UNSW has one of the largest university student exchange programs in Australia.
As a UNSW Law & Justice student, you can study overseas on an international exchange at leading universities around the world. UNSW students don’t pay any additional tuition fees to the overseas host institution and your courses will be credited to your degree.
Completing one, two or three terms of your program at an overseas institution is both a culturally rewarding and intellectually enriching experience. Students are eligible to undertake exchange in their fourth or fifth year of an undergraduate degree, during the second or third year of a Juris Doctor (JD) program.
Studying at University of Birmingham has been such an eye-opening experience, from living on campus in a shared flat to travelling around Europe on the weekends. Going on exchange encourages you to step outside of your comfort zone, try new things and learn from people from other parts of the world.
Olivia Fung – Exchange to the University of Birmingham, UK
Law and Justice exchange information
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Before planning your exchange, consult with Law & Justice to understand your program requirements. You can also discuss your exchange destinations with the Associate Dean (International).
Ensure you complete a full-time course load at the partner university.
Submit your proposed courses for approval through Endeavour before departure. Use the course matching resources available on the Student Exchange Moodle tutorial.
Obtain course approval before enrolling at the partner university to ensure your credits transfer. Failure to do so may delay your degree completion. Approval cannot be granted after returning to UNSW.
Avoid submitting courses for approval if they are similar to or equivalent to those you have already completed at UNSW.
Law & Justice does not permit any overlapping, and credit will not be granted. You can only enrol in approved law courses offered by a recognised Law School as part of a law program.
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Eligibility:
- LLB students must complete 60 UOC of Law core courses prior to going on exchange. Note that some partner universities may require up to two years of law study.
- While on exchange, students are limited to taking law elective courses only.
- LLB students typically go on exchange in their fourth or fifth year of study.
Consider your progression when planning to go on exchange to mitigate the risk of facing progression issues on your return from exchange.
Use myPlan to plan your course enrolments after returning from exchange.
Splitting Law and Non-Law exchange:
A combination of Law and non-Law course enrolment while on exchange is possible. However, please note the following:
- Eligibility Requirements: You must still meet the eligibility requirements for Law exchange.
- Consultation: Discuss your exchange plans with both Law & Justice and the UNSW Faculty that administers your other degree to ensure you stay on track.
- Course Approval: Course approval is determined by each UNSW Faculty.
- There may be restrictions at the Partner University:
- Canada and USA: A combination of Law and non-Law exchange is not possible at exchange partners in these countries
- Other Regions: For Asia, mainland Europe, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, and Israel, discuss your preferences with the relevant UNSW Exchange Advisor, as not all Law partners in these regions allow enrolment in non-Law courses.
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Eligibility:
- JD students must complete 72 UOC of core courses prior to going on exchange. Note that some partner universities may require up to two years of law study.
- While on exchange, students are limited to taking law elective courses only.
- JD students typically go on exchange in their third year of study.
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Eligibility:
- BCCJ students must complete 18 UOC of Criminology courses prior to going on exchange.
- While on exchange, students can take any core CRIM/SOSS courses.
Criminology exchange programs are highly competitive. All applicants are assessed based on their academic performance (WAM) relative to others wishing to study at the same institution. Therefore, applicants need to be flexible and prepared to go on exchange to any of their six preferences. To be considered, a minimum credit average is required, and applicants must not have more than two fails in their program of study.
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Your courses will be listed on your transcript with the corresponding codes from Endeavour, labelled as “LAWS/JURD equivalent to XX UOC.
Marks from overseas courses will not contribute to your UNSW WAM. While you will receive UOC toward your program total, no grades will be awarded. However, you will receive an official transcript from the host university.
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The UNSW Exchange office holds drop-in sessions each application period, focusing on different regions (e.g., USA, Europe, UK, Asia, Latin America). These sessions are an opportunity to ask questions. UNSW Exchange has details of when and where these meetings are held.
A specific information session for Law & Justice students is held each application round, with details posted on the Law & Justice noticeboard and here.
Key dates
April: Application deadline for departure in Term 1 of the next year.
September: Application deadline for departure in Term 3 of the next year.
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If you’re a student interested in going on exchange as part of your Bachelor of Law (LLB) Juris Doctor (JD), or Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (BCCJ), head over to the Applying for Exchange: Your Guide tutorial in Moodle to get your exchange application started.
The Applying for Exchange: Your Guide Moodle includes information on:
- What it is and how it works
- Eligibility
- How to plan your exchange
- Selecting exchange partners and terms away
- Enrolment and course matching
- Costs and financial assistance
- Safety
- Resources including partner fact sheets, returned student questionnaires, Faculty guides and recorded presentations
- Where to get advice – drop-in sessions and information sessions
- How to access the application form.
At Chuo, you really get to be in an international classroom, studying law in a country with completely different legal origins to Australia. Classes included French, German, British, Taiwanese and of course local Japanese students. Chuo really embraces exchange students with open arms: it offers classes in English, has heaps of student clubs, dormitory accommodation alongside local Japanese students, and its own International Lounge.
Jodic Chan – Exchange to Chuo University, Japan