2024 PROGRAM AT CAPACITY
As of Monday, January 22, we have reached the capacity of our program in The Hauge.
You can explore our other programs at this link. All other programs remain open and continue to accept applications.
Since our program in The Hague spends considerable time in courts and tribunals, the enrollment on this program is limited to the number of students we are able to get through court security and into court rooms each day. At this time, we have transitioned all accepted applications onto a waiting list. Pending applications have been left in the pending state and can be moved to another program or withdrawn. It is no longer possible to begin new applications for this program.
We are available to meet with in person or via zoom to talk study abroad options as well as how we will manage the waitlist for The Hague program. Students may schedule an appointment at this link: https://calendly.com/sarahbrockmeyer
Program Overview:
Students participating in our program in The Hague enjoy behind the scene access to the International Criminal Courts and Tribunals. This program is great for students who want a fast study abroad experience as it's 2 weeks at the start of summer. After the program, students can go on to do an optional human rights externship or can join another program (such as Tokyo or Geneva).
Key Dates:
- Application Deadline: March 15, 2024 (or until program is filled)
- Online Pre-departure Orientation: Friday, April 12, 2023 1-3pm (PST)
- On Site Orientation: Sunday, May 19, 2024
- Classes Begin: Monday, May 20, 2024
- Classes End: Friday, May 31, 2024
- Examination: Friday, May 31, 2024
- Optional Externship Begin: Monday, June 3, 2024
- Optional Externship End: Friday, July 26, 2024
Dates/Deadlines:
There are currently no active application cycles for this program.
Application Process:
Santa Clara Law Study Abroad Programs are open to all students of ABA and California Bar Accredited Law Schools who are in good academic standing.
The programs are not competitive - if you are in good standing, you are qualified to participate!
All classes are taught in English and are accredited by ABA.
Connect with Us and Learn More:
Non-Santa Clara Students
Schedule a zoom or in person appointment for personal advising or contact LawStudyAbroad@scu.edu to request an in person or zoom presentation for your Law School.
General Summer Abroad Information Sessions
These are general information sessions where we discuss all of our summer abroad programs, the application process, and other introductory topics. Each session has the same information. You are welcome to attend whatever session works best for you.
- October 24, 2023 12-1pm, Charney Hall, Room 103 Lunch will be served
- October 26, 2023 5-6pm, Charney Hall, Room 103, Snacks will be served
- November 8, 2023 12-1pm via zoom (registration link)
- November 9, 2023 6pm via zoom (registration link)
- December 19, 2023 12-1pm via zoom (registration link)
Annual Study Abroad Fair
Each of our summer abroad programs will have a table in the Charney Atrium to connect with interested students. The Faculty Program Director as well as students who have attended the programs in the past will be there to answer questions.
- November 15, 2023 12-2pm, Charney Hall Atrium
Program Specific Tabling
The study abroad administrator and the SCU professor who will run this program will be available in the Charney Hall Atrium to answer questions and connect with interested students. Stop by and say hi!
- November 2, 2023 2-4pm, Charney Hall Atrium (near Side Bar Cafe)
Academic Course
Course Title and Units
- International Criminal Law
- 3 credits
Course Description
The Hague has been called the “legal capital of the world.” This two-week seminar allows students to visit several different international criminal tribunals, including the International Criminal Court, International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Students have a unique opportunity to learn about international criminal justice by meeting with the judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers who are actually working on these cases. The Hague is also the site of other major organizations involved in international jurisprudence, including the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the International Court of Justice. Santa Clara’s program will include visits to numerous international organizations based in The Hague. Participants are required to write a paper reflecting on their experience.
Site Visits
Potential Site Visits Include:
- International Court of Justice
- International Criminal Court
- International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
- International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
- Iran–United States Claims Tribunal
- Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Program Director
Teaching Faculty
- See our summer teaching faculty here: https://law.scu.edu/international/international-law-faculty/
Embedded Video
Add An Externship:
What is an Externship?
Externships are optional practical experiences that you can add on to your study abroad program. During the externship period, you will work at a law firm or non-profit to gain hands on, practice training and experience. During this time, you will earn credits toward your law degree.
Students gain valuable practical experience under the supervision of a professional in the host country, while integrating into the legal culture of the country, and making invaluable professional contacts. During the externship period, you will be engaged in your training and experience full-time (e.g., 40 hours or more per week). We require a minimum of 50 hours of supervised legal work for each externship unit of credit. In addition to the externship unit enrollment, students will also be registered for and must successfully complete the International Externship Workshop (Law 706i), which is a zero unit partner course designed to ensure that the externship work complies with ABA experiential learning requirements.
Please note externship placement timelines vary. Some placements may not be finalized until the start of the class portion and some placements are finalized during the class portion. Please be patient and do not book non-refundable travel.
Program Externship Summary
Externship placements following The Hague academic program are with human rights non-profits, NGOs and law firms around the world, and virtually. Given the nature of human rights work, the placements are limited, so interested students are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.
Sample Locations
Estimated Expenses, Financial Aid, and Billing:
Deposit
A non-refundable deposit of $300 for the class and an additional non-refundable deposit of $700 for an externship (if applicable) is required to secure your spot. This is applied toward your tuition charge. The deposit is payable to Santa Clara University. The deposit may be paid via credit card, wire transfer, or check.
Tuition
The summer study abroad tuition rate is $1,250/unit for J.D. students. LL.M. students should contact LawStudyAbroad@scu.edu for tuition information. Emergency travel assistance insurance is included in the tuition price. Tuition is payable to Santa Clara University. Tuition may be paid via bank transfer, international wire transfer (Flywire) or check. Tuition is not payable by credit card.
Living Expenses
Students are responsible for arranging and paying for their own airfare, housing, food, local travel costs, incidentals, and supplies.
Payment Deadlines
Tuition will be charged to your student account (WorkDay) in April and payment will be due no later than April 21st. Non-Santa Clara Law students who have submitted a Financial Aid Consortium Agreement as well as Santa Clara Law students who requested Financial Aid in their Summer Survey, are given until May 21st to submit their tuition payments. Increases to enrollment after May 21st (such as adding externship units) require prepayment.
Refunds
Deposits are non-refundable. The final day to withdraw from any program for a refund of tuition is April 21st. Withdraw must be submitted in writing to LawStudyAbroad@scu.edu. Reduction in enrollment after April 21st (such as decreasing externship units) are not eligible for refunds.
Program Cancellation
Santa Clara University School of Law does not anticipate the canceling of the program. However, war, natural disaster, widespread contagious disease, terrorism, or comparable events, or insufficient enrollment, could cause cancellation. Should cancellation occur, students will be notified by e-mail and all deposits and tuition paid for the program will be refunded.
Financial Aid
US law students are typically eligible for financial aid to cover tuition, airfare, housing, food, local travel costs and school supplies. Financial Aid is processed and disbursed by the student's home institution.
Santa Clara Law Students:
- In the Spring Semester, Santa Clara Law Financial Aid will request that you complete the Summer Survey, which will ask for your enrollment plans and whether you need financial aid.
- To request financial aid for summer, you must have a FAFSA on file with SCU Law Financial Aid.
- Santa Clara Law academic scholarships generally do not cover summer study abroad, with the exception of the Dean’s Fellowship, which does cover full study abroad tuition.
Non-Santa Clara Law Students:
- Contact your home school’s financial aid office and request that they send a financial aid consortium agreement to Santa Clara Law Financial Aid (LawFinancialAid@scu.edu).
For questions related to financial aid for study abroad programs, students should contact Santa Clara Law Financial Aid at LawFinancialAid@scu.edu and CC: LawStudyAbroad@scu.edu
Estimated Expenses
We provide these estimated expenses as a courtesy to assist students with their travel plans and to support financial aid processes. Your personal expenses may vary depending on your travel and living arrangements. Please contact LawStudyAbroad@scu.edu to request general or personalized estimated expenses for this program.
Housing and Life Abroad:
Housing
Students are responsible for securing their own housing while at The Hague. Previous students have used AirBnB. It is highly recommended that you consider the location of transportation lines as class location varies each day.
For more information about the Hague metro visit this site: https://www.htm.nl/english/
Student Recommended Housing Options
Connecting with Other Students Going Abroad
Starting in February, deposited students will be invited to join a whatsapp group for your program to connect with other students to discuss housing and travel plans.
Connecting with Alumni of this Program
If you would like to speak to alumni of this program, please contact LawStudyAbroad@scu.edu
Exploring the Area
The Hague is the site of major organizations involved in international jurisprudence, including the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and many others. Santa Clara's program will include visits to many of these sites. The Hague is immediately adjacent to the North Sea. Beach resort communities are a ten–minute tram ride from the city center. The city has an excellent public transportation system that is easy to navigate and on time. The Hague is but an hour by train to Amsterdam, and a short tram ride to the beautiful town of Delft. The central location also allows easy travel throughout Western Europe by rail or car.
Santa Clara University does not endorse any of these tours or links. Links provided may be used as a starting point to virtually explore and prepare for your desired program destination from home.
Click around the website of the International Criminal Court. On this site you can discover how the ICC operates and you can click through current situations and cases!
Testimonials:
Our Hague Summer Program has an overall rating of 5.00 based off of past evaluations from participants (Scale of 1-5, 1=poor, 5=excellent)
"The Hague truly showed comparative law in practice. The sheer number of tribunals and international courts we went to, and the international law experts we met, was outstanding. It was eye opening to not only see the variety of systems operating in one city, but also to hear from all sides of the court, including the essential support staff such as victim participation and protection, interpreters, and the registries. Not only did we learn so much about international criminal law, but we also learned a lot about common law and civil law systems, and the efforts to combine the two systems to create functioning international and hybrid courts."
- Rachel Jensen, University of Wisconsin (2019)
"Santa Clara Law's program at The Hague was truly incredible. Every part of the program was remarkably coordinated and organized. The instructor and SCU alumni are welcoming and very informative about the current international criminal dynamics. It was truly an honor to meet the judges, attorneys, interpreters, and other officials working for the International Criminal Court, the World Court, and the Tribunals. However, my favorite part was having the opportunity to interact with them and learn journeys that lead them to their careers. Thank you Santa Clara University for this unbelievable experience abroad. It was definitely a life-changing moment in my studies and I recommend it to all."
- Gardenia Montero, Western State (2018)
Click here to view more testimonials from past students!
Travel Information
US State Department Tips for Traveling Abroad
US State Department Travel Safety Information
US Department of State Country-Specific Information
US Department of State: Passport Services
US Department of State Worldwide Caution
Centers for Disease Control Health Information