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International Tax LLM

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This Tax LLM will equip you with the legal framework and intellectual tools you need to understand cross-border tax. With a reputation for exceptional teaching and contemporary expertise you will find your intellectual and creative abilities are both challenged and developed by this demanding but intensely practical subject. You may also prepare simultaneously for the CIOT Advanced Diploma in International Taxation.


Key benefits

  • Opportunity to prepare simultaneously for the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) Advanced Diploma in International Taxation.

  • Exceptional teaching reputation; unique, sought-after expertise, contemporary experience and connections with the wider London legal community.

  • Unrivalled location in the heart of legal London; based in the magnificent East Wing of Somerset House on the Strand and minutes from the Royal Courts of Justice, the Inns of Court and offices of major City law firms.

Key information

Application status Open

Duration One year FT, two or four years PT, September to September.

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Credit value UK 180/ECTS 90

Programme accreditations Law Society CPD points

Course intake 360 overall for the LLM (FT and PT)

Course leaders Professor Jonathan Schwarz

Further details

Course contact for further information

Postgraduate Admissions Team, King’s College London Admissions Office

Tel: +44 (0)20 7848 7000 fax: +44 (0)20 7848 7200

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty The Dickson Poon School of Law

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Course detail

Description

On this LLM you will learn how tax works, how adding or subtracting a single step can change corporate transactions, or government policies, and determine whether they succeed or fail.

The King's specialist LLM in International Tax is led by Professor Jonathan Schwarz, practicing barrister, who is well recognised for his tax expertise. King's tax modules are open to those with or without previous tax experience but we expect all out students to be able to analyse legal and commercial concepts and then apply them to a complex factual matrix. You will need creativity, intellectual rigour and a willingness to work hard. We think the rewards are worth it.

Many of our students go on to enjoy successful employment with some of the world's leading firms and institutions. Some have made the decision to specialise in tax but not all. A tax module can be an enhancement to other studies, such as in commercial, financial or EU law for example.

Whatever your reasons for exploring International Tax, our LLM programme provides an excellent springboard for a wide range of careers, including traineeships with global partnerships, legal firms or placements with EU institutions.

Course purpose

This programme allows you to deepen or to broaden your knowledge of law as an academic subject and assists your professional development by enhancing your problem-solving skills in a transnational context. Designed to maximise students' intellectual potential, it also keeps you grounded by drawing on the real world experiences of staff and other practitioners.

The LLM offers a sharpened focus on our key areas of excellence and a commitment to offer a premier programme and a world class student experience. Aimed at recent law graduates (or graduates of joint degrees with a significant law content) as well as established legal professionals who may have graduated a number of years ago, the programme is rigorous and demanding and requires serious commitment.

Further literature

International Tax Law LLM Brochure

Course format and assessment

In the first and second semester you study your selection of taught modules (half and full). These are in most cases assessed in the third semester (May/June) by written examination, or in some cases by the submission of an assessed essay.

Dissertation or research essays must be submitted in September, after the May/June examinations.

Structure

Year 1

Required Modules

You will have to take one of the following writing projects:

  • Dissertation (40 credits)

  • Dissertation (60 credits)

  • 10,000 word practice or research module (40 credits)

Optional Modules

In order to meet the 180 credit requirement, students must select at least 120-140 credits from a range of optional modules. Students who wish to specialise within a certain pathway must ensure that at least 120 credits are taken within that pathway.

Examples of modules available with the International Tax Law LLM:

• International Tax Law (40 credits)
• EU Tax Law (40 credits)
• International Tax Law: Transfer Pricing  (20 credits)
• Value Added Tax (20 credits)
• Taxation of Business Enterprises (40 credits)

Entry requirements & how to apply

Entry requirements
Minimum requirements  

Applicants who wish to enrol for the LLM in International Tax may apply for admission on the basis of one of the following two paragraphs:

1.  Hold an undergraduate degree with high 2:1 honours (i.e. overall average of at least 65%) in Law or a degree with at least 70% law content, or an equivalent international qualification and grading.

OR

2. The applicant must:

(i) hold a recognised first degree in any discipline of at least high upper second class honours standard or an equivalent overseas qualification (with a preference for degrees in accounting or other tax-related fields); AND

(ii) have at least 12 months’ appropriate work experience in the Tax sector.
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band B Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Applicants fulfilling both the requirements contained in paragraph (2) may therefore apply to the LLM in International Tax even though they do not hold a first degree in law (or a degree with at least 70% law content) as would otherwise be required under paragraph (1) above. This entry route is intended for applicants who do not have a law degree but who have appropriate work experience in Tax, and who may previously have considered enrolling for our MA Tax programme (the MA Tax programme has been discontinued with effect from 2013-14).

Please note that applicants admitted to the LLM in International Tax on the basis of paragraph (2) above must enrol for this specialist LLM programme only. Following admission, they will not be permitted to enrol for any other specialist LLM (such as the LLM in International Financial Law or the LLM in Competition Law) or for our general LLM programme, and will be obliged to select only modules offered under the LLM in International Tax.

Application procedure

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £100 applies. 

All applications must be made to the generic Master of Laws (LLM) programme. If accepted, and once you have enrolled onto the LLM programme, you will have the opportunity to transfer onto one of our specialist LLM programmes. At the start of the semester you will have the opportunity to attend taster lectures and to speak to programme/module leaders before you make a decision on whether to do a specialist or tailored LLM.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

International Tax checklist
Personal Statement Yes A personal statement of up to 4,000 characters (maximum 2 pages) is required.
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References No Please note:  due to competition for places on the LLM programme the Department do not require references. Submitted references will not be taken into account during assessment.
Other Optional Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application.

Application closing date

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is the 31 March 2020. After this date, applications will remain open if places are available, but programmes will be closed as soon as they are full. For programmes with spaces remaining, no further applications will be accepted from non-EU (Overseas) nationals after 31 July 2020 or from UK/EU nationals after 28 August 2020.

Please note you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply after the first application deadline and places are filled before the final deadlines above and we are unable to process more offers.

 

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

  • Full time Home/EU fees: £17,310 per year (2020/21)
  • Full time overseas fees: £27,390 per year (2020/21)
  • Part time Home/EU fees: £8,655 per year (2020/21)
  • Part time overseas fees: £13,695 per year (2020/21)

Students starting their programme in 2020/21 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2021/22.

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK/EU deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31 March 2020, payment is due by 30 April 2020.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 April 2020 and 30 June 2020, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 July 2020 and 31 July 2020, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer on or after 1 August 2020, payment is due within 2 days of receiving the offer.

    If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Additional costs/expenses

In addition to your tuition fees, you can also expect to pay for: 

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions 
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies and/or binding costs
  • Printing course handouts 
  • Transcription costs
  • Society membership fees 
  • Stationery 
  • Travel costs for travel to and around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs 

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Career prospects

In a competitive world we can give you the competitive edge to take your career to the next level. That’s why you’ll find our LLM programme is supplemented by opportunities to develop your skills and professional networks.

The result is that students are presented with a wide range of employment destinations when they leave; from positions at the European Central Bank, European Commission and UN to commercial roles as investment bank analysts, tax or public affairs advisers, as well as careers in the legal profession; accountancy; management consultancy; human rights organisations and other voluntary bodies; academia.

Testimonials

Julie

Julie

‘Prior to coming to London, I was a barrister in tax litigation at Revenue Quebec. I decided to undertake an LLM in international tax to further my career on the global stage. I have chosen to study at King’s because of the quality of teaching and emphasis on practice provided by specialists from the profession. Furthermore, King’s extensive tax law library is a valuable research tool. The comparative approach of teaching has also bolstered my critical thinking about diff erent legal concepts. As a student of King’s we can attend conferences and seminars organised by renowned institutions, in particular, the International Fiscal Association. These are unique opportunities to develop a strong network of contacts.’

Evgenya

Evgenya

'I have been designated as a partner of a law firm based in the City of London specialising in UK and cross-border tax, trusts and investment funds. As King’s is located in central London I was pretty sure that through the admission to the College I was going to be at the centre of the field with all the ensuing benefits.

That was the most exciting feeling and main driving force. Having completed an LLM at King’s, my understanding is that the Tax programme is the best of its kind and off ers all a tax practitioner needs to successfully embark on their career.'

Partner Designate, Michael Reason & Partners LLP

Next steps

Upcoming events

Nov 20 Postgraduate Open Evening - Health & Life Sciences
Nov 26 Postgraduate Open Evening - Arts & Sciences
Nov 27 English Language & Linguistics Taster Day

Full list of student events

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