Exchange Programs

If you are from an overseas law school and considering study at Melbourne, please click here for further information.

Students intending to apply for articles should consider the following information when planning an exchange:

The majority of articles interviews take place in the February of a student's final year. Over the last few years, due to the priority offer system, it has become increasingly important for students to undertake seasonal clerkships, usually in their penultimate year. Clerkships take place during the winter break and in the summer break between penultimate and final year. Interviews for clerkships take place in April and May of that year. In order to maximise your chances, it is advisable to be in Melbourne during these times. For further information, please consult the Law Institute of Victoria's Articles and Seasonal Clerkships Guidelines or contact the Law School's Careers Office.

If you are a current Melbourne LLB student and are interested in studying abroad as an exchange student, please read the following information:

• Introduction
• How to Apply
• Selection Criteria
• Credit Approval
• Current Exchange Agreements
• Duration of the Study Period
• Honours Points
• Non-Law Subjects
• Fees
• Funding for Undergraduate Law Exchange
• Passports and Visas
• Accommodation
• Closing Dates
• Contact

Introduction

The University has formal exchange agreements with over 100 of the leading institutions in over 20 countries around the world. Exchange agreements offer a wealth of opportunities for students to undertake part of their studies at universities and educational institutions overseas, while also enhancing research collaboration through staff exchanges.

Exchange programs are open to all Law students, whether Australian residents and citizens or international students. The work you complete on exchange can count towards your Melbourne degree provided Faculty approval is gained prior to your departure. Before you go, you will need to reach an agreement with the Faculty so that you know that if you successfully complete particular subjects overseas, you will be given credit for these on your return.

It is not necessary to speak a language other than English in order to go on exchange. Many programs are in English - speaking countries and some programs (such as the University of Hong Kong and University of Amsterdam) have classes taught in English. In other countries, however, you may need to have reached a language level which will allow you to conduct your course entirely in the language of that country.

You must have a strong academic record, and have room in your degree to accept credit on your return from overseas. It is also possible to receive credit from institutions with which we do not have exchange agreements, provided Faculty approval is sought and obtained prior to departure.

The Law School is expanding its International Study Programs so that more students have the opportunity to pursue their legal studies abroad. We will keep you up to date on this page on new opportunities to study abroad, so bookmark this site!

How to Apply

Students interested in applying to study on exchange should contact the Melbourne Abroad Office. For inquiries regarding Law Exchange, contact the Melbourne Law School Student Centre.  Students will then be directed to appropriate members of academic staff who are able to provide information about the institutions in their designated areas and to make recommendations regarding academic progress during the exchange.

Law Students should complete the Melbourne Exchange Program application and forward it to the Melbourne Law School Student Centre, with the following additional information:

• name of the proposed exchange university;
• a proposed plan of study;
• a current curriculum vitae;
• a financial outline, demonstrating  the applicant's ability to support him or herself during study abroad;
• academic references; and
• one to two page essay on the purpose of the international exchange.

If the application is approved by the Law School, it will be forwarded to the International Centre, which then nominates students to Exchange institutions. Students will be advised by mail of the outcome of the application.

Selection Criteria

Applicants for participation in the International Exchange Program should:

• be enrolled in a single or combined degree course at the University of Melbourne.
• be prepared to study on a full-time basis for the duration of the exchange placement (students undertaking a single semester on exchange must enrol in the equivalent of at least 37.5 Melbourne points. Students undertaking a full year on exchange must enrol in the equivalent of 87.5 Melbourne points). 
• subject to some expectations for language students, have completed the compulsory subjects (or their equivalents) of Torts and the Process of Law I, Torts and the Process of Law II, History and Philosophy of Law I, History and Philosophy of Law II, Contracts I, Contracts II, Criminal Law and Procedure I, Criminal Law and Procedure II, Property I: Concepts and Principles, Property II: Acquisition and Dealings and Constitutional and Administrative Law. Students who have not completed these compulsory subjects are, nonetheless, welcome to make inquiries and begin course and financial planning.
• have maintained a high average in their law subjects.  Melbourne Global requires that students obtain a weighted-average of 70 in the Law subjects that have been undertaken at the date the application is assessed.  
• applications supported by a slightly lower average will be considered. 
  • students wishing to go on exchange during 2009 may apply if they have a weighted-average of 65 or above in the Law subjects undertaken at the date the application is assessed.
  • students wishing to go on exchange from semester 1, 2010 onwards may apply if they have a weighted-average of 68 or above in the Law subjects undertaken at the date the application is assessed.
• a range of factors will be taken into account when applications supported by a weighted-average of less than 70 are assessed.  The Melbourne Law School in no way guarantees that such applications will be successful.  Furthermore, applicants who have not met the 70 weighted-average requirement may find that they are not eligible to attend all of the institutions with which the University has an exchange relationship.

Credit Approval Prior to Departure

It is essential that all Law students studying abroad obtain approval to do so from the Melbourne Law School Student Centre, prior to departure.  In some cases, students will know which subjects they will be taking at the overseas university before they depart.  In others, the selection of subjects will take place only on arrival at the overseas university.  While overseas, it is important that students keep the Melbourne Law School Student Centre informed of any proposed changes to the course of study, and keep their enrolment up to date. This is usually done via email.

It is of critical importance that students consider the interaction between overseas study and their Melbourne Law degree, particularly in relation to full-year subjects.  Flexible arrangements can be made by consultation with Faculty Course Advisors. 

Click here for more general information about credit.

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have undertaken the appropriate number of subjects whilst overseas.  Students should consult the credit load equivalents table on the Melbourne Abroad website. Please note that a lot of thought has been put into determining the appropriate credit load equivalents.  As a result, the credit load equivalents table will be adhered to strictly.

Current Exchange Agreements

A regularly updated list of partner institutions is available on the Melbourne Abroad website. 

Please note that institutions marked with an asterisk (*) offer courses in English.

U21 = Universitas 21 Partner

Belgium
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Law)*

Canada
McGill University (Law)*, U21
Queens University (Law)*
University of British Columbia*, U21
University of Toronto*, U21

China
Fudan University, U21
Nanjing University
Peking University, U21
School of Law, Tsinghua University
Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong*, U21

Denmark
University of Copenhagen*

France
University of Bordeaux IV - Montesquieu University
Universite Jean Moulin Lyon 3*
Universite Paris II - Pantheon-Assas (Law)

Germany
Albert Ludwigs Universität Freiberg
Freie Universität Berlin*
Humboldt University
Ruprecht Karls Universität Heidelberg

Ireland
University College Dublin (Law)*

Italy
University of Bologna

Japan
Doshisha University
Hitotsubashi University (Law)
Keio University*
Kyoto University*
Ritsumeikan University
Sophia University*

Korea
Seoul National University, College of Law*

Lithuania
Vilnius University*

Malaysia
University of Malaya*

Mexico
Instituto Tecnologica Y Estudios Superiores De Monterry*

The Netherlands
University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Law*

New Zealand
University of Auckland, Faculty of Law*, U21

Norway
University of Oslo*

Singapore
National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law*, U21

Sweden
Lund University*
Uppsala University*

Taiwan
National Taiwan University*

Thailand
Chulalongkorn University

United Kingdom
University of Birmingham*, U21
University of Edinburgh*, U21
University of Glasgow*, U21
University of Nottingham*, U21

USA
Duke University, School of Law*
University of Texas at Austin, School of Law*

Note: Where the exchange agreement is specific to the Law School, this is shown in parentheses.

Further information about the areas of study available at different institutions can be obtained from the Resource Room at the International Centre or by visiting their web site at http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/int/index.html.

Duration of the Study Period

Some programs, for example the UBC exchange, provide students with the opportunity to study abroad for a semester or a full academic year.  Others, for example, Leuven and Amsterdam, are single semester programs.  

The Williamette course in Chinese Law is an intensive, full-fee-paying course, taught over four weeks.  Most teaching universities in the northern hemisphere are based on a semester system, with Semester 1 from September to December, and Semester 2 from January to May.  This is usually the case with American, Canadian and British universities, as well as some universities in Europe and Asia.  Other universities have a quarter or trimester system.

Partner Institution's Term Dates

Honours Points?

Honours points for exchange students will be calculated primarily by reference to Law subjects undertaken at The University of Melbourne.  Click here for more information about the method used to calculate Honours points.

The Honours Board retains a discretionary power to take account of the performance of a student in an exchange program for the purposes of ranking that student and making an honours award.

Non-Law Subjects

In some cases it may be possible for a student to study non-law subjects, such as language subjects, which may be credited towards the other component of a combined degree with law or a diploma in another faculty.  Students should approach the relevant faculty first to obtain information about such credit arrangements.

For further information, please contact the Melbourne Law School Student Centre, the Law School, University of Melbourne.

Fees

Students enrolled at The University of Melbourne while on exchange continue to pay fees to The University of Melbourne.  Tuition at the overseas university is waived.  Students are expected to make their own financial arrangements for study overseas.  Information regarding finance and costs for most exchange destinations can be obtained from the Melbourne Abroad Office.  It should be noted that scholarships will not cover full travel and living costs.

Funding for Undergraduate Law Exchange

Law students who have received Law Faculty approval for the Melbourne Abroad Program in either semester 1, 2008 or semester 2, 2008 are eligible for financial assistance from both the Melbourne Abroad Office and the Faculty of Law.

Melbourne Abroad Applicants should note that it is not necessary to apply separately for any of the financial bursaries listed below. All successful applicants for a Melbourne Abroad Law exchange will be automatically considered. Only applications submitted by the published application dates for each semester, however, are guaranteed of being considered for this funding.

Melbourne Abroad Funding

Melbourne Abroad Scholarship
A Melbourne Abroad Scholarship for exchange students provides a one-off payment of $2,000. It is designed to assist students meet basic travel costs and is awarded on the basis of academic merit.

For further information regarding Melbourne Abroad Scholarships, refer to

http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/exchanges/goabroad/ex/scholarships.html

UMAP Scholarships
U.M.A.P. stands for University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific. Funding in support of this endeavour is made available by the Australian government annually to support exchanges to partner universities in Asia and the Pacific.

For further information, including a list of UMAP Scholarships for 2007/2008, see http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/exchanges/goabroad/oth/UMAP.html

Law Faculty Funding

Law Exchange Scholarship
The Faculty of Law is delighted to announce that all Law Students undertaking an exchange in first semester 2008 and second semester 2008 will receive a $1,000 Law Exchange Scholarship (LES) to contribute to the costs of their exchange. LES is open to any student approved for exchange and accepted by a host institution through the Melbourne Abroad Program.*

This Law Exchange Scholarship is in addition to any amount received from the Melbourne Abroad Office and from any other Central University funding source (see above).

Additional Law Exchange Grant
In addition to receiving a LES, the faculty also hopes to offer at its discretion a $750 Additional Law Exchange Grant (ALEG) to any student undertaking Melbourne Abroad Law exchange in first semester 2008 or second semester 2008 that does not receive any other University of Melbourne funding worth $1,000 or more.

* Where a Law student is undertaking an exchange for Law and non-Law credit, funding will be negotiated with the relevant faculty. In such cases, at least half of the subjects the student undertakes whilst on exchange must be Law subjects in order for the student to be eligible for Law Faculty funding.

Passports and Visas

Students are responsible for making their own passport and visa arrangements. 

The Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can also provide advice about traveling overseas and applying for a passport. Visas are normally arranged through the consular office of the government of the country you wish to visit.

Applications for a passport are normally made through Australia Post. If you have any queries about how to apply for a passport, phone the Australian Passport Information Service on 131 232 from anywhere in Australia (toll free).

Accommodation

The receiving university is usually able to assist exchange students in seeking accommodation.  Further information regarding accommodation is available through the Melbourne Abroad Office.  No university guarantees accommodation and students are advised to organise accommodation before their departure.

Closing Application Dates for the Law School

Students should submit their exchange applications to the Faculty Exchange Adviser by the following dates:

• For an exchange in our semester 2, 2008 - Monday, 3 December, 2007.
  Submit applications for the University of California (Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz campuses) by Friday, 23 November 2007. 
• For an exchange in our semester 1, 2009 - Monday, 7 July, 2008.
  Submit applications for the University of California (Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz campuses) by Friday, 27 June 2008. 
  
  Attention: If you are applying for the University of California as your first preference you must ensure that you are in Melbourne and able to collect the California application from the Melbourne Global office at least three weeks after the due dates listed above or you will not be able to apply to the University of California in time.

Contact

If you need any further information about the exchange process, please contact the Melbourne Law School Student Centre by email or by phoning 8344 4475.