a. General information

Founded in 1829 within the tradition of the Church of England by the Duke of Wellington and King George IV, King’s College London has a long and distinguished international reputation in law, medicine, dentistry, nursing, science, psychiatry, and the humanities and social sciences. King’s notable alumni range from British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith to former Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is also one of the 14 Nobel Prize laureates to emerge from King’s. The University is committed to creating positive and sustainable change in its local and global communities through outstanding education, impactful research, and genuine service to society.

The Dickson Poon School of Law

Founded in the nineteenth century and one of the oldest law schools in England, The Dickson Poon School of Law is a global hub for excellence in legal education and research. Based in the East Wing of Somerset House on the Strand Campus, the School is a short walk from the Royal Courts of Justice and Inns of Court in the heart of legal London. Its expertise spans public, private, and international law, climate and energy, as well as jurisprudence, criminal, intellectual property, digital, medical, corporate, financial, and commercial law. It is also at the forefront of research and education at the intersection of law, artificial intelligence, and technology. Through research and practice, the School’s academics and students frequently demonstrate international, national and local impact ranging from success in international climate litigation to influencing policymakers on homelessness in London. Its strong international partnerships and global networks ensure that it is able to offer its staff and students opportunities to enrich their research and learning, as well as being part of a vibrant global community.

The King’s LLM

The King’s LLM focuses on comparative, transnational, and international law using innovative and problem-solving teaching methods. Students can choose any combination of courses (known at King’s as modules) or specialize by selecting courses from one the following pathways: Competition Law; European Law; Intellectual Property and Information Law; International Business Law; International Financial Law; International Dispute Resolution; International Tax Law; Law and Technology; Transnational Law. 

b. The exchange program

Stanford Law students who petition to study abroad in London can choose from two options:

The traditional option:

In the Autumn Quarter of their third year of the Stanford J.D. program, students spend one semester in London at King’s, taking taught modules from the LLM program. Students receive credit from these modules towards their Stanford degree.

The J.D./LLM option:

This program enables students to earn two distinct law degrees from two world-renowned universities in three years: a J.D. from Stanford University and an LLM from King’s College London. As with the traditional option (above), students spend the the Fall quarter of their third year of the Stanford J.D. program in London, taking LLM taught modules at King’s. They also submit an LLM dissertation worth 60 King’s credits, which may be completed remotely. Students are awarded credit towards the SLS J.D. degree based on courses they take at King’s, and credit from students third-year Winter and Spring quarters at SLS is credited towards the King’s LLM.

c. Academic calendar

Semester 1 teaching at King’s begins at the end of September, with “Welcome to King’s” orientation events taking place before the start of teaching. Teaching finishes mid-December.

Students should be aware that assessment for Semester 1 modules takes place in Assessment Period 1, which runs during January. Stanford students can complete all assessment remotely and online. However, they are required to be available for online assessment during the scheduled examination period.

The LLM dissertation submission deadline for students taking the J.D./LLM Option is 1 September.

d. Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English.

e. Academic requirements for admission to the exchange program

At the time they apply to participate in the King’s exchange program, students are required to have obtained an undergraduate degree and to have successfully completed the first year of the Stanford Law School J.D. program. Students are required to have successfully completed two years at Stanford Law School before commencing their studies at King’s in the fall quarter of their third year.

f. Standard credit loads and eligible modules (courses)

Students are required to complete 60 King’s credits in Semester 1 (Fall), comprising four 15-credit modules. Students can select any of the King’s LLM modules on offer during Semester 1, although please note that allocation to your preferred modules cannot be guaranteed.

In addition, students on the J.D./LLM option are required to complete the 60-credit King’s dissertation (7FFLA903 Dissertation – 15,000 words).

g. Module selection process

Module selection opens in mid-August and closes in early September. Incoming students will receive an email to their King’s email account inviting them to make their selections and providing instructions on how to do so.

h. Grading system

Students are awarded a numerical grade for each module. Some modules might have more than one component which together make up the overall grade. Numerical marks are between 1 and 100, with 50 representing a passing grade.

i. The application procedure

Students who are nominated to study at King’s following their submission of a petition to Law School’s Foreign Law Programs Committee will subsequently need to apply through the King’s admissions portal.

j. Application deadlines

The final deadline for the application to attend King’s College for the academic year 2027-2028 is in mid-July 2027, but students are encouraged to apply by the first application deadline in March 2027. Exact dates are to be confirmed.

k. Housing information

For advice on finding private accommodation in London, please see this article on finding somewhere to live.

Students participating in the traditional option are eligible to apply as study abroad students for King’s Accommodation, although space is limited and accommodation cannot be guaranteed for students who are in attendance for one semester only. Students participating in the J.D./LLM option are not eligible to apply for King’s accommodation.

l. Visa/immigration information

The duration of the program of study at King’s falls within the six months covered by the UK Standard Visitor visa. Students on this program will not be issued a CAS and instead must apply for the Standard Visitor visa. Students can obtain further information and support from the King’s Visa & International Student Advice Team.

m. Fees

Students will pay their regular tuition to Stanford for the quarter during which they study at King’s.

The traditional option:

Exchange students do not have to pay any tuition fees to King’s.

The J.D./LLM option:

SLS exchange students do not have to pay tuition to King’s for the portion of J.D./LL.M program that includes their semester of study in London. Students will pay one-third of the LLM full-time international tuition fees to King’s for the costs of the portion of the J.D./LLM program that are supplemental to the costs for the academic term during which J.D./LLM program exchange students in London.

n. Estimated cost of living

Students can find information about the cost of living in London on the King’s Living expenses webpage.

o. Health insurance requirements

Students who come to the UK on a Standard Visitor visa need to purchase private health insurance. Students are advised to register with a General Practitioner (GP) while they are in the UK, but will need to register as a temporary patient. Students can either register with the King’s College Health Centre or with a GP close to their accommodation.

p. Program contacts at the partner school

Dr. Yael Lifshitz, Reader in Property and Environmental Law: yael.lifshitz@kcl.ac.uk

International Partnerships & Professional Programmes Team: Law-IPPP@kcl.ac.uk.

q. Library information

King’s College London has several libraries, including the Maughan Library, which is part of the Strand Campus. Many resources are also available online and off campus.