International Externship Programs

Application Process & Eligibility | Acceptance and Registration Process | Program Requirements | Financial Aid | Withdrawal/Drop Deadline

International Summer Externships Program Overview

USF’s international summer externships programs will help you develop an understanding of how to do business and pursue justice in today’s global society. USF offers international summer externships in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

View the International Externships FAQs

Application Process

1. Complete the International Externship Program Application by January 25.
2. Faculty Directors will review applications, conduct interviews, and make final approval decision in early February. Students will receive an email regarding their acceptance into the program.
3. Faculty Directors will place students with their field placements, based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to ability for placements to hire externs, student resumes, student preferences and amount of students per program.

You may review the nuts and bolts of International Externships in this short video. Passcode: gV%6F$!5

Application Timeline

• January 25: Application Due
• Early February: Interviews
• March: $750 non-refundable deposit due
• May 1: Tuition due; last day to drop program and receive a tuition refund

Student Eligibility

Semesters Completed

Students must:

1. Have completed 28 law credits,
2. Be in good academic standing at the time they apply to the program
3. Be in good academic standing at the time they begin their externship. 

Academic Units and Required Fieldwork

Students will receive 4 externship units for participating in the program. Students are required to complete a total of 180 hours during their externship.

Non-classroom credit hours

• Students must complete a total of 87 units. 
• Students must complete at least 65 units in regularly-scheduled law school classroom courses (non-classroom courses include Directed Research, Moot Court, clinical and externship courses or programs, and certain co-curricular programs for which academic credit is awarded, such as advocacy competitions, ASP Program Tutor, Maritime Law Journal, and USF Law Review). To be sure you are on-track for graduation, please reach out to the Registrar.

Health Insurance

Students are required to have health insurance in order to participate in the program. 

Acceptance and Registration Process

1. Students will be notified of their application status and required to sign commitment forms in order to participate in the program.
2. Students will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit.
3. Faculty Directors will place students with their field placements. 
4. Upon the Externship Office’s receipt of student commitment forms, the Registrar’s Office will register student for a 4-unit externship. 

Program Requirements

• USF Orientations: Students must attend a spring training and pre-departure meeting before departing to their international externship. 
• Deposit: Students must submit a non-refundable deposit in March.
• Forms and Comportment: Students must sign various forms (including an enrollment commitment form) to participate and be registered in the program. Students pledge to behave professionally and comport themselves according to the Mission of USF and the Fogcutter Student Handbook. 
• In-County Orientation: Upon arrival in-country, students attend an orientation with their Faculty Director at the host university. Students then begin their externships, which last 5 to 7 weeks. Students should plan their airfare and accommodations to arrive in time to participate in the welcome dinner, as it is a mandatory requirement for externship participation. 
• Externship Class Assignments: During their externship, students submit weekly timesheets and assignments as directed in the course syllabus. Students who fail to do so risk receiving a grade of Credit Unsatisfactory (CU) or No Credit (NC).  
• After the Externship: Upon return, students must attend a wrap-up session and complete an exit survey to provide the Externship Programs Office with feedback about their experience.

Orientations and Class Sessions

• Spring Training: Students are required to attend Spring Training. Students will participate in a program orientation to receive information about coursework, international research, safety, professionalism, and appropriate comportment abroad.
• Pre-departure Meeting: Students are required to meet with the Faculty Director and fellow students in their select program in order to prepare for their arrival, orientation, and time at their externships. 
• In-County Orientations: Students begin their international experience with a welcome dinner followed by a 3- to 5-day orientation at their host university. After orientation, students begin work at their individual externship placements. 

Grading

Grading for the Civil/Criminal Law Externship Program is awarded on a Credit (CR)/ Credit-Unsatisfactory (CU)/ No Credit (NC) basis. Grading is based on class attendance and submission of assignments, including—but not limited to—timesheets, reflections, and supervisor evaluations.

Financial Aid

• The priority deadline to submit the Summer ITE Form is April 1
• A full tuition payment is due May 1. 
• Please email lawfinaid@usfca.edu or call (415) 422-6210 for more information. 
• Students who elect to drop the externship class after May 1 will not be able to receive a tuition refund.

Withdrawal/Drop Deadline

Students may drop the externship on or before May 1. If students do not submit a drop request by 11:59 PM on May 1, students will be liable for the externship tuition.  

Students may withdraw from the externship program after May 1, through the last day of the program’s classes. Students must submit their request to withdraw to lawsummerabroad@usfca.edu from a USF email account.  The student will be responsible for the externship tuition and a “W” will appear on the student’s transcript for this course.