The one semester exchange opportunity will be available for a maximum of two upper level J.D. students during the spring/summer terms, from April to July. Absolutely no knowledge of German is required. Course credits earned in Berlin will count toward the UM degree.
Freie Universität Berlin is a full university with 15 departments and central institutes offering over 100 programs in all subject areas. Exchange programs for students have played an important role from the very beginning: the first exchange students went to Stanford University in 1949. Currently, Freie Universität participates in the European Tempus and Erasmus programs and also maintains agreements with over 50 universities for direct exchange.
About Berlin
Berlin is the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany as well as the largest city with a population of over 3 million. It also serves as a major center of politics, culture, media and science, and a hub of air and rail transport. Berlin's cultural offerings have something for every taste: world-renowned museums like the Pergamon Museum and the Old National Gallery; names like Katharina Thalbach, Daniel Barenboim, the Berlin Philharmonic, and a young and creative alternative scene. No other region in Europe has as high a concentration of scientific, academic, and research facilities as Berlin. More than 50,000 people teach, do research, and work at the city's four universities, three art colleges, seven other institutions of higher education, an international business school, and over 70 non-university publicly financed research institutes.
Prior to Applying
- Understand J.D. graduation requirements and make sure an International Exchange semester fits your study goals/timeline.
- Carefully review the International Exchange Program Policies and Procedures here.
Review International Exchange Program information online (incl. academic calendars, course offerings, language requirements, etc.). - Consider implications for summer and post-graduate job search (interview process for many clerkships, government honor programs, fellowships, and law firms taking place in Fall of 3L year).
Final semester exchange is strongly discouraged to avoid delays in graduation, bar certification, etc. (typically Spring of 3L year). - International students on an F-1 visa should contact their ISSS advisor prior to applying.
How to Apply
Submit your application through Miami Law’s online International Exchange Programs Application Form (applicants may indicate first and alternate choice of host school).Upload supporting documentation:
Resume
Miami Law transcript (unofficial copy sufficient)
Statement of Intent
Application review process might include interview
Selection Criteria
The application process can be competitive, and we often receive more applications for nominations than we have slots available. If we are not able to approve a student for their first choice of host school, we look at the student’s alternate choice. Selection will be based on the totality of the student’s academic and professional record, including the following:
- Applicants should hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Preference will be given to students applying for an exchange during their 2L Spring or 3L Fall semester
- Demonstrated interest in international and transnational issues (e.g. previous course work, work experience, internships, volunteer activities, undergraduate study abroad, etc.)
- Demonstrated potential for success in a semester abroad program
- Defined educational objectives for the exchange semester
- Proficiency in language of instruction (where applicable)
When to Apply
• Fall Semester – Students must apply for nomination by February 1
• Spring Semester – Students must apply for nomination by September 1
Tuition, Fees, Social Events & Housing
- Incoming exchange students: pay tuition to their home school, and required student health insurance and University fees to the University of Miami.
- Outgoing Miami Law students: pay tuition and other required fees to the University of Miami School of Law. Miami Law students pay no tuition or fees to the partner school except for certain social events and discretionary fees.
For More Information
For additional details or have any questions concerning the Berlin Exchange, please contact intlexchange@law.miami.edu.
