Apply to External Study Abroad Programs
Subject to final dean's office approval, Washburn University School of Law may permit J.D. students to transfer back up to six credits from an ABA-accredited summer study abroad program hosted by another law school. Any visiting credits earned through study abroad count toward the student's visiting credits maximum for the J.D. program.
If you are seeking to study abroad in an external program, you must complete the following internal application process in addition to whatever process is required by the program's host school.
February 1
- Apply in advance for tentative approval to transfer visiting credit to Washburn Law. First, review the visiting credit policy. Then submit a hard copy of the application form to the mailboxes of the Director of International Legal Programs and Chair of the Curriculum Committee. Attach a copy of the academics page from your program's website. While our partner programs' academic offerings are pre-approved, please nevertheless complete the form as the first step toward transferring your credits back to Washburn.
- If you do not already have a valid U.S. passport, begin the passport application process as soon as possible.
- Ensure you understand and have calendared the separate application process to your external, host law school. Coordinate with the host law school's program director if you have questions about travel arrangements, housing, etc.
February 15
- Begin the Washburn University "Bods Abroad" application and International Programs Scholarship application. You will need the names and email addresses of two faculty references, and a modest, non-refundable fee will be posted to your university account. This application and fee will make you eligible to receive international programs scholarships, receive emergency assistance from the university, and enroll in student travel health insurance.
- If you receive scholarship assistance for your regular J.D. studies at Washburn Law, contact our law school Admissions Office for an appointment to determine whether you can use your scholarship to help fund your study abroad.
March 1
- Complete and submit the internal WU "Bods Abroad" application and International Programs Scholarship application that you began last month. If you miss this deadline, you likely can still apply for the program and for financial aid, but you likely will not be eligible for the International Programs Scholarship. If you do not see your program listed for the main study abroad application, please contact the Director of International Legal Programs to have the program added.
March 15
Once your application is approved, it is time to consider whether you wish to apply for financial aid. If you are using financial aid to help fund your study abroad, contact the Washburn University Financial Aid Office to request a financial aid counseling appointment.
- You must take the estimated student budget from your program's website to your meeting. If you cannot find it, contact the program administrator at the host law school. You may already have sufficient award funds remaining from the previous semester, or may need to begin a summer financial aid application. If you received (and used) an overly high award the previous term, please be aware that federal regulations may require your summer funding to be reduced by the amount of the previous overage.
- Please be aware that awards may not arrive until your summer program has already begun; federal regulations require submission of spring grades. Ask your financial aid counselor about timelines. If, after receiving counseling, you are concerned that the timing may prevent your ability to study abroad, please contact the Director of International Legal Programs for further counseling.
- Assuming your aid application is granted, Washburn University will form a "financial aid consortium agreement" with your program's host law school to facilitate transfer of tuition and fees.
April 1
- If you have not already done so, April 1 is the deadline to complete any forms required in our law school admissions office to allow J.D. program scholarships to be applied to summer studies. See instructions for February 15, above.