Before You Apply
Eligibility
Students in their 1st and 2nd year of Law School may apply to study abroad in their 2nd and 3rd year. Transfer students must complete one year at NYU Law before they can study abroad. Students in their 3rd year may only study abroad in the fall semester. This is because most of the host university's spring semester ends in June and therefore students risk not receiving their grades in time to graduate and take the July bar exam.
Factors to Consider
Most law faculties outside the U.S. have schedules that differ from U.S. law school academic calendars. Students participating in a law school exchanges are expected to be in residence at the host institution for the duration of the host institution's academic schedule. You may want to consider the following issues in determining whether one of these programs is suitable for you:
- Beginning of NYU Semester: Will the schedule of the host institution interfere with your timely return to studies at NYU?
- Job Search and Summer Employment: Will the schedule of the host institution interfere with your job search, including Early Interview Week? Will the schedule of the host institution interfere with your summer employment?
- NYU Housing: Will the schedule affect your ability to get NYU housing?
- Fulfilling credit requirements. Will you have earned enough credits to graduate if you study abroad?
Credits Awarded
Students are expected to complete the equivalent of 12 NYU credits while studying abroad. In considering a study abroad program, do take into account the number of credits you will need to graduate. The maximum number of credits students can earn while abroad is 12.
The awarding of credits is dependent on the satisfactory performance and completion of the exchange program. Satisfactory performance includes receiving a grade equivalent to a C or above in each class. Completion includes, but is not limited to, attendance at class and related activities, completion of all assignments and exams, and all other activities related to your agreed academic program. Failure to complete these requirements in part or in full will result in a decrease in credits received or denial of all credits.
Students are welcome to take additional classes at the discretion of the host institution. However, they will not receive any credit for additional classes taken beyond what is considered the normal course load at the host institution.
Writing Requirements
The Writing requirement for the J.D. degree may also be satisfied while studying abroad, but only with permission of the Vice Dean upon completion of the paper. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the writing project undertaken while abroad meets all the requirements of an A paper. The student must submit to the Vice Dean's office a petition requesting this permission as well as a copy of the paper.
Grades at the Foreign Institution
- Transfer of exchange program grades: Grades awarded at the host institution will appear on the transcript provided by the host institution but will appear on the NYU transcript as pass/fail.
- Grade Point Average. Grades received while abroad will not be counted towards a student's NYU School of Law grade point average.
- Credit/fail course limit: The "CR" that a student receives on his or her NYU transcript for coursework taken while on an exchange does not count toward the two courses a student may take on a credit/fail basis at the law school.
Tuition and Expenses
Students participating in an exchange program pay full tuition to NYU for the semester. There is no adjustment to tuition or fees. Students do not pay tuition or fees to the host institution. Tuition covers the number of classes considered a full course load. Students who wish to take additional classes may do so at their expense.
Participation in a study abroad program should have no effect on an NYU law student's eligibility for financial aid grants or loans. Specific questions should be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services.
All costs related to travel, housing, books, and incidental expenses are the responsibility of the student.
Housing
Some of the law school exchange programs have on-campus housing available for exchange students. Other programs do not provide campus housing for exchange students but do have an office or other resources that offer assistance to such students in finding off-campus housing. Please see the "Exchange Program Partners" section for more detail.
Housing can be difficult to find in some instances. Although the host institution can provide limited assistance, it is your responsibility to secure housing. We urge you to talk with returning students and students from the host institution to determine whether you should take special measures in locating suitable housing.
Language Courses
Students who have a working knowledge of the language of the host country will generally receive greater benefit from their experience. Students are therefore encouraged to take language courses at NYU or elsewhere before leaving. Students may also find it useful to take language classes while in residence in the host country. No law school credit will be awarded for courses intended solely for language instruction.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Access them here.