Surge in law grads in Singapore: Foreign degrees 'more affordable'

Published on Sep 6, 2014 7:02 AM

Ms Rachel Leong, 24, is not the only one in her family to go overseas to study law.

Her older sister graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2005. Ms Leong finished her own degree at the same British university in 2012, and, their brother is now studying there.

They are part of a surge of locals going abroad to pursue a law degree. In Britain, the number of Singapore law students more than tripled from 350 in 2008 to 1,142 last year. The number going to Australia has also risen - from 303 in 2011 to 386 last year.

Because of this rise, returning graduates are facing far more competition - a point stressed by Law Minister K. Shanmugam recently.

To continue reading, log in if you are a subscriber

If you are not a subscriber, you can get instant, unlimited access here

LAW SCHOOLS OVERSEAS Original list of approved universities in 1994 15 in Britain, including University of Cambridge, University of Leeds and the London School of Economics and Political ScienceLater additions 2001 Britain: School of Oriental and African Studies at University of London, University of Liverpool, University of Sheffield, University of WarwickAustralia: Monash University, University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, University of SydneyNew Zealand: University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington2003 Australia: Australian National University, Flinders University, University of Queensland, University of Western Australia2005 Australia: University of Tasmania, Murdoch University2006 US: Harvard University, Columbia University, New York University and University of Michigan

The Singapore Institute of Legal Education, a statutory board tasked with an ongoing review of this list, will submit its report soon.