Academic Programs

Dublin, Ireland

The DePaul University/University College Dublin ("UCD") Cooperative Program was established in 1991. The programs consists of an annual exchange of students and faculty from each law school. Each year, UCD sends seven third-year law students to DePaul College of Law for the entire academic year (August - May), and DePaul College of Law sends seven second-year law students to UCD for the spring semester. In addition, DePaul College of Law and UCD exchange faculty each year for approximately two weeks per academic year. The cooperative program received full American Bar Association approval in June 1993.

University College Dublin is the largest and most prestigious university in Ireland and one of the major European universities. The faculty of law at UCD is the largest in Ireland with more than 40 full-time members and 900 students. All of the major "actors" on the legal scene in Ireland -- from justices of the Supreme Court down -- are graduates of UCD.

The cooperative program is an important part of the educational program at DePaul College of Law. It enables DePaul law students to study law (particularly European Community Law) in a major European university. This experience enriches the law student with courses and perspectives that they would not otherwise acquire in the United States and enables them to interact with faculty and students who come not only from Ireland but from throughout Europe.

While at UCD, DePaul law students take five of the regular courses offered by UCD faculty for twelve semester hours of credit. Among the UCD law courses from which students can choose are:

• Comparative Law
• Conflict of Laws (i.e., Private International Law)
• Copyright and Associated Rights
• Criminology
• Environmental Law
• Evidence
• International Protection of Human Rights
• International Trade Law
• Irish Constitutional Law
• Jurisprudence
• Law of the European Community
• Public International Law
• Trademarks & Patents

Because Ireland is an active supporter of the European Community, all of these courses are taught from a European law perspective. This gives the DePaul law students both an international and a comparative perspective of these subjects.

DePaul law students are required to complete the same examinations as UCD students in their courses. At the end of the academic year, a report on each DePaul law student and their final grades are sent to DePaul College of Law. DePaul College of Law will make the final determination whether to grant credit for the courses taken at UCD.

Expenses

Airfare
Round trip Chicago/Dublin airfare is approximately $750. Check with a travel agent for the best fares.

Books
Allow approximately $300 for books. Casebooks and texts are more expensive in Ireland than in the United States.

Food
Allow approximately $1800 for food for the four months. Food is more expensive in Ireland than in the United States.

Incidental Expenses
Allow approximately $2400 for travel around Ireland and other personal expenses.

Tuition
Allow approximately $300 for books. Casebooks and texts are more expensive in Ireland than in the United States.

Utilities
Allow an addition $400 for electricity and heat in a private apartment for the four months.

Housing

To date, all DePaul law students have chosen to rent private housing. We can provide you with the names of real estate agents who will assist you in finding houses or apartments. The cost of housing is approximately the same as in Chicago. Since it can be difficult to find a five month lease, we suggest that you arrive in Dublin approximately one week before classes begin in order to look for housing. Allow approximately $3000 for private housing from January through May.