International Exchange Program
International Exchange Program for outgoing and incoming students.
Incoming Students
Interested in pursuing an exchange opportunity at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, Common Law section? Please visit the International Office’s website.
Outgoing students
To qualify for the International Exchange Program, law students must meet the following criteria:
- Enrolled as a full-time student in the Common Law program (excluding the National program).
- Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or an international student admitted to a regular undergraduate or graduate degree program at the University of Ottawa.
- Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 5.0 when applying for the exchange program.
- Proficiency in the official language of the host institution is required (proof of language proficiency needed – at least 4 language courses or equivalent).
- Payment of tuition and general fees for the entire exchange period to the University of Ottawa before departing for the host institution.
- Complete the mandatory online workshopnorth_eastexternal link.
Destinations and agreements may vary from year to year. Specific agreements for law, general agreements that may include law, and general agreements excluding the law faculty are available.
Visit the International Office website under 'Find a Destination' to explore all exchange possibilities offered.
Refer to the information sheet provided by the partner and visit their website to confirm the availability of the law faculty. If uncertain, directly contact the host university.
Explore available agreements specifically for law students! Here's a list for the academic year 2025-2026:
- Universität Mannheim (Germany)
- Université catholique de Louvain (Belgium)
- China University of Political Science and Law (China)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)
- Universitat de Barcelona (Spain)
- Université Jean Moulin (Lyon 3) (France)
- Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne (France)
Special considerations for selecting exchange destinations
European Universities and Course Restrictions: Some universities, particularly in Europe, impose restrictions on access to specific courses, requiring students to have completed at least two years of legal studies.
Flexibility for Common Law Students: There are no restrictions for common law students regarding exchange destinations. It's also possible to choose a civil law country (France, Norway, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, etc.). In such cases, students are encouraged to select international law courses (the principles of which remain the same, regardless of the country's legal system).
No appointment needed—just stop by to learn more! You can find all the details on their website: Student Mobility Drop-In Sessions.
English Info Session: Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10 AM in CRX C040.
French Info Session: Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 2 PM in FTX 136.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore your options and get all your questions answered!
For students considering an exchange in Australia, it's important to consider different academic calendars. Calendars may range from February to July or from July to December.
Moreover, quick acceptance offers may require careful planning, especially if a student intends to embark on an exchange in the last term of their third year, potentially delaying graduation and affecting Bar Admission Course.
Exchange Period for Law Students:
Common law students have the flexibility to participate in international exchanges during their second or third year of studies. The exchange duration can be for a single term or an entire academic year, bearing in mind that the choice of destination may impact the exchange duration. Please note that students in the Programme de droit canadien are limited to one term on exchange or a Letter of Permission, with a maximum of 15 units.
Various events can occur while you are away. The relative importance of these events depends on your career choice. It is up to you to take these factors into account when deciding to participate in an exchange.
Events which generally take place in the fall (September to December):
- Structured recruitment (summer jobs – Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa IP and East Coast employers): Relevant to 2Ls
- LSO Licensing Process Begins: Relevant to 3Ls
- Clerkship Application Deadlines for various courts and tribunals: Relevant to 2Ls and 3Ls
- Photo shoots for the graduating class composite: Relevant to 3Ls
Events which generally take place in the winter (January to April):
- Career Day: Relevant to all law students
- Structured recruitment (summer jobs – Ottawa): Relevant to 2Ls
- Clerkship Application Deadlines for various courts and tribunals: Relevant to 3Ls
- LSO Licensing Process Continues: Relevant to 3Ls
Events which generally take place in the summer (May to August):
- LSO Licensing Exams (May-June): Relevant to graduating students
- Articling Application Deadlines and Interviews (May-August): Relevant to incoming 3Ls
- On-Campus Interviews Application Deadlines (late July to mid-August): Relevant to incoming 2Ls
If you are interested in participating in the exchange for the Fall 2025 and/or Winter 2026 terms, the following deadlines apply:
- November 25, 2024: Deadline to submit your preliminary course selection for your first choice destination to the faculty.
- January 17, 2025: Deadline to submit a complete application through the uoZone National and International Exchanges application.
This workshop will guide you through the application process and it will provide you with important information for the selection of your preferred exchange destination. Going on an international exchange is an exciting experience that requires careful research and preparation.
Please note that completing this workshop is mandatory prior to submitting your application.
Making my request to be enrolled in the 2025-2026 International Exchange Information Workshop.
In order to successfully apply for an international exchange, student must:
- Complete and submit the Confirmation of Eligibility and Preliminary Course Selection form to the Common Law Student Centre (clawacad@uOttawa.ca) for approval.
- Complete the Mandatory Online Workshop.
- Access the online application form in uoZone under the National and International Exchange Program application.
- Gather and upload all required documents before submitting your application.
- [Verify the required documents] (International Office website).
- Submit the application before the deadline.
Course Selection and Approval Process
Submit preliminary and final course selections, along with course descriptions, to the Common Law Student Center.
Please make sure that your form contains the following information for each course:
- Course titles and descriptions in French or in English, and in the language of the institution if applicable
- Course codes
- Number of credits per course
- Total number of course hours
- Total number of labs or discussion groups per course
- Term start and end dates
Inform the Common Law Student Centre of your decision to go on exchange once you have an update on your exchange status.
Enrolment
Students are required to maintain a full course load at the University of Ottawa until the exchange is confirmed. After receiving an acceptance letter from the host university, students should withdraw their enrolment from the course(s) they would have taken during the exchange term(s). Following this, they are required to register for the course code TRF1000, indicating their exchange status, by sending an email to the Common Law Student Center at clawacad@uOttawa.ca.
Important: Any changes to your course selection must be approved by the Faculty. Always submit an updated course selection to the Common Law Student Centre.
Students are responsible for requesting the host university to send an official transcript to the International Office of the University of Ottawa.
Return Requirements for Terms Ending in January: Students opting for destinations where courses or exams end in January, after our regular fall term, must return in time for the start of the winter term classes (these dates may vary annually, please refer to important dates and deadlines on the website, winter section). Please note that these students will need to make up these 3 credits from the January term before going on exchange.
Must complete the equivalent of 15 credits at the University of Ottawa (equivalent to 180 hours of classes) during one (1) semester abroad, or 30 credits at the University of Ottawa (equivalent to 360 hours of classes) during two (2) semesters abroad.
Specify the teaching hours per week and the number of teaching weeks per course, excluding holidays and exams.
Adherence to Host University Regulations
- Comply with the regulations of the host university.
- No special arrangements are allowed to modify the schedule or exams for personal obligations (employment, internship obligations, etc.).
Credits earned during the exchange count toward annual credits, but grades from the host university will not appear on the University of Ottawa transcript and will not be included in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average (CGPA).
Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet the requirements of their program and that it will not be compromised by the exchange.