The USD School of Law is pleased to welcome exchange students from around the world. Exchange students who study in San Diego have the opportunity to explore new cultures in an academic setting through a comparative perspective. Students are introduced to international legal principles and the law of the respective countries through specialized courses taught by leading legal experts. Through the programs, students have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience living and learning in another culture alongside future world leaders in law, business and public service.
Each year, USD welcomes exchange students from nine institutions:
Anáhuac University
Mexico City, Mexico
The Dickson Poon School of Law at King's College
London, England
EBS Law School
Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
ESADE Law School
Barcelona, Spain
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Faculty of Law
Jerusalem, Israel
Seoul National University
Seoul, South Korea
University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law
Copenhagen, Denmark
Universidad Pontificia Comillas
Madrid, Spain
Universidad Torcuato Di Tella School of Law
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nomination, Application, and Deadlines
- Nomination Process
- Application Process
- Dates and Deadlines
Exchange student applicants are nominated by their home institution prior to the applicable application deadline. The nomination information is sent by the partner institution to the Office of Graduate and International Programs, which then communicates with nominees directly regarding the application process.
While exchange student applicants should be pre-screened by the home institution, admission is subject to review of the application materials and issuance of an admission decision by the University of San Diego School of Law. There is no required minimum grade point average for admission purposes; however, admission is based primarily upon previous excellence in law studies and/or professional experience. Applicants must be in the upper half of their law school class or must otherwise establish qualifications indicating their ability to complete graduate law work successfully. In addition, applicants must establish competency in English through successful completion of the TOEFL iBT exam or the Academic IELTS exam.
Upon nomination by their home institution, exchange students will be contacted by the Office of Graduate and International Programs regarding the application process.
J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa
In order to obtain a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa, exchange students must demonstrate access to sufficient funds to cover their tuition, fees, living expenses, and personal expenses during their time in the United States. The School of Law DSO will provide additional information regarding requirements directly to the students via email. This amount is determined by the University of San Diego each year and will be provided to the exchange student applicants as soon as possible.
Immunization Requirements
The University is committed to protecting the health and well-being of all our students. All law students are required to submit a Tuberculosis (TB) questionnaire and proof of MMR vaccine. More information about immunization requirements can be found on the Student Health Center webpage.
Resources and Facilities Available to Exchange Students
The Office of Graduate and International Programs provides academic support for exchange students. Exchange students are assigned to an academic advisor who assists them with individualized advising on academic matters, including course selection and registration.
Exchange students may attend and participate in workshops held throughout the semester by the Office of Graduate and International Programs, including a session on Law School Exam Preparation.
The School of Law also offers an Academic Success Resource Center, which provides study guides and other materials designed to promote student success.
The Office of Graduate and International Programs also provides non-academic support for exchange students in various capacities. Other School of Law departments provide support to exchange students, including Law Student Affairs, the Office of the Law School Registrar, and the Pardee Legal Research Center. In addition, the Office of International Students and Scholars provides extensive orientation, assistance and guidance related to the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa.
The School of Law occupies three buildings on the University of San Diego campus: Warren Hall, Guadalupe Hall, and the Pardee Legal Research Center. Each building comprises classrooms, faculty offices, administrative offices and study space. Warren Hall houses a student lounge, while the Pardee Legal Research Center offers ample individual and group study areas.
All School of Law buildings are equipped with wireless Internet that is free to students. Exchange students also receive free access to the Lexis/Nexis and Westlaw legal research databases.
Students at the School of Law can join a wide variety of Student Organizations, including options such as the Business Law Society, the Intellectual Property Law Society, the International Law Society, and the Women's Law Caucus, among many others.
Exchange students are welcome to use other facilities and resources throughout campus. This includes the University of San Diego Torero Store (bookstore), nationally-recognized on-campus dining options (including restaurants, cafes, coffee shop and market), a state-of-the-art Student Wellness Center, tennis courts, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and various other recreational offerings.
Most exchange students choose to live off-campus, either within walking distance to the campus or in nearby beach neighborhoods which are approximately ten minutes from campus by car.
On-campus housing is extremely limited and may not be available for exchange students. Exchange students interested in living on campus should contact the USD Housing Office to determine whether on-campus housing is available.