Summer Abroad Programs

Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive about our Summer Abroad Programs.

• Santa Clara Law Summer Abroad Programs are open to all students of American Bar Association (ABA) and California Bar Accredited Law Schools that are in good academic standing.
• The application process is not competitive - if you are in good standing, your application will be accepted. 
• All classes are taught in English.
• All classes are fully accredited by American Bar Association (ABA) and transferable to your home institution for JD credit.

• October 1 - Applications Open
• January 31 - Priority Deadline and Abroad Ambassador Deadline
• March 1  - Deadline to Commit to Externship Placements 
• April 1 - Deadline to Commit to Academic Programs

For most programs, the best time to apply is winter break. If you are interested in our programs in The Hague or Tokyo, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible (as these two programs do typically fill up).

The Santa Clara Law Summer Abroad Application Process is:

• Discernment: Spend time considering which summer program and experience is right for you. 
• Application: Submit an application for that program 
  • To apply for your program, navigate to the program specific website select the red "apply now" button.
  • Santa Clara Law students, you will select "SCU Students, Faculty and Staff" and use your single sign on to access the application. 
  • Visiting law students, select "new user, create account" to create a new account and access the application.
• Acceptance: The application process is not competitive - if you are in good standing, and the program has space, your application will be accepted. 
• Commitment: Once accepted, you must pay your deposit (which is a portion of tuition) to save your spot on the program. 

The application for an academic program is very simple and takes most students less than 15 minutes to complete. If you would like to add an externship, the application requires you to submit an up- to- date resume and to answer some questions about your placement preferences, intercultural experiences, and goals for the externship.

Our applications aren’t competitive. If you want to go abroad and you're in good standing at your law school, you'll be accepted! That said, some programs and all externships do fill up. If you have a specific one in mind, it’s best to commit to the program earlier in the cycle.

We understand that cost is an important factor when considering study abroad. Below are some of the ways we work to make our programs more affordable and financially accessible for students.

• Reduced Tuition: Summer Abroad Tuition is $1,500 per credit, which is significantly lower than on-campus rates at most law schools. These tuition savings are intended to offset travel expenses and improve accessibility.
• No Application or Activity Fees: We only charge tuition. There are no application or activity fees. Tuition covers not only coursework but also program-related social, cultural, and networking events and International Emergency Medical and Travel Assistance.
• Financial Aid: All programs are eligible for federal financial aid. Santa Clara Law Dean’s Fellows may apply their academic scholarships. Other academic scholarships do not apply, since applying scholarships to the lower cost study abroad tuition would not fully leverage their intended value.
• For Santa Clara Students: Abroad Ambassador Program: This competitive program covers airfare for selected students who assist with program marketing.
• For Visiting Students - Group Discounts: If 5 or more students from your school attend any of our summer abroad programs, all students from your school get a 15% discount on tuition for the academic classes (this discount does not extend to externship credits). Our team is happy to help spread the word by sending brochures or presenting at an informational session.