Through partnership agreements with law schools around the globe, Osgoode students have the opportunity to take courses at law schools in various countries on five continents.

Students in second or third year of the JD Program may spend a term or full year on exchange at another institution. Students may apply for Osgoode exchanges at partner institutions, York exchanges at schools with law faculties, and self-arranged placements through the letter of permission program.

Osgoode offers a number of summer study programs. Students may also spend the summer abroad on various not-for-credit internship programs.

Eligibility

Students must obtain advance written permission from Osgoode Hall Law School to receive academic credit at Osgoode for courses taken on a study abroad program. Students are eligible for Osgoode’s international programs if they:

• have a ‘B’ average or above
• have or will have completed at least one year of full-time studies at Osgoode Hall Law School
• explain what they would like to study abroad and why
• provide study plan documentation, including courses to be taken and other requested information
• meet the language, academic or other requirements of the host university.

Students must attend a mandatory pre-departure training session before embarking on exchange. York International generally holds a session at Osgoode near the end of the winter term.  

Credit Transfer

Osgoode students planning to study on exchange during the fall or winter term are expected to enrol in a full-time course load at their host university, typically the equivalent of 15 Osgoode credits. Prior to departure, students must email their course enrolment to Karen Willoughby, Academic and International Exchange Coordinator to have their course selections approved and to confirm the credit value.

Students must pass all courses and provide Osgoode with final transcripts from their exchange institution to receive course credit towards their Osgoode JD degree.

Students in curricular streams will need to request approval from the stream’s faculty convenor if they would like exchange courses to count toward their stream course requirements.

Law students embarking on exchange in third year must ensure that they will have fulfilled all graduation requirements at Osgoode, including the minimum number of credits, OPIR hours, and the Upper Year Research and Writing Requirement.

Other Considerations

1.  Sessional Dates at the Host University
   The sessional dates at host universities may not coincide with the fall and winter sessional dates at Osgoode. Students must ensure that the sessional dates of terms where they are enrolled at the exchange university do not overlap the sessional dates of terms where they are enrolled at Osgoode.  
2. Summer and Articling Hiring Timelines
   On-campus interviews for second year summer positions are held in the fall semester of second year, and most other summer hiring occurs in the winter semester. Articling recruitment begins in the summer following second year. Students planning on participating in these interviews should ensure that their exchange does not conflict with the hiring timelines.   
3. Health and Safety
   Students should contact their physician to ensure that all health issues/concerns are addressed before they leave on exchange. Depending on your destination, vaccines and immunizations may be necessary.
   
   Students should take measures to ensure that they have sufficient travel health insurance. Check the current Legal & Lit Supplemental Health Insurance Policy to review your coverage levels. Most students take out additional health insurance.
   
   For regional and country-specific information on health and safety risks, see:
   • The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
     Current information on diseases worldwide and recommended precautions for travellers
   • The International Association for Medical Assistance for Travellers (IAMAT)
     Climate charts, current information on diseases in the region, and a list of doctors worldwide. This is a non-profit user-donation funded site, so please donate if you use it.
   • The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAIT)
     Detailed country-specific security information
     Students may also register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Registration assists the Canadian Government in locating and evacuating Canadian citizens abroad in the event of a security crisis.
4. Travel Documents
   Students travelling outside Canada must ensure they have a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of their journey, as well as all visas and study permits required by their host country.