Study Abroad and International Opportunities

Study Abroad Programs

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University has exchange relationships with some of the top law schools in Europe, Australia, Asia and South America. Under these agreements, students may apply to study for a semester or even a full academic year at one of our partner schools. In many cases, classes at the host institutions are taught in English. Upon completion of the exchange semester or year, the credits earned may transfer back to Haub Law and count towards the JD degree. At the same time, our partner schools are sending their own students to take classes at Haub Law, thus increasing the diversity and richness of the classroom experience.

Students may apply to the following institutions for their exchange semester or year:

University of Adelaide, Australia

Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil

Wuhan University School of Law, China

Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Spain

Universite Paris 1 Patheon-Sorbonne, France

EBS Universität, Germany

University of the Artic-Tromso, Norway
 

Statement of Objectives

In accordance with Paragraph I.A.3 of the American Bar Association Criteria for Student Study at a Foreign Institution as amended March 2014, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University issues the following statement of educational objectives that the law school seeks to achieve in allowing students to study abroad for credit towards the JD degree:

In order to compete in an increasingly globalized world, students need opportunities to learn the laws of jurisdictions other than the United States. They also need opportunities to become familiar with other cultures and languages, and to understand how culture and language affect the practice of law, whether in a transnational environment or in a purely domestic practice. Finally, Pace Law students may wish to specialize in the law of a particular country or region, or to study a legal specialty that is not offered at the law school.

Given all of the foregoing objectives, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is committed to offering its students the opportunity for meaningful study abroad with a diverse range of partner schools around the world.

Eligibility for Exchange Programs

To be eligible for an exchange program, students must have completed their first year of law school and have a GPA of at least 3.0. It is strongly recommended that they complete the required courses before going abroad, including Professional Responsibility, the Upper Class Writing Requirement and the Upper Class Skills Requirement. These requirements cannot generally be met with courses taken abroad.

All students considering an exchange program are expected to consult the Registrar’s Office beforehand to make sure that their proposed study abroad will allow them to fulfill all academic requirements for graduation.

Students interested in an exchange program start the process by submitting the Study Abroad Application and supporting documents to the Office of International Affairs and Graduate Programs, Preston Hall 204. They should neither contact nor apply to the foreign institution until Pace Law has approved this internal application.

Approval and selection for study abroad will be dependent upon several criteria including an applicant's proposed plan of study and academic achievements.

How to Apply

The following documents must be submitted to the Office of International Affairs and Graduate Programs, Preston Hall 204.

Application deadlines are april 15 for Fall Semester programs and october 15 for Spring Semester programs.

• Application form
• Resume
• Law School Transcript (an unofficial copy is acceptable)
• One letter of recommendation from a Pace Law faculty member
• Most study abroad programs are taught in English. If the program is taught in a language other than English, you will have to submit  evidence of proficiency in the language of instruction.
• Statement of Purpose or Study Plan. This document sets forth your interest in the program and explains how the proposed study abroad experience will complement your academic and professional objectives. It should be 3 to 5 double-spaced pages in length, and make reference to specific courses and defined objectives.

Transfer Credits

Haub Law JD students may earn a maximum of 30 credits for study abroad. The following rules apply in order to ensure correct transfer of academic credits earned abroad:

• Before going abroad, applicants must submit a Course Description Approval form for approval by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Along with this form, the applicant must indicate all proposed course titles, descriptions and academic credits. When signed by the Associate Dean, this document will be filed by the Registrar’s Office for reference when the student returns from abroad. If you (i) do not obtain advance approval of your proposed courses, or (ii) obtain advance approval but then take courses different from those approved, you accept all risk that your study abroad credits might not be accepted by Pace Law.
• Academic credits are calculated according to the ABA standard by (i) counting minutes spent in class for each course taken at the host institution and (ii) converting at the rate of 700 minutes = one credit.
• To receive credit, students must earn a passing grade in each course taken abroad. Note that while credits may transfer, the grades themselves do not. Therefore, grades earned abroad do not appear on a student’s Pace Law transcripts, nor are they counted as part of a student’s GPA.
• At the host institution, students must register for the equivalent of a full-time Pace Law course load, using the credit calculation above, in order to fulfill residency requirements.
• Courses taken abroad must not duplicate coursework taken at Pace Law.
• Under ABA rules, students may not receive credit for visits to legal and government institutions, except under limited circumstances. Nor may credit be granted for distance education courses or externship placements.

Financial Aid

Under the terms of our exchange agreements, students participating in an exchange program pay their full tuition to their home institution, and do not pay tuition to the host institution. Therefore, students must continue to pay their full tuition to Haub Law while on exchange.

All financial aid and scholarship awards will also apply for a study abroad exchange program as long as the applicable criteria for maintaining the financial aid or scholarship are met. Students may apply for financial aid to cover tuition as well as travel and living expenses for an approved semester abroad. For further information about financial aid, students should contact the Pace Financial Aid Office.

Travel and living expenses while on exchange are solely the student’s responsibility, and can vary considerably by destination, local economic conditions and currency exchange rates. Some examples of these expenses include airfare, ground transportation, passport and visa requirements, insurance, housing, meals, books, personal expenses and any medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Residency

In order to maintain residency requirements, students must enroll at the host institution for at least the equivalent of thirteen (13) credits. Host institutions generally do not operate on the same credit system as US law schools. As stated above, academic credits are calculated by (i) counting minutes spent in class for each course taken at the host institution and (ii) converting at the rate of 700 minutes = one credit.

Insurance

Students are required to maintain health insurance coverage for the duration of their overseas study and will be required to show proof of insurance prior to departure.

Students covered under the Pace University policy have coverage abroad. Should medical treatment abroad be necessary, students pay out-of-pocket for services, get an itemized bill in US currency, and submit a claim upon their return. Under the Pace University policy, students may also order up to a four month supply of their prescription medications prior to departure. This order must be placed at least two months in advance of their departure date. For further information, students may contact the Office of Student Services.

Students not covered by the Pace University health insurance policy are strongly advised to check with their insurer before departure, as not all US health insurance policies will cover students while they are abroad.

Students may also consider arranging for specific coverage from one of the many companies offering travel medical insurance. The following list of companies specialized in travel medical insurance for exchange students is compiled by NAFSA: Association of International Educators and is provided for information only. Pace University does not endorse any of these companies.

Wallach & Company, Inc.

Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI)

HTH Worldwide (formerly Hinchcliff International)

International Student Protection (ISP)

For more listings, see: US State Department – Travel Medical Insurance Providers

Travel Warnings or Advisories

Students are required to check the US State Department Alerts and Warnings Website and the US State Department Country Specific Information for any travel alerts or warnings that may exist for the country or region to which they intend to travel. They should familiarize themselves with any special circumstances that could impact their safety while participating in the study abroad program.

Please refer to the Alerts and Warnings Website well in advance of your departure and continue to check back regularly for updates until your return home.

It is also advisable to participate in the US State Department Smart Traveler Enrollment Program during your stay abroad. This new on-line program is a more convenient alternative to the former in-person consular registration system for US citizens living or studying abroad.

Disabilities

Please be aware that disability accommodations may be limited or unavailable outside the United States. Mobility International USA can assist students with information.

Passport and Visas

Plan ahead to be sure you have a valid passport for travel. At a minimum, your passport should be valid for the entire study abroad period plus six months. US citizens may find complete information on obtaining a passport from the US State Department Passport Website.

Students are responsible for determining whether they need a visa in addition to their passports, and if so, applying for a visa at the appropriate consulate of the host country.

Travel Waiver Form

Pace requires students to sign a Travel Waiver and Release Form prior to participating in a foreign exchange program.