Exchange Terms

Exchange term opportunities are available to students in the Juris Doctor (JD) program at select partner universities. With the JD program being an accredited program to satisfy the requirements for admission to the practice of law in common law Canada, not all of the exchange opportunities available to U of A students are available to JD students.

As a JD student, you are eligible to apply for and participate in one exchange term, either a Fall Term or Winter Term exchange term, at any one of the universities listed below. No other university will be considered acceptable for an exchange term for credit towards the JD degree, nor will requests for Spring or Summer Term exchange courses.

Exchange terms offer JD students the opportunity to add additional elective courses for credit towards their degree, while gaining new perspectives through exposure to different legal contexts. Class attendance is mandatory while on exchange. JD students on exchange are also required to know and respect the term dates of the partner institution. For some exchange opportunities, these term dates limit participation to second year JD students (assuming that third year JD students do not want to delay their graduation).

Exchange terms for JD students do require careful planning. Permission will not be given to replace a mandatory course requirement for the JD degree program with a course to be completed on exchange. In addition to completing all mandatory course requirements at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, JD students wanting to go on exchange must also consider the timelines for articling recruitment, convocation, and professional legal training courses. Students bear the onus of checking the term dates at the exchange partner institution for conflicts with their plans and timelines for convocation, clerking and articling placements.

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Australia

  • Australian National University
  • University of Adelaide
  • University of New South Wales
  • University of Queensland
  • University of Sydney
  • University of Western Australia
  • University of Wollongong

Austria

  • Universität Innsbruck
  • University of Vienna

China

  • Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Tsinghua University
  • University of Hong Kong

Denmark

  • University of Copenhagen

France

  • Université Catholique de Lille
  • Nantes Université
  • Université Grenoble Alpes
  • Université Paris Nanterre

Netherlands

  • Tilburg University
  • Utrecht University

New Zealand

  • University of Auckland
  • University of Otago

Norway

  • University of Bergen
  • University of Oslo

Spain

  • Universidad Pontifica Comillas Madrid

Sweden

  • Lund University
  • Uppsala University

United Kingdom

  • Leeds University
  • Queens University Belfast
  • Swansea University
  • University of Glasgow

Application Process & Deadlines

  • Eligibility: Check to see if you are eligible to participate! Eligibility information for Education Abroad Programs can be found here.

  • Do your research. Use the Education Abroad Programs website (and then its links) to find out more about each of the Faculty of Law’s permitted exchange partners. Make sure you check for course restrictions and any language requirements.

  • Apply for ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Go Abroad Programs and Funding Opportunities through the before the end of January. Click here for information on specific deadlines.

  • If accepted by the Go Abroad Program, a JD student must ensure that they are taking the equivalent of 15 credits of law courses at the host university at the upper bachelor or master’s level. AFTER a thorough review of the course information provided by the host institution, and AFTER reviewing the guidance below on selecting courses, submit your request for exchange term course approval to the Office of the Vice-Dean using this form [LINK COMING SOON]

  • Blackout periods: Do not submit your request for an exchange term course approval during or in the two weeks after the final exam periods in December and April. Staff will be busy prioritizing marking and the finalization of grades after the exam period.

Selecting Courses

  • A course taken on exchange cannot be substantially similar to a course already taken for credit towards the JD degree. The onus rests on the student to demonstrate that a course is not substantially similar.

  • Language courses can be taken while on exchange, but not for credit towards the JD degree.

  • Permission will not be granted to take courses offered on a remote basis by the exchange partner, nor to register in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ courses while on exchange.

  • The sensible sequencing of courses supports academic success. For example, a foundational course in public international law such as LAW 506 should be taken before an advanced international law course on exchange such as international humanitarian law, and the lack of a foundational knowledge of EU law will pose a barrier to doing well in an advanced EU law course such as EU competition law.

FAQ: What’s the Difference Between an Exchange and a Letter of Permission?

  • An exchange term is arranged pursuant to a student exchange agreement between the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and the partner university. The agreement enables a UofA student to pay UofA tuition and non-instructional fees for the exchange term.

  • In exceptional circumstances, students may seek to attend another law school on a visiting basis, with a letter of permission. It is up to the other institution to decide whether to accept a visiting student through whatever process they require. Visiting students do not get the benefit of a student exchange agreement, which leads to the paying of the other institution’s full tuition and non-instructional fees.