Exchange Programs / Study Abroad Opportunities
Educational Objectives of the Foreign Exchange and Study Abroad Programs
Our objective in sending students for foreign study is to increase their understanding of foreign law and to provide them with the information, skills, and experience to work more effectively as attorneys in a global legal environment. Most of the programs specifically offer a concentration in a specialized field of law. Students shall follow a course of study that is consistent with the objectives of each program. Unless otherwise specified below, students may receive up to 12 credits towards their Hastings degree for courses completed during their participation in any of these exchange programs.
Dual J.D./LL.M. Degree Programs
With approval of the Academic Dean and International Programs Committee, a student who earns an LL.M. degree at a foreign law school may transfer to Hastings a maximum of 24 credits from that LL.M. program (see Academic Regs. 2208). Hastings has three official dual degree programs: SOAS, Paris II, and Deusto University. Students must indicate intention to enroll in the full year LL.M. degree at the time of application to the exchange program, and must have completed 62 credits and four full semesters in residency at Hastings by the start of the LL.M. program. If for any reason a student is unable to complete the full-year curriculum, he/she may apply to the Associate Dean of International and Graduate Programs for permission to receive up to a maximum of 12 credits for completing a half-year of the program. However, students who do not complete the joint degree program are not guaranteed that they will receive any credits. Students choosing this joint-degree option should know that due to examination dates of these LL.M. programs, the Hastings graduation may be delayed by one semester.
Programs
- Argentina--Austral University, Buenos Aires--Latin American Law
Students may spend fall or spring semester during their second or third years at Austral. Spanish fluency is required. Tuition is paid directly to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see www.austral.edu.ar/.
- Australia--University of New South Wales--Law
Students may spend fall or spring semester during their second or third years at UNSW. Tuition is paid directly to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see www.law.unsw.edu.au/. - China--Peking University Law School, Beijing--Chinese Law
Students may spend fall or spring semesters during their second or third years at Peking. Courses are taught in English; however, some Mandarin proficiency is recommended. Tuition is paid directly to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see www.law.pku.edu.cn/llmp/En_001.asp. - Denmark--University of Copenhagen--European Union Law
Students may spend a fall or spring semester during their second or third years at the University of Copenhagen studying the law of the European Union. The program is taught entirely in English and includes students from all the European Union countries. Tuition is paid to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see jura.ku.dk/english/. - France--University of Paris, II--Joint J.D./LL.M. --European Business Law
Students may complete a one-year LL.M. degree in Public or Private European Law in their third year of study. Courses are taught in English. Tuition is paid directly to Hastings for the semester. GPA minimum requirement is 3.0. For more information, see www.u-paris2.fr/. - Germany--Bucerius Law School, Hamburg--International Business Law
Students may spend fall semester during their second or third years at Bucerius. Courses are taught in English; however, law courses taught in German are available to those fluent in German. Tuition is paid directly to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see www.law-school.de.
- Germany--Freie University, Berlin--E.U. Business Law
Students may spend spring semester during their second or third years at Freie University. Courses are taught in German; fluency is required. Tuition is paid directly to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see www.fu-berlin.de/. - Hungary--Central European University, Budapest--Comparative Law, Human Rights and Business Law
Students may spend a fall or spring semester during their second or third years at CEU studying the comparative constitutional law, human rights law, or business law, with a special focus on the study of social change and policy implications of transition to open societies. The program is taught entirely in English. Tuition is paid to CEU directly for the semester. For more information, see www.ceu.hu/legal. - Italy--Bocconi University, Milan--Law
Students may spend the fall or spring semester during their second or third years at Bocconi. Courses are taught in English. Tuition is paid directly to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see www.ir.unibocconi.eu. - Italy--The International University College of Turin--Political Economy and Law
Students may spend fall or spring semester during their second or third years at IUC of Turin studying Law and Globalization. Courses are offered in English. Tuition is paid directly to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see www.iuctorino.it/. - The Netherlands--Leiden University--International or E.U. Law
Students may spend a fall or spring semester during their second or third years at Leiden studying the law of the European Union. Leiden, the Netherlands’ oldest and most famous university, is located in the heart of Europe and only a short train ride from Amsterdam and The Hague, where the International Criminal Court and the World Court sit. The program is in English and includes students from other E.U. member countries. Tuition is paid to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see www.leidenuniv.nl/en/studyinleiden/sap/. - Spain--Deusto University, Bilbao--International and European Law
Students have two options at Deusto: 1) to spend fall semester during their third year at Deusto taking law classes either completely in English or in a combination of English and Spanish; or 2) to enroll in the full-year LL.M. at Deusto (all courses in English) spending fall semester at Deusto and spring semester at Deusto's partner university, University of Tilburg in the Netherlands. Option two is a dual degree J.D./LL.M. program for third year J.D. students only. For more information, see www.derecho.deusto.es. - Spain--IE (Instituto de Empresa) Law School, Madrid-- International Business Law (Pending Administrative Approval)
Students may spend a fall or spring semester during their second or third years at IE studying international business law. Courses may be taken in English or in Spanish at the law school and the business faculty. Tuition is paid directly to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see www.ie.edu. - United Kingdom--The School of Oriental and African Studies Law Faculty at the University of London--Law and Development
Students have two options at SOAS: 1) to spend a fall semester during their third year at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) studying comparative law and development in the developing countries; or 2) to apply for the dual degree full-year LL.M. program at SOAS for the final third year of law study. GPA minimum requirement is 3.0. Tuition is paid directly to SOAS. For more information, see www.soas.ac.uk. - U.S.A.--The Vermont Law School, Royalton, Vermont--Environmental Law
Students may spend the fall or spring semester during their second or third years at the Vermont Law School studying environmental law. The law school is situated in a beautiful, rural New England town, and it boasts one of the top programs in environmental law in the United States. Students participating in this program may transfer up to 16 credits towards their Hastings degree. Tuition is paid to Hastings for the semester. For more information, see www.vermontlaw.edu/.
Application Process
Students who are interested in any of these programs apply during their first or second years at Hastings to the International Programs Committee. The Committee selects students based upon their personal statements, experience, academic performance, and an interview. In addition, students must have successfully completed their first-year curriculum in order to be eligible. Except as otherwise noted, there is no required GPA minimum for admissibility to these programs. However, selection for participation in these programs is competitive. In general, we have found that students with a GPA below 2.7 are unlikely to be selected. Application forms are available from the Hastings website or from the International and Graduate Programs Office, Room 310 (200 McAllister). Upon acceptance, participants will be asked to sign an Exchange Program/Study Abroad Agreement and a release and make a non-refundable deposit of $500.
Deadline to apply:
January 28th for the following academic year's programs.