Student Exchange and Study Abroad

The practice of law is increasingly global in nature. Washington University School of Law offers a variety of study-abroad options for students, designed to prepare them for practice in an international and transnational legal market. Each of our partner schools has been selected on the basis of its strong international academic and professional reputation, its commitment to high quality study-abroad experience, and its location. The educational objectives of each program are to provide the student with the opportunity to learn and understand foreign legal systems and culture, as well as to provide students with comparative and international course work that complements the courses available at Washington University. Washington University works closely with our foreign law school partners to ensure the highest quality of courses and learning opportunities for each student.

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 International Law and Policy; and other schools' summer study-abroad opportunities.  Students interested in any of these programs should contact Peter Cramer, Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs.

The application process is relatively straightforward.  Simply complete the Study Abroad Application (click here to download the application) or you may contact Rachael Johnson, via electronic mail: rjohnson@law.wustl.edu to receive a copy of the application.  You will need to return the application to Rachael Johnson no later than the second Monday in February. 

Incoming exchange students can complete the Application for Enrollment under Student Exchange Program (click here to download the application or contact Rachael Johnson for a copy) and then return the application to Rachael Johnson no later than April 1.

Semester Exchange Programs 

The law school has one-for-one exchange agreements with twelve 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 International Law and Policy 

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.