Two silhouetted figures, jumping with arms outstretched, on a narrow cliff overlooking a fjord with sun peeking through the clouds

Faculty of Law Exchange Programs

 

Banner photo credit: Megan Mussenden, Law exchange alumni (Norway) and winner in the 2023 UCalgary International Photo Contest

Students in UCalgary's Faculty of Law have the option to enhance their JD degree with an international exchange program. As an exchange student, you will study at a host university in another country. You will attend 1 semester of law courses abroad and, upon successfully completing your exchange, these course credits are transferred back to your JD degree.

The JD Law exchange program is competitive with limited spots available every year. All Law exchange applicants are interviewed and assessed collaboratively by the Global Learning office and the Law faculty advising office. These offices continue to work together throughout your exchange: the Global Learning office supports your logistic arrangements and travel preparations, while the Law faculty advising office supports your academic approvals and transfer credit. 

Key details

Semester offered

JD Law students are permitted to go on exchange in the fall semester of their third year only.

Fall 2025 timeline

Applications will open on October 1, 2024. Deadline: January 5, 2025. Following the deadline, Law applicants will be directed to complete an asynchronous interview. Results will be shared by mid-February.

Application requirements

Minimum GPA 2.7 to 3.2 (varies by host university)

1 academic reference letter (must be written by a UCalgary Law professor or instructor of record)

For students who completed undergraduate studies outside UCalgary, an official undergraduate transcript is also required.

Info session

October 31, 12-1pm, MFH 3360

This info session will be hosted jointly between the Faculty of Law and the Global Learning Office.

Rainy street in Edinburgh, looking up towards a cloudy sky

Sterling Hillman, JD student who attended an exchange in Scotland

Exchange options for Fall 2025

South Africa

Canada

Mexico

Hong Kong SAR

India

  • New! OP Jindal Global University - details coming soon

Singapore

Austria

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Italy

Netherlands

Norway

Switzerland

United Kingdom

Australia

New Zealand

Your next steps

Identify 4-6 programs of interest

Law exchange placements are competitive, typically accepting a maximum of 2 students per program, up to a total of 20-25 students per year. (These limits are determined by multiple factors, including balancing the number of incoming international students and ensuring that enough students are in Calgary for courses to run as normal.)

For this reason, we strongly recommend identifying at least 4 programs that you are interested in, and ideally 6 programs. You will be able to specify your order of preference and priorities in the application, but having back-ups will give you the best chance of being selected.

Attend an info session

The info session is a great opportunity for you to meet your advisors, learn more about how law exchanges work, and ensure you are on track to apply. You can find the info session details at the top of this page.

The info session will also present any known available options for the summer, in case you are unable to pursue a semester abroad.

If you miss the info session, you can still apply for an exchange. Please just read this page carefully and contact an advisor if you have any questions.

Prepare your application

Your preparations should include: reviewing the program pages, checking course offerings, requesting 1 reference letter from a UCalgary Law instructor, and filling out the online application.

You will ultimately fill out 1 online application form for each program you are applying to. Start by "saving" your applications, until you have all 4-6 program applications "saved". Once you're ready, you can "submit" your top 3 applications and rank them in your order of priority (note: the application system will not allow you to "submit" more than 3 applications).

Have questions?

Global Learning office

Contact Global Learning if you have questions about: 

  • Applying for an exchange
  • Destinations, travel logistics, & funding
  • Any personal considerations that may impact your exchange (travelling with medical concerns or other accessibility needs, finding LGBTQ+ supports abroad, bringing along your partner/child, etc.)

Click here for our current advising hours, or send us an email.

Email a Global Learning Advisor

Faculty of Law

Contact the Faculty of Law if you have questions about: 

  • Confirming that you can fit an exchange into your JD degree
  • What courses you can take abroad
  • Transfer credit

Angela Gallo-Dewar (Assistant Dean, Student Services) is your primary contact for Law exchange academic advising & support. 

Email Angela Gallo-Dewar

International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.

For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.

If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.

Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.