Program Overview:
Vienna is one of our most popular business study abroad programs. Spend 3 weeks learning about foundational and contemporary business issues in the European Union. In addition to the core academic program students can opt to participate in excellent business externships with placements at law firms in Europe, African and the Middle East.
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: Monday, May 20, 2024
- Classes Begin: Monday, May 20, 2024
- Classes End: Friday, June 7, 2024
- Examination: Friday, June 7, 2024
- Optional Externship Begin: Monday, June 10, 2024
- Optional Externship End: Friday, July 26, 2024
|
Term |
Year |
App Deadline |
Decision Date |
Start Date |
End Date |
|
Summer |
2024 |
03/15/2024 |
Rolling admission |
05/20/2024 |
06/07/2024 |
Application Process:
Santa Clara Law Study Abroad Programs are open to all students of ABA and California Bar Accredited Law Schools that 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.
- 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!
- Charney Hall Atrium (near Side Bar Cafe)
Academic Course:
Course Title and Units: Doing Business in the European Union, 4 credits
Course Description
The program in Vienna offers students a unique opportunity to learn more about international business issues within a European framework. Students will receive a comprehensive overview of European Union Law, and lectures on current developments of critical importance to American investors and lawyers. Lectures will be given by top experts at the University of Vienna Faculty of Law.
Students will visit the Austrian Parliament and the Administrative Supreme Court where further issues will be discussed. Students will engage in a general study of the Austrian legal system and comparative studies between the civil and common law systems. The main focus of the course is European Union law, covering its sources, framework and fundamental principles. Classes run for three weeks, and most are held in the mornings. They meet at the law school of the University of Vienna. Students will have full use of the law library and other facilities at the University of Vienna School of Law. The School of Law is located in the historic center of Vienna.
Site Visits
Possible site visits include:
- Austrian Parliament
- Austrian Supreme Court
- Law firms and in house corporate
Program Director
Teaching 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 Vienna academic program are with highly regarded local and top multi-national law firms that practice business and transactional law.
Sample Locations
Vienna and Budapest Externships: Students may be placed on an externship in major international law offices, corporate legal offices, in-house legal departments or government agencies.
Casablanca Externship: Students in this law office externship placement will work on matters for English speaking clients of the international law firm, most of whom are multi-national corporations. The ability to speak and understand some French is a plus in the firm, but is not required.
Kuwait Externships: Externships with one of the leading law firms in the Gulf region.
Bulgaria Externships: Externships in Bulgaria, a member of the European Union and sitting on the Black Sea, would deal with challenges currently faced in the wake of Brexit as well as border issues in the Balkans that have been exacerbated by the migrant crisis. This externship will give you time to view the unfolding drama and development of the EU from a Balkan perspective.
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
The program is housed at the University of Vienna. It is recommended that students look for accommodations close to campus.
Students are responsible for housing during the class and externship period.
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
Little needs be said to describe physically and culturally the cities of Vienna and Budapest. Both are “must see” cities of the world. Music, culture, history, marvelous food, and pure beauty are on every corner. In addition to being beautiful and exciting capitals, each city and country has a less well known legal history that serves as an ideal base from which to study civil and comparative law as well as the problems and issues of the European Union.
One hundred years ago, each of these countries was part of the vast Austro-Hungarian empire, with Vienna and Budapest serving as the empire’s dual capitals. At the end of World War I, each country became a distinct republic. The onset of World War II created Nazi German domination, and each country experienced both similar and contrasting experiences under the communist legal and political system. Beginning first with Austria, each secured full independence, becoming as they are today constitutional democracies. Both joined the European Union at different times.
Austria, similar to Switzerland, remains militarily neutral. But, unlike Switzerland, Austria is a member of the European Union. This presents Austria with unique political and economic issues that we will study. By contrast, Hungary recently secured EU membership but has not pursued more complete integration into the European defense community. New integration into the EU, as well as military alliance, presents its own domestic issues and pressures for the former Czechoslovakia and Hungary making them distinct from Austria. All-in-all, a fascinating study of issues and contrasts, which take place over the summer. All are guided by natives who have experienced much of this historical transition.
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.
Check out this tour with 360 degree views of famous sites around Vienna! Throughout this tour, you will stop by the famous Belvedere and Schloss Schonbrunn and many more!
Testimonials:
Our Vienna Summer Program has an overall rating of 4.80 based off of past evaluations from participants (Scale of 1-5, 1=poor, 5=excellent)
"After studying abroad last summer in The Netherlands, I was so excited to have the opportunity to experience the Vienna program. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, all the professors were so passionate and had such unique perspectives. With each new topic, came a new spark of interest for me. The program is put together in such a way that it emerged us completely in the law and culture of Vienna through site visits and wonderful speakers. This experience will stick with me not only throughout my career, but throughout my personal life as well."
- Taylor Stichauf, Lewis & Clark (2019, Hague 2018)
"The Vienna Program was a great experience, overall. The faculty from the University of Vienna is renown, approachable, and welcoming. We learned a lot of information about EU Law in three weeks. It was an honor to be there. As for Vienna - it is now my favorite city; Austria, my favorite country. It truly is an inspirational place - I didn’t want to leave!"
- Rosa Tran, SCU (2017)
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