The Faculty of Law has a strong exchange program, with partnerships with leading institutions around the world. Approximately 25% of undergraduate law students participate in a study abroad program.

If you are a McGill law student who is interested in participating in an exchange program, consult the Law students from McGill section below.

If you are a law student from another institution who is interested in coming to McGill as part of an exchange program, see the Law students from abroad section below.

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Exchange information for law students from McGill

Every year, an increasing number of law students participate in one of several exchange programs available at the Faculty, or to attend another institution as visiting students. Students can participate in an exchange program for a period of one term only.

Undergraduate students interested in participating in an exchange program or in studying abroad as visiting students are strongly encouraged to attend information sessions held each year, around mid-October.

For all exchange and study abroad programs, students must fill out the online application form on Minerva AND submit a CV via the "Jobs" tab on MyFuture to the Assistant Dean, Student Life & Learning (Aisha Topsakal) by mid-November the year before leaving (See Current deadlines). Students will be informed of the result of their application by email in January.

Important information for 2012-2013 applicants

Please visit the McGill Student Exchanges and Study Abroad (SESA) website and read the "For current McGill students section" carefully.

• Exchange and Study Away Information_2012-2013 [.pdf]
• List of exchange institutions 2012-2013 [.pdf]
• Visit the SESA website to find out how to apply online.
• Financial Support

Exchange Information Session

Students planning to go on exchange or study abroad in the 2012-2013 academic year (including Summer 2012 at Vermont Law School) should attend our information session on October 17, 2011 at 13h30 in the Moot Court.

Application deadline

For all 2012-2013 exchange and study away programs (Summer term 2012, Fall term 2012, Winter term 2013 and Full year), students must apply by Friday, November 4, 2011. The application is a simple two-step process. 1) Fill in the Minerva online application, ensuring you have included a list of your four choices in the Statement of Purpose section. 2) Your CV must be submitted electronically to the Assistant Dean, Student Life & Learning via myFuture (look for the Exchanges 2012-2013 posting under the "Jobs" tab).

Please note that Minerva will send you an automated reply instructing you to bring your CV to the SAO - disregard these instructions. The entire exchange application is online this year.

Partner Institutions

Exchange agreements fall under two broad categories: Bilateral agreements and the CREPUQ agreement.

Bilateral agreements

The Faculty of Law and McGill University have entered into a number of bilateral exchange agreements with several universities around the world. Some agreements are “law-specific”, meaning that they are only open to law students. Other agreements are “general”, meaning that they are open to all McGill students. The complete list of partner institutions may be found on the website of the McGill Student Exchanges and Study Abroad (SESA) Office.

Law-specific agreements:

• France: Institut d’études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) (program: Master de droit économique).
• Italy: Università di Torino
• Netherlands:
  • Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
  • Universiteit Maastricht
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Spain: Universitat de Barcelona
• United States: Vermont Law School (Environmental Law Center)

North American Consortium on Legal Education

In addition, the Faculty is a member of the North American Consortium on Legal Education (NACLE) which allows students to study at a number of American and Mexican institutions. For more information on NACLE, please consult the NACLE website.

• Mexico:
  • Universidad Panamericana
  • Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE)
• United States:
  • George Washington University
  • University of Arizona
  • University of Houston

General agreements

The Faculty of Law has reserved spaces for law students under the following general agreements:

• Australia:
  • University of Melbourne
  • University of New South Wales
• Denmark University of Copenhagen
• Singapore: National University of Singapore
• Sweden: Lund University
• United Kingdom: University of Edinburgh (one year only)

Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec (CREPUQ)

McGill University is part of a multilateral exchange agreement established through the Conférence des recteurs et principaux des universités du Québec (CREPUQ). For a complete list of CREPUQ partners, visit the Programmes d’échanges d’étudiants de la CREPUQ site.

The Faculty of Law has, over the years, established privileged relationships with the following CREPUQ partners:

• France:
  • Université d’Aix-Marseille III
  • Université de Grenoble II
  • Université Paris I

Other institutions with no established programs

Students may also request permission to study for one term at an institution with which there is no established exchange program. If permission is granted, the student is responsible for applying directly to the host institution. As a general rule, law students who wish to complete a term at another institution will be expected to choose from one of the existing exchange programs. In order to attend another institution as a visiting student, one must have sound academic reasons for wanting to study at that institution or, alternatively, compelling personal circumstances must exist.

Application process

Students interested in participating in an exchange program or in studying abroad as visiting students are strongly encouraged to attend the information session that will be held on Monday, October 17 at 1:30 pm in the Moot Court.

For all 2012-2013 exchange and study abroad programs, students must complete the online Minerva application and submit a CV via myFuture (look for the Exchanges 2012-2013 posting) by November 4, 2011. Students will be informed of the result of their application in early January.

The decision to grant permission to a student to participate in an exchange or a study abroad program is based on the student’s reasons for wanting to undertake law studies at the host institution, and the student’s academic record in the Faculty of Law. Students can only go on exchange in their 3rd or 4th year of the BCL/LLB. In addition, students are required to have a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or better.

Credit equivalence

Assistant Dean (Student Life and Learning) Aisha Topsakal, in consultation with the student, will establish the student's curriculum of study for the exchange or study abroad program. Students require written confirmation of the Assistant Dean (Student Life and Learning) that the courses they have selected are approved for credit towards their McGill degrees. Students are expected to take the equivalent of 15 McGill credits per term.

Upon receipt of an official transcript sent directly by the student's host institution, successfully completed transfer credits are entered on the McGill transcript (without grades) and are credited towards the law program in accordance with the written approval of the Assistant Dean (Student Life and Learning).

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Exchange information for law students from abroad

To apply to McGill Law as an exchange or visiting student

All questions regarding coming on exchange to the Faculty of Law of McGill University should be directed to the International Studies/Study Abroad Office of your home university. Every year, our exchange partners are sent a reminder that outlines McGill's Student Exchanges application requirements. McGill University will only review exchange applications that are formally submitted to us by the exchange coordinators of exchange partner universities.

If your home university does not have an exchange agreement with McGill or if you have not been selected by your home university to study abroad under an exchange agreement, you may apply to the Faculty of Law as a Visiting student through the Undergraduate Law Admissions Office (see the Visiting student paragraph) or Email them.

You have been accepted as an exchange student to the Faculty of Law

Congratulations on your acceptance: we look forward to welcoming you at McGill.

Pre-Departure Information

For complete pre-departure information, please consult McGill’s International Student Services website, where you can download the McGill Pre-Departure Guide, which is updated yearly.

You will find also find useful information on McGill's Study Abroad website.

Faculty-Specific Information

Exchange students accepted to the Faculty of Law must make an advising appointment with the Assistant Dean, Student Life and Learning, Aisha Topsakal, to arrange their course selection. To make an appointment, students should email the SAO.

Frequently asked questions by students coming from abroad

• How do I log onto Minerva?
• How do I find out if I have been accepted to the exchange program?
• When can I register for courses?
• Where do I find information on courses offered at McGill?
• How many credits should I register for?
• How can I register for a full course load if many of the courses that I'm interested in have reached their registration limit?
• Can I register in any undergraduate courses?
• Can I register in graduate courses?
• I have asked for on-campus accommodation and have received no confirmation of a reservation. Whom should I contact?
• Does McGill have a list of off-campus apartments?

How do I log onto Minerva?

1. Go to Minerva.
2. Click on the Login icon on the sidebar.
3. Log in using your McGill student number and Personal Identification number (PIN), which were provided to you in the application acknowledgment notice which you received by e-mail. Your McGill student number also appears on your letter of acceptance.
4. If you forget your PIN or have lost your McGill student number, call the Minerva Help Desk at 514-398-4474.

How do I find out if I have been accepted to the exchange program?

1. Log in to your Minerva record, select Applicant Menu > View Application Status.
2. Click on your application(s) to display information, including the status.
3. Once your offer appears on this status page, confirm or decline our offer of admission using Minerva.

When can I register for courses?

1. Once you have confirmed our offer of admission using Minerva, you will be able to register for your courses.
2. Registration for exchange students will open on Minerva in mid-July, for both Fall and Winter courses.
3. You may register for courses until mid September (inclusive) for Fall term courses, and until mid January (inclusive) for Winter term courses.
4. Registration how-to information can be found on Minerva for students: registration step-by-step.

Where do I find information on courses offered at McGill?

You will find information on law courses offered, on our Current course information page. Complete course descriptions, including information on the method of evaluation and the schedule, are detailed in the Course Offerings document found on our Current course information page.

How many credits should I register for?

The average course load consists of 12 to 15 credits per term; a minimum course load of 12 credits per term is required to attain full-time status.

How can I register for a full course load if many of the courses that I'm interested in have reached their registration limit?

1. You should keep trying to register on Minerva for the courses you wish to take, in the event that space becomes available in those courses. This is most likely to happen during the course change period, which takes place each term during the first two weeks of classes.
2. Upon arrival in Montréal, you will meet with the Assistant Dean (Internal Affairs) to complete your course selection, in keeping with the requirements of your home faculty. Admission to your preferred courses is probable, although not guaranteed.

Can I register in any undergraduate courses?

You may register in most upper-year undergraduate courses. Special permission is required for first-year courses.

A few courses are not available to exchange students. Check the course descriptions in the current Course Offerings document found on our Current course information page, where such a restriction will appear under Maximum Enrolment.

Can I register in graduate courses?

Exchange students may register in a maximum of one graduate level course each semester, with permission of the Assistant Dean (Internal Affairs). These courses are listed in the Course Offerings document found on our Current course information page. Note that some graduate courses are not open to undergraduate students. Registration for graduate courses cannot be done through Minerva.

I have asked for on-campus accommodation and have received no confirmation of a reservation. Whom should I contact?

1. If you requested on-campus housing, check on Minerva after you have been admitted to McGill to see if we have been able to offer you housing. On-campus accommodation for exchange students is not guaranteed.
2. To check the status of your accommodation request, or to have your name put on a waitlist, please contact Residences and Student Housing, at 514-398-6368, or Graduate Housing Office, at 514-398-6050.

Does McGill have a list of off-campus apartments?

1. You will find an on-line listing of apartments available in Montréal on the McGill's Off Campus Housing website.
2. Please note that you must have been admitted to McGill in order to access the Housing Lists shown in this website, and must have confirmed our offer of admission.