Admission Criteria

1. Entry Requirements

Non-law and law graduates are welcome to apply for the SMU JD programme if meet the admission criteria as follows:

• Completed an undergraduate education in any discipline with at least a Cum Laude or Second Class Upper Honours degree; or
• Law graduates from a civil law country or a non-gazetted common law university* with at least a Cum Laude or Second Class Upper Honours degree.

*The list of gazetted universities maintained by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) can be found here.

1. Graduating students who will obtain their official transcript and bachelor degree certificate by early July are welcome to apply.
2. Applicants who have obtained their undergraduate degree via distance learning or part-time studies will be considered for admission if they have obtained at least a second-class upper honours degree.
3. Candidates who do not meet the above academic criteria but are willing to sit for the Bar Exam and practice law in Singapore may consider the SMU Master of Laws (LLM) programme first, then direct entry to SMU JD if meet the transferring requirements.

2. English Proficiency

Applicants must show proficiency in the English language. A TOEFL / IELTS test is required if the applicant’s undergraduate degree was not conducted in English.

Applicants who are intending to take TOEFL, IELTS or UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration), please note the following minimum scores:

• TOEFL (Paper-based or Internet-based Test): 100
• IELTS (Academic): Overall band of 7.5
• UKVI (Academic): 5

1. Apart from above tests, others such as TOEFL Institutional Testing Program (ITP), TOEFL MyBest Scores and Duolingo English Test are not accepted.
2. Scores that are more than 2 years old will not be accepted. More information can be obtained from the TOEFL website, IELTS website respectively.
3. For whom have a master degree in English and a bachelor degree in other language, applicants could apply for exemption from the English Proficiency Test, but the exemption will depend on the submitted online application and supporting documents. Programme office will not process exemption requests until the online application and supporting documents are submitted. The exemption result will be updated via email.
4. GRE, GMAT or SMU Admission Test (SMUAT) are not required by the SMU JD. The LSAT/LNAT is not compulsory for the SMU JD application.