Oxford BCL - any advice on application with a 2:1

At the risk of stating the obvious, work mega hard and get a first. Do as much reading as you can, above and beyond the minimum needed for assignments. You have a year to go, so your aim should be achievable if you put in the work.

Thank you for your advice. I understand that BCL applicants are generally first class graduates and also have won prizes for submissions or ranking high in their cohort etc in your opinion would this hold me back as I haven’t achieved either

Thank you for your advice. I understand that BCL applicants are generally first class graduates and also have won prizes for submissions or ranking high in their cohort etc in your opinion would this hold me back as I haven’t achieved either

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/bachelor-civil-law
The Oxford BCL is said to be one of the most difficult one year taught postgraduate law courses in the World. Obtaining a place on the BCL course is quite difficult.

I've just completed the BCL and, like yourself, I only got a 2:1 (68 per cent) in my first year (including a couple of 58 marks actually). However, I did achieve a first overall and graduated top of my cohort.
So my advice would be: work your ass off, get a first (and I mean a good first - aim for top five in your cohort) and hopefully a few subject prizes too.
Best of luck!

I've just completed the BCL and, like yourself, I only got a 2:1 (68 per cent) in my first year (including a couple of 58 marks actually). However, I did achieve a first overall and graduated top of my cohort.
So my advice would be: work your ass off, get a first (and I mean a good first - aim for top five in your cohort) and hopefully a few subject prizes too.
Best of luck!

Hello! I got one 2:2 in my first year exams this year and I was so worried about my BCL chances but this made me feel a lot better! Do you have any advice about obtaining good references? I’m really bad about that.

I'd certainly maintain good relationships with your tutors (you will need three references in total) to ensure you get the best references possible. Two out of three of my referees had studied at Oxford previously (including one having studied the BCL), however this isn't a necessity. It may be marginally helpful though if you can get an Oxford graduate to give you a glowing reference. It may be worth having a chat with your tutors to let them know that you are interested in applying for the BCL and give them a heads up to expect a reference. From what I can recall from the application process, your referees will need to vouch for you being in the top 10 per cent of your cohort so keep that in mind when approaching referees. Good luck!

P.s. the 10 per cent of your jurisdiction requirement applies with respect to the Cambridge LLM (sorry I got muddled up as I applied for both programmes). However, you still want to be the best you can be (I'd advise at least top five in your cohort). Hope that's helps. Any further questions, just give me a shout.

Thank you! As for extracurriculars, which ones do you think were the best at tipping the scales in your favour? Specifically, I’m aware of having work published in a student-led article and winning academic prizes etc. Is there a big focus on anything you’ve done outside of the academic sphere?

Honestly, extracurriculars are neither nor there. I wouldn't take precious time out of your studies to take on anything new just to stick on your application. I'd spend the time focusing on graduating with the best first you possibly can (I'd aim for a few subject prizes too). Just for the record, I have no publications whatsoever. I think Oxford stipulate on their website that having no publications is not going to jeopardise your application in any way (that said, it certainly won't harm your application).
In short, just focus on boosting your grades. Being able to brag, for example, that you graduated top of your year with three subject prizes will impress Oxford more so than anything else. Hope this helps.

Honestly, extracurriculars are neither nor there. I wouldn't take precious time out of your studies to take on anything new just to stick on your application. I'd spend the time focusing on graduating with the best first you possibly can (I'd aim for a few subject prizes too). Just for the record, I have no publications whatsoever. I think Oxford stipulate on their website that having no publications is not going to jeopardise your application in any way (that said, it certainly won't harm your application).
In short, just focus on boosting your grades. Being able to brag, for example, that you graduated top of your year with three subject prizes will impress Oxford more so than anything else. Hope this helps.

Please take a read of the BCL Profile eBook: BCLMJUR profile book 2023 - 2024.pdf (ox.ac.uk)
Most of them are in the top 5 or top 10 in their year group and hail from the finest universities in the world:
Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, KCL, SOAS, QMUL, Durham, Warwick, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, Sheffield, Lancaster and Cardiff make up the UK entries in terms of undergraduate degree achieved. Nevertheless, there was also a Keele University graduate and 2 Oxford Brookes University graduates featured from the UK.
Full Time Only
Places in 2024-25*c. 145
Applications/year^†692
There are approximately 5 applicants per place, so it is much easier than the 16 applicants per place that LSE gets for Undergraduate Law LLB degree. 😉 lol
You do have a strong chance, since you're at LSE and should get a first class in years 2 and 3 hopefully. 🙂

Hello ! Not sure whether you were replying to my initial post or someone else’s query in the chat but thank you because this is also great advice for me !

Yes, sorry, I never directly replied to your post as it was anonymous?! 🙂 lol
I hope to do the Oxford 1 + 1 programme with a 'focus' on the BCL and MBA degrees. The great thing about Oxford is that they allow multiple applications for other Master's degree programmes as well. So you could still get a place. As well as re-apply for the BCL at a later date, say 3 to 5 years later after graduation from postgraduate degree(s) from Oxford.
https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/programmes/mbas/oxford-11-mba/11-mba-departments
I really don't want to go to USA for 2 years for an MBA degree when it is just 1 year for an MBA at Oxford and you also are able to combine it with a MA or MSc. 🙂