University of Aberdeen Law Exchange
- Take law classes at an historic and prestigious Scottish university, ranked 5th in the UK for law.
- Live in the beautiful and centuries-old city of Aberdeen, located on Scotland's eastern shore.
- Students are housed in apartment-style residence halls with both local and international students.
Founded in 1495, the University of Aberdeen is the 5th oldest university in the English speaking world and in the top 1% of the world's universities. The Law School dates back to the university's founding and is ranked 5th in the United Kingdom out of more than 90 law schools. Students admitted to the KU Law School will have the opportunity to study alongside Scottish students by enrolling directly in law courses offered at Aberdeen.
Aberdeen is Scotland's third largest city, with a population of over 220,000 people. Studying abroad at the University of Aberdeen is a great chance to experience the culture and heritage of a city spanning thousands of years. Aberdeen is steeped in history and has more castles per acre than anywhere else in the United Kingdom.With a number of art galleries and historic theaters, to museums and libraries, Aberdeen is steeped in culture. Situated on the eastern coast of Scotland, the city offers outdoor recreation such as surfing, kite boarding, or just a lazy day at the beach.
Law students studying for the semester at the University of Aberdeen may earn up to 15 hours of transfer credit, which are applied toward the 35-credit elective requirement. Courses and grades will be posted as transfer credit on a student's academic transcript and grades earned at Aberdeen will not figure into the KU Law GPA. Students must meet with a KU School of Law advisor to create a plan of study, which will be reviewed by the academic committee.
Most courses at the University of Aberdeen are 15 credits each, which equates to 3-4 US credit hours (roughly a 4 to 1 ratio). However, you will find some 10 credit and 30 credit courses in the catalog. The normal course load is 60 credits per semester (approximately 15 US credit hours), but students can take up to 75 credits per semester (approximately 18 US credits).
Aberdeen Credits US Credits
307.5 - 8
256 - 6.5
153 - 4
102.5 - 3
Students are encouraged to use the following resources to research available courses at the University of Aberdeen to determine if these courses will meet their academic requirements at KU....
University of Aberdeen Course Catalogs:
These are listings of undergraduate and postgraduate law courses available during 2018-2019 on the University of Aberdeen website. KU law students can take both undergraduate and postgraduate law courses at Aberdeen. However, KU students are not permitted to take courses that have a 'D' in the second-to-last digit of the course code (for example, LS55DB Contracts).
KU Course Equivalency Database
The KU Course Equivalency Databaseis a list of:
- Courses that are currently pre-approved for KU credit (approved equivalency)
- Courses that students have had approved for KU credit in the past (possible equivalency)
Credit Approval Process
The Credit Approval Process is the procedure for obtaining KU course equivalency approval for courses you plan to take abroad.
All courses taken and grades earned while abroad must be posted as transfer credit on a law student's KU transcript. The law school will make the final decision regarding posting of credit, and their application toward graduation.
Students participating in a bilateral exchange with the University of Aberdeen are guaranteed a place in student accommodation for the duration of their studies as long as they apply by the stated deadline. International exchange and study abroad students are integrated into the halls with other University of Aberdeen students, so KU students will have the opportunity to meet local students as well as other international students. Accommodation mainly consists of apartment (suite) style living, with each student having his or her own single room. Some halls also have private en-suite bathrooms. Exchange students can choose from several housing complexes in the Hillhead Student Village. Most options are for self-catered accommodation, though the Adam Smith House does feature a meal plan.
The University of Aberdeen has been welcoming students from around the world for four decades, and they make sure the process is as easy as possible, from the initial application, through to registering for classes and orientation. The Study Abroad and Exchange team provides a range of support services for incoming study abroad students, including a comprehensive orientation session at the beginning of each semester. Each visiting student is appointed a Go Abroad Tutor: a faculty member the student can meet with and discuss course selection. Visiting students can also access the normal student support services provided by the University, including: international centre, counseling service, chaplaincies, resident assistants, and AUSA Student Advice Centre. Study abroad students are welcome to join any of Aberdeen's 120+ student clubs which range in focus from sports to arts.
SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Study abroad is achievable for students of all identities including our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, and students with religious/non-religious viewpoints. Before selecting a program, consider how your identities may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.
Check our Identity Abroad page and resources listed below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.
Open to current KU students in the School of Law who are 2L or 3L and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Withdrawal/Cancellation
Students must notify Study Abroad & Global Engagement through their online application portal, by letter or by e-mail of their intent to withdraw from the program. The withdrawal will be effective on the date that the written notification is received by Study Abroad & Global Engagement. If a student withdraws after signing the financial contract they received with their acceptance materials, s/he will be liable for the withdrawal fee outlined in the financial contract. Students are responsible for any and all costs arising out of his/her own voluntary or involuntary withdrawal from the program prior to its completion, including withdrawal caused by illness or disciplinary action by representatives of the University of Kansas. The sponsoring school reserves the right to cancel the program for any reason including insufficient enrollment. In the unlikely event of a cancellation prior to the program departure, notices will be sent to all students, and all money paid to KU will be refunded.