Opportunity for a fully funded studentship in Masters in Corporate Law (MCL)

University of Cambrige Masters in Corporate Law ("MCL"): Richard Sykes QC Studentship at Pembroke College 

The widow of Richard Sykes QC, an eminent barrister specialising in company law, has established a fully-funded studentship at Pembroke for a motivated and talented individual from a financially disadvantaged background to allow that person to undertake the University of Cambridge’s MCL course. 

Who might this be appropriate for?

The MCL is a challenging course. As the MCL website  says "The normal minimum academic entry requirement for law graduates seeking admission to the Cambridge MCL is a top 5-10% ranking in their class. In a UK university this may equate to a First class degree. Extra weight may be given to the performance in courses related to corporate law…” 

The Pembroke website says "Applicants should be able to persuade the awards committee that their academic talents, potential and aspirations accord with what the MCL has to offer and it is important that they can make a convincing argument for why they want to do this degree course. It is expected that applicants will be planning a future career in corporate law.”  This could be with a City or international law firm, as a barrister or as an academic, policymaker or regulator. 

Some facts about the MCL

The MCL is a relatively new course - launched in 2012.  Its innovative Deals Course, which is a full-year paper focusing on the legal and economic structuring of corporate transactions, is a cornerstone.  The MCL also benefits from the support of a Practitioners Advisory Board, which provides advice on the general direction of the course so as to ensure that the MCL has a strong practical dimension and whose members (or their colleagues) are involved in the teaching of the Deals Course.  The Board’s members include Richard Ufland of Hogan Lovells, Mark Campbell of Clifford Chance, Julian Long, London managing partner of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, James Palmer, senior partner of Herbert Smith Freehills, David Johnson of Slaughter and May and Ewan McQuater QC of 3 Verulam Buildings, Gray’s Inn.

Each year the MCL takes approximately 25 students and those studying it come from all over the world.  A significant proportion have already practised law, but around a third have not (for further information see the “Who joins the MCL?” section of the website).  As the website notes “the quality of the students that the MCL attracts is one of the programme's strongest assets.”  

How to apply

The deadline for applications for the MCL and the Richard Sykes QC Studentship is 15 January 2016.  The application for the MCL requires completion of the:

- GRADSAF application form: links on this page - http://www.mcl.law.cam.ac.uk/how-to-apply (online or on paper)
- Pembroke application form: links on this page - http://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduates/fees-and-financial-support/scholarships-and-bursaries/mcl/ (on paper).

Questions

Questions about the MCL should be directed, in the first instance, to the MCL Course Administrator, Suzanne Wade (shw27@cam.ac.uk or 01223 330034).

Questions about the Richard Sykes QC Studentship should be directed, in the first instance, to Dr Becky Coombs (becky.coombs@pem.cam.ac.uk or 01223 338112).

Further information:

- MCL website - http://www.mcl.law.cam.ac.uk/home
- Further details of the Studentship on Pembroke’s website - http://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduates/fees-and-financial-support/scholarships-and-bursaries/mcl/