Independent Study Abroad

Independent study abroad is the means by which students can undertake Programs (eg Summer/Winter School) at foreign Law Schools that are not Exchange partners with the University of Melbourne Law School.

List of our current Exchange partners.

If you are interested, please see the following sections on applying for and undertaking an independent study abroad program:

Initial Information for JD Students

JD students must have completed the first year of their JD prior to departing for any short-term Study Abroad Program. This is to ensure students have completed some Law study before undertaking overseas programs.

Students must have a 65% weighted average mark.

Students can only undertake one independent study abroad program for credit towards the JD.

Study Abroad programs will be credited as the equivalent of one elective subject (regardless of credit weighting at that institution).

The Program must be taught by a Law School at an accredited institution.

Application

To apply you must fill out Melbourne Global Mobility's online application form.

This completed application is automatically forwarded to the Law School Study Abroad and Exchange Advisor (Law Student Centre).

For Programs to be approved for credit you must submit the following information to the Law Student Centre (via the online form) well in advance of the program commencing. Melbourne Law School advises students to not book flights/accommodation/apply or pay for the Program until you have received approval from the Law Student Centre to participate in the Program.

Program approval is based upon a range of factors and so you should ensure to include the following in your online form submission:

  • Explanation of the mode of assessment (exam, essay, etc) and duration (length of exam, essay word/page length);
  • Length of class time (number of days/weeks and hours of in-class time);
  • Descriptions of program (subject description of content);
  • Whether the Program is open to undergraduate Law students or not;
  • If it is open to undergraduate Law students, is there differing levels of assessment.

Please note, it is understood that not all institutions will be able to provide information on all listed criteria on demand. If the above is not available, Melbourne Law School may consider the information from the previous year's offering of the Program.

Once you have received approval from the Student Centre you can apply for the program.

Please note that if you do not receive approval for the Program, you will not be able to undertake it for credit towards your JD.

Credit from Study Abroad

Students can only undertake one independent study abroad program for credit towards the JD.

  • NOTE: The Degree Partnerships fall outside of this category and so are exempt from the one Program rule if you do undertake Independent Study Abroad.

Students who undertake and successfully complete an approved Study Abroad program will receive 12.5 points of credit towards the JD. This amount is fixed and applies to all programs, regardless of how much the program is worth to the host institution.

If you are interested in other (or longer) programs please consult the International Opportunities webpage.

Funding

Melbourne Law School does not offer direct funding support to students engaging in independent study abroad.

However, students who have completed the online registration as a part of their initial application will be automatically assessed for the Melbourne Global Grant.

If you are given an offer for the Melbourne Global Grant, you must keep in mind that you can only receive this Grant once in your JD. As such, if you intend undertaking other overseas programs in your degree, you must decide when is most strategic to accept the offer (you can choose to reject an offer if you have been made one).

You may also be eligible for other funding opportunities. Details are available at:

Deadlines

If you have found a suitable program, please apply to the Law School Student Centre and submit the required information as soon as possible.

If the information required for approval is not published, it is your responsibility to contact the Host Institution and request relevant documentation so that it can be assessed.

Failure to provide all of the information needed may lead to the program not being approved.

Pre-Departure Information

Melbourne Global Mobility asks that all students undertaking these types of programs consult and complete the required sections on their webpage on studying overseas.

NB: If you do not watch the video and complete the online quiz contained at this address, you will not be considered for any Melbourne Global scholarships or funding and will be at risk of having your overseas experience cancelled by the University.

The video and online quiz is short and it is essential that you complete it.

Once Accepted

Once you have received your acceptance letter for the Program from the host institution, please provide a copy to the Law School's Study Abroad and Exchange Advisor (Student Centre).

Once received, the Advisor will enrol you into a generic study abroad subject which will appear on your record, and will also mean that it counts towards your enrolment at the University of Melbourne (eg for Centrelink purposes).

Transcripts and Academic Conduct Reports (ACR)

You should ensure that a transcript is sent to the Law School's Exchange Advisor so that credit from the Program can be applied to your JD.

The Board of Examiners requires that students seeking admission to practice obtain an Academic Conduct Report from all institutions at which they study, including those overseas.

You should in the first instance approach the host institution's contact for the Program with this request. If there is someone more appropriate, they will be able to direct you to them. Students need to make a reasonable attempt at seeking an Academic Conduct Report. If the host institution agrees but is unsure of the wording, students may provide them with a template.

In the event that an ACR request has been made and rejected (for whatever reason), students will need to provide evidence of the original request and of the University's response to the Board of Examiners.

In the event that an ACR request has been made to which no response has been received, students will need to provide evidence of the original request and a follow-up request to the Board of Examiners.

If there are any queries regarding this please do not hesitate to contact the Law School's Study Abroad and Exchange Advisor.

Previously Approved Programs

For examples of Study Abroad Programs that students have undertaken for credit please follow the link below.

NOTE:  While these have been previously approved, you are still required to follow the approval process mentioned at the top of this webpage.

Previously Approved Independent Study Abroad Programs

Enquiries

Please consult the Law School's Study Abroad and Exchange Advisor in the first instance.