Exchange Programs

The UC Davis School of Law offers its J.D. students the opportunity to spend a semester abroad taking classes at a partner law school. The goal of the exchange experience is to provide UC Davis J.D. students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the global legal environment. Students who participate in the UC Davis School of Law Exchange Program learn about different legal regimes in a comparative context, enrich their educational studies by taking classes about other legal systems not offered in the J.D. curriculum, form international networks with professional colleagues, and experience law in a cultural context. Returning J.D. students enrich the law school classroom experience by sharing their insights and new knowledge with fellow students and the King Hall community.

collage of photos of locations

Application Process

2L or 3L students in good academic standing are eligible to study abroad after receiving approval from the Associate Dean for Global Legal Education. Students who are interested in any of the programs discussed below must apply during their 1L or 2L years. Information sessions are held in the early fall and spring.

Apply Here

Deadline to Apply

  • To study abroad in the Fall, please apply by early March.
  • To study abroad in the Spring, please apply by early June.

Please contact our office for specific deadline dates at [email protected]

Semester Exchange Programs

Students will receive 12 units of academic credit at UC Davis School of Law for courses completed abroad in any of the following programs:

Adelaide, Australia

Adelaide University School of Law

Beijing, China

China University of Political Science and Law

Renmin Law School

  • Offered: fall semester during 2L or 3L years
  • Student visa: required
  • U.S. Dept. of State Country Information for China
  • 20 classes are taught in English
  • On-campus and off-campus housing available
  • Tuition is paid directly to UC Davis, and students receiving financial aid keep their financial aid packages
  • Grading Policy
  • All courses taught in English are part of their LL.M. program “Chinese Law.”  Contact our office for the latest course list.
  • Information for Students with Disabilities:  Please contact our office

Tsinghua University School of Law

  • Offered: fall semester during 2L or 3L years
  • Student visa: required
  • U.S. Dept. of State Country Information for China
  • Courses vary from semester to semester, but normally 8-10 English law courses are taught each semester
  • On-campus and off-campus housing available
  • Tuition is paid directly to UC Davis, and students receiving financial aid keep their financial aid packages
  • General Information
  • Contact the International Law Programs office for a copy of Tsinghua’s grading policies
  • Information for Students with Disabilities:  Please contact our office

Concepcion, Chile

Universidad de Concepcion Chile

  • Offered: The first semester is from March to July, and the second semester is from August to December
  • Student visa: required
  • For a stay of less than 180 days, students can opt for a transitory stay.  For more than 180 days, students must apply for temporary residence
  • Must have an intermediate level of Spanish fluency (Certificate B1 in Spanish)
  • Offered fall or spring semester during 2L or 3L years
  • No on-campus housing. Contact [email protected] for information on housing near the campus
  • Tuition is paid directly to UC Davis. Students receiving financial aid keep their financial aid packages
  • Grading scale:  1-7, with 4 being the minimum passing grade
  • Course Information
  • General Information
  • Contact the International Law Programs office for Universidad de Concepcion Chile's grading policies
  • Information for Students with Disabilities

Copenhagen, Denmark

University of Copenhagen

Dublin, Ireland

University College Dublin

Ferrara, Italy

University of Ferrara

Lausanne, Switzerland

University of Lausanne

  • Offered fall or spring semester during 2L or 3L years. You will need to apply for a “D” visa (national visa) from the embassy. Please see the Swiss Confederation website
  • Classes taught in French. Please refer to the following for a list of courses and useful information
  • The University of Lausanne guarantees accommodations at university residences for inbound exchange students from UC Davis, School of Law. Once students have registered as exchange students at the University of Lausanne, they will send deadlines and procedures for securing accommodations. Information on university residences can be found here
  • Faculty
  • Grading System: UNIL uses ECTS credits. The grading scale is from 0 (lowest grade) to 6 (highest grade). The Passing grade is 4. Exchange students are expected to complete at least 15 ECTS during their exchange semester at UNIL and are recommended not to exceed 30 ECTS per semester.
  • Information for students with disabilities

Lund, Sweden

Lund University

Madrid, Spain

Comillas Pontificia University

Newcastle, U.K.

Newcastle University

Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

Universite Catholique de Louvain

Paris, France

Paris Nanterre University

Santiago, Chile

Universidad de Chile

Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile

Sonipat, India

Jindal Global Law School

State Department Country Information Pages and Travel Alerts and Warnings

Students considering study abroad opportunities are advised to consult the U.S. State Department’s information pages and travel alerts and warnings for the relevant country. Please be aware that these State Department pages are updated on an ongoing basis.