Kuala Lumpur, 6 March 2024 – The Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya is thrilled to announce the launch of a pioneering dual programme in collaboration with Kings College London, UK. Prof Dr Jason Chuah, Dean of Law, Universiti Malaya and Prof Dan Hunter, Executive Dean of Law, King’s College London signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 6 March 2024 in Kuala Lumpur marking the importance of this new scheme of collaboration. This new initiative represents a significant milestone in higher education, offering students a unique opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Law and a Master of Law degree from two prestigious institutions concurrently.
UM law students will be given the opportunity to embark on a 3+1+1 double Bachelor-Master Degree programme under this partnership between UM and King’s College London. Under the scheme, qualifying law students will complete the first 3 years of the Bachelor of Law (LLB(Hons) degree at UM, thereafter undertake their one-year Master of Law (LLM) degree in the UK at King’s College London and will return to UM in their fifth year of studies to complete the final year of their LLB whilst writing up their thesis to satisfy the King’s LLM requirements.
The joint degree programme, designed to meet the evolving demands of today’s global workforce, will provide students with a comprehensive educational experience that integrates the strengths and expertise of both institutions. UM students will have the opportunity therefore to gain a qualifying law degree for legal practice in Malaysia whilst holding an LLM from one of the top ranked law schools in the world. King’s is ranked in the top 20 world law schools and top 5 in the UK.
"We are excited to partner with Universiti Malaya to offer this innovative programme," said Prof Dr Dan Hunter, Executive Dean at King’s. “By combining our respective strengths and resources, we aim to provide students with a truly exceptional educational experience that will equip them with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to excel in an increasingly interconnected world.” He also noted that students trained in both Malaysian and English law would set them apart in this highly competitive world of work.
“This collaboration is entirely unique in Malaysia – whilst virtually all similarly structured programmes in Malaysia might offer students a double degree, this is the only one of its kind whereby students will receive BOTH the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the same time”, said Prof Dr Jason Chuah, Dean of Law at Universiti Malaya. He added that UM students will benefit from an internationalised education experience.
And for Malaysian parents who find overseas education more challenging because of the weak ringgit, this offering will greatly reduce their cost whilst ensuring that their children would receive both a Malaysian and UK degree education. Intending students who enrol at UM, either as UPU (Unit Pengambilan Universiti) applicants or UM private Open Channel applicants (SATU) will have the opportunity to compete for a place on this 3+1+1 programme.
The UM Open Channel (SATU) entry route is available to all privately funded students who meet the entry requirements which now encompass O and A levels, Australian Matriculation, Foundation degrees and other equivalent qualifications. UM Law is committed to widening participation from all quarters of Malaysian society. Dean Prof Dr Jason Chuah stresses that for 2024/25, UM Law will increase the number of places offered to the Open Channel applicants who meet UM’s entry requirements.
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