Student Exchange and Study Abroad

Law students have four different avenues to study abroad for credit: semester exchange programs; ad hoc semesters abroad; the law school's Summer Institute for Global Justice; and other schools' summer study-abroad opportunities.  Students interested in any of these programs should contact Michael Peil, the Associate Dean for International Programs.

The application process is relatively straightforward.  Simply complete the Study Abroad Application (available online or from Michael Peil, Associate Dean for International Programs) and return it to Michael Peil no later than the second Monday in February.

Semester Exchange Programs

The law school has one-for-one exchange agreements with eleven law schools:

Each of these programs offers courses in English.  Under these exchange programs, a student pays Washington University tuition and attends the foreign law school for the semester.  Participants are still responsible for their own living expenses.  The application deadline for semester exchange programs is in February.  For more information about the participating schools, click here.

Ad Hoc Study Abroad

Students may also study abroad at a school with whom the law school does not have an exchange agreement.  Many foreign law schools have a "visiting foreign student" status, whereby students may attend classes at a lower tuition rate.  Law school students have taken advantage of these programs to spend a semester at schools in the United Kingdom, Korea, Japan and China.

Students who study abroad on an ad hoc basis must be accepted for enrollment both by Washington University School of Law and the host law school.  Such students must pay ordinary Washington University tuition as well as the host school's visiting foreign student tuition.  They are also responsible for living expenses.  Since the student is crafting his or her own program, preparations are often labor-intensive.  As such, interested students should contact the Assistant Dean for International Programs as soon as possible in order to begin identifying and applying for suitable programs.

Summer Institute for Global Justice

The law school, in cooperation with Utrecht University and Case Western Reserve University's law school, offers a six-week, intensive summer course in Utrecht, The Netherlands.  Participants, who are drawn from U.S. and foreign law schools, may enroll in three courses (six credits) focusing on international and comparative law.  Courses are taught by top international scholars, practitioners, and jurists from around the world.  Past instructors have included Judge Richard Goldstone (formerly of the South African Constitutional Court), David Crane (former Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone), and David M. Scheffer (former Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues).

Deadline for application is in March.  For more information about the Summer Institute, click here.

Other ABA-Approved Summer Programs

A small number of summer study abroad programs have been approved by the American Bar Association.  Law students may enroll in these programs with the approval of the faculty.  A list of ABA-approved programs is available from the ABA's website here.

Students who participate in these programs must be admitted to the program by the hosting school, must receive permission from the WU Law faculty, and must pay all related fees themselves.  To begin the process, contact the Associate Dean for International Programs.

 

Washington University Law School Entrance

International Programs