Letter of Permission for International Study

Introduction

Law students may apply to the Academic Standing and Policies Committee for a Letter of Permission for International Study to study for one term at a law school with which Queen's Law does not have an official exchange agreement.   

No more than five Letters of Permission for International Study will be issued by the Academic Standing and Policies Committee each academic year.  In allocating Letters of Permission, the Academic Standing and Policies Committee will consider (1) the quality of the academic program at the host university and (2) the academic and other reasons for the student's request.

Note that while participating in exchange programs, students pay Queen's fees to Queen's University. Students studying on a Letter of Permission for International Study pay the international rate for students studying abroad at the host university, which may be considerably higher than the Queen's tuition fee. 

Students on a Letter of Permission are not eligible for exchange bursaries or other financial assistance from the Faculty or University.

Information about Domestic Letters of Permission to Other Canadian Law Faculties

 

Application Process for a Letter of Permission for International Study

1. Complete an Application to Academic Standing and Policies Committee Form, available in Student Services or here .
2. Submit the form to the Student Services office. The application deadline is February 28 for both terms in the next academic year.
3. An administrative fee of $40.00 is payable at the time of application. The fee will be refunded if the Faculty does not issue a letter of permission.
4. If a Letter of Permission is granted, the student must submit an application for admission to the host university and supporting documentation as required. The university to which the student applies decides whether to admit the applicant.

 

Terms and Conditions of a Letter of Permission for International Study

1. The student must satisfy the Faculty of Law's Residency Requirement: a minimum of 28 upper - year credits must be taken in residence at Queen's Law, including law courses at the BISC.
2. The student must complete the Substantial Term Paper and the Practice Skills and Advocacy Requirements and the course in Civil Procedure at Queen's Law.
3. The Academic Standing and Policies Committee will determine the number of credits to be transferred to the student's Queen's J.D. degree for courses successfully completed on an international letter of permission. The letter of permission will state the terms and conditions under which credit will be recognized.
4. Credits will not be transferred to the student's Queen's J.D. until an official transcript has been sent by the host university directly to the Manager of Records and Registration at the student's request. Students should note that course credits will be transferred to the Queen's J.D. degree, but the grade achieved will not be noted on the transcript.
5. It is the student's responsibility to obtain a transcript of marks from the host institution.  The student should obtain sufficient original transcripts for all future employment, licensing and graduate studies applications.
6. The student may not enroll in an upper-year course at Queen's Law or the International Study Centre that substantially overlaps with a course completed on a letter of permission.
7. The student may not use credits obtained on a Letter of Permission to reduce from full-time to part-time status during a regular term of study, or to reduce below four the number of terms registered as an upper-year full-time student.
8. The student must attend a Pre-Departure session organized by the Queen's University International Centre, register for the Emergency Support Program, and complete the University's Off-Campus Activity Safety Procedures. Students who have not completed these steps will not be permitted to depart on the Letter of Permission.