Summer Study Abroad Programs not affiliated with UST School of Law

The School of Law will accept credits from an overseas summer program of an ABA-accredited law school, as long as that program has been approved by the ABA, and as long as the student achieves a grade of "C" or better in each course for which he or she seeks credit. To be certain that your program is ABA-approved, verify the program school’s ABA status at www.abanet.org (click on ‘resources for students’).

Academically many law programs abroad offer a wide range of subjects such as comparative systems or topics in international law; thus study abroad presents an academic opportunity that contextualizes’ being in another culture while studying. For summer law school programs go to http://www.studyabroad.com/ (select summer programs’).

The maximum number of credits a student may earn in an overseas summer program is six; and regardless of how many summer credits earned the student will still have to be in residence on the St. Thomas campus for six semesters. In other words, a student cannot graduate early because of credits earned in an overseas summer program.

A first-year student who does not achieve at least a 2.00 GPA in the first semester may not enroll in an overseas summer program or make a deposit on such a program without the permission of the Associate Dean. 

A student may not earn credit in an overseas summer program if he or she is not in good academic standing. For example, a first-year student who has not achieved at least a 2.00 GPA in the second semester may not earn credit in an overseas program during the summer between the first and second years of law school. Students should bear this policy in mind when deciding whether to make a non-refundable deposit on a program.  Students are cautioned that most international programs have strict cancellation fee schedules and so proceeding with an application with uncertainty of standing is not advised.

For the complete 2013 Policies and Procedures, click here.

Application Process

1. Identify a program that you wish to participate in; click here for relevant information and St. Thomas forms.
2. The contact person in St. Thomas’ International Education Center is Tim Dohmen (651-962-6444).
3. Request verification from Associate Dean Joel Nichols (651-962-4827) that the program you propose will be applied as transfer credit to your St. Thomas degree – see ABA requirement above. Request his signature on the completed Course Approval Record.
4. You may apply directly to your chosen program (many have online applications). If there is a paper application and/or if there are any other required documents, you may send them directly to your program.
5. Submit the St. Thomas forms, including the Consortium Agreement to Tim Dohmen in International Education no later than March 15th. To send your documents via Campus Mail, submit an envelope marked 'Tim Dohmen, Mail 44C' to the front desk of the Career Center in MSL 124 and ask them to place it in their outgoing campus mailbox.
6. Once approved, St. Thomas will forward the completed Consortium Agreement on to your program and make arrangements to make payment to the program on your behalf. Program charges are billed on your St. Thomas summer account.
7. Student loans may be available for short-term study abroad. Contact Chad Nosbusch (651-962-4051) in Student Financial Services.
8. International Education provides you with pre-departure travel, health and safety information and an International Student ID Card. This card is required of St. Thomas students studying abroad for its accident, hospitalization, evacuation, and repatriation coverage and it also provides you with student discounts abroad.
9. In addition to the cost of the program, St. Thomas charges an off-campus study fee of $175 to the student's account for the term abroad.