students at Princeton have the opportunity to do one year of independent research. The psychology concentration is a four-year program. Princeton University enrols roughly 100 undergraduate students. Abroad study consultants recommend Princeton’s psychology department because of its close affiliation with the Princeton Neuroscience Institute. The result is interdisciplinary research on neuroscience and psychological function.

University of Cambridge

BA (Hons) in psychological and behavioural sciences (PBS) is a three-year course. The core psychology topics are:

• statistics,
• neuroanatomy,
• neurotransmitters,
• neuroimaging,
• developmental psychology,
• psychopathology,
• cognitive psychology,
• language, gender, family relationships, and influences

Overseas study consultants recommend studying psychology at the University of Cambridge because the teaching staff are pioneers in psychology. The undergraduate program has lectures, seminars, small-group supervision, and laboratory work. Students also complete a research project in collaboration with an academic specialist. It is tough to get accepted into PBS at the University of Cambridge. Only 1 applicant is selected from every 6 applicants. Approximately 70 undergraduates take admission to the PBS course each year.

Harvard University

The Department of Psychology at Harvard University has one of the largest undergraduate concentrations at the university. The goal of the department is to understand the mind, brain, and behaviour through empirical methods. The undergraduate degree in psychology at Harvard University is for 4 years. Overseas study consultants recommend studying psychology at Harvard University because of the flexibility in pathways of study. There are 4 pathways of study: general track, cognitive neuroscience and psychology track, cognitive science track, and secondary field in psychology.

University of California, Berkeley

The Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, focuses on 6 research areas: behavioural and systems neuroscience, cognition, developmental, clinical science, cognitive neuroscience, and social-personality psychology. The undergraduate program encourages methodological, statistical, and critical thinking as a foundation for success across all psychology subfields. Abroad study counsellors appreciate that the department holds regular peer adviser workshops for undergraduates to decide about postgraduate education and pursue research projects. The UC Berkeley BA in Psychology has a duration of 4 years.

Choosing the right university for studying psychology is a crucial decision. While these five institutions consistently rank among the best, consider your academic and career goals while choosing your dream college. The university is best for you only if it fulfils your aspirations. Program specialisations, research opportunities, and location are important factors to consider.