International Exchange
Things to Consider About an Exchange Term
Personal Considerations
- Exchange is primarily about academic study, and not travel and leisure.
- Consider your language abilities. Not all of our partners teach in English. If you apply to a University that teaches in a different language, you will be required to complete a language proficiency test.
- Consider how adaptable you are. Will you be able to make changes to your lifestyle or adapt to a new culture? We encourage you to do some reading to familiarize yourself with foreign travel.
- Consider your personal financial situation. Use our Finances page to examine whether an exchange term would be financially viable for you.
Course Selection at Western Law
- For students considering an exchange term in year 3, it is strongly recommended that course selection for year 2 include both of the compulsory courses and two of the three core courses.
- In the year of an exchange, students must enroll in at least 15 credit hours during the term at Western Law (instead of the usual 14 credit hours minimum).
- Students on a Fall term exchange are required to return to Western Law at the beginning of the January term. However, if the exams at their partner school must be written during the month of January, students may request special permission from the Associate Dean (Academic) to waive the January term requirement. (Current practice may necessitate this for French and UK schools.) If approved, students must complete at least 15 credit hours in the Spring term - or may wish to apply for a full year Individual Research.
- After an exchange term, students who return to Western Law to complete their degree must satisfy the Associate Dean (Academic) that all further Western Law courses do not duplicate anything that has been previously completed while on exchange.
Academic Obligations during an Exchange Term
- All graduation requirements for Western Law must be fulfilled.
- Students must enroll in, and successfully complete, a full-time course load as defined by the partner university. However, Western Law reserves the right to require more courses, if it is deemed that the full-time load at the partner university is insufficient for Western Law.
- Students are expected to enroll in courses at an advanced level. Introductory courses to the partner country’s legal system will not be considered as part of the full time course load, unless the Associate Dean (Academic) is satisfied that the course is taught at an advanced level. If enrollment in such a course is required by the partner school, enrollment in this course will normally be in addition to a full time course load.
- Students may not enroll in courses which significantly duplicate any that have been previously completed at Western Law.
- Students may enroll in one course taught intensively, only if special approval is requested and granted by the Associate Dean (Academic).
- Students can not complete Western Law’s compulsory and core course nor the essay requirement while on exchange.
- After the student has arrived at the partner university, course enrollments for an exchange term must be submitted to the Western Law Exchange Program Officer. This must be done during the equivalent of an add/drop period, to allow for changes (if required). The courses will be reviewed, with final approval provided by Western Law’s Associate Dean (Academic). This approval will be noted in Lawsys together with the course information.
Additional Requirements while on Exchange
- On arrival at the host university, students are required to provide Western Law with their local address, phone number and email address.
- A mandatory exchange report is due within two weeks of your return to Canada. The form will be provided to you.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that an official transcript from the host university is sent to Western Law at the completion of the term. Academic credit will be transfered to the student's UWO record on a pass/fail basis when this original transcript is received. The transcript must be received by Western Law no later than May 15 to be eligible for June convocation. If transcripts are received after May 15, the student will be considered for October convocation.
Licensing Process
- It is the sole responsibility of the student to contact the provincial body in charge of the Licensing Process and/or the articling employer, to request any special accommodations due to the exchange term.
- It is recommended that students inform their articling firm if they will be graduating in October.
"Exchange will undoubtedly
help me with my career path. The ability to work and talk with Chinese
students, including negotiating against them in my Negotiations class, was an
invaluable experience given that I am likely to be encountering similar situations
in my professional career."
-- Joel Freudman, Fall 2010 exchange term at the University of Hong Kong
