INFORMATION ON APPLICATION TO THE SUMMER LEGAL STUDY PROGRAM IN RIO DE JANEIRO 2009

WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

ELIGIBILITY

The program welcomes applications from law students for any course. Program size is limited, so participants are encouraged to apply early. Participation is contingent upon acceptance into the program.

Portuguese language skills are not required for program participation (since courses will be taught in English and guest lectures by Brazilians will be translated into English when necessary). However, in order to enhance the cultural immersion experience, students are encouraged to enroll in any optional Portuguese language classes available through the program, and to take advantage of opportunities in their home institution or elsewhere to acquire basic Portuguese language skills before arriving in Brazil.

CREDIT

Students who successfully complete the entire program will receive six hours of credit; students attending only one module will receive three hours of credit. Georgia State University will be responsible for awarding credit for all students enrolled in the program, unless the student is enrolled at Seattle University, in which case Seattle University will award credit. Students should consult their individual departments and/or home institutions to determine if the course fulfills requirements for their program of study. Students from other institutions should follow their institutions’ regulations concerning transfer credits.

COST

Costs are detailed under the “Cost” link on this website.

Payment of program costs are due as follows:

1.      February 2, 2009: PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINE to insure course and housing choices. In order to guarantee these choices, the student must make a $900 non-refundable payment* towards the Program Fee and Accommodations.

2.      February 16, 2009: FINAL APPLICATION DEADLINE, by which all students must make a non-refundable payment of $900*, which includes a $500 non-refundable deposit* due in order to reserve your space in the program, to be credited toward the program fee, and a $400 non-refundable housing deposit* in order to reserve your accommodation selection.

3.      May 1, 2009, the balance of (1) your housing cost, (2) program fee and (3) tuition in full, unless financial aid is forthcoming and the student documents that fact, in which case these fees will be payable as soon as scheduled financial aid disbursements are made.

Students enrolling through Georgia State University and receiving financial aid will be charged program tuition directly from their award monies.

It is the responsibility of ALL students to pay the balance of all fees by the May 1, 2009 deadline. Failure to make such payment or provide an acceptable form of guarantee of such payment will result in the student not being permitted to attend and the forfeiture of the non-refundable deposit of $900.*

REFUND POLICY

Deposits are non-refundable after February 16, 2009*. Final payment of program. Housing and any miscellaneous fees, due no later than May 1, 2009, are non-refundable after May 1, 2009. Tuition refunds are possible only as permitted by the respective institutional policies of the credit-granting institution.

* In the event that a student has paid a deposit but is not admitted into the Program, the deposit will, of course, be refunded in full.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

Most institutions will allow students to apply for financial aid to help fund summer foreign study. Students should consult their home institution’s individual financial aid office to determine whether this is possible and to apply in time to secure adequate funding. In addition, some institutions offer scholarships to help fund foreign study and students should explore this possibility as well.

In particular, students from institutions that are part of this consortium may find the following information helpful:

For Georgia State University students, a number of scholarships for study abroad are available through the State of Georgia, including the International Education Fee (IEF) Study Abroad Scholarship and the Board of Regents Study Abroad Scholarship.  For students in the University System of Georgia, financial aid and the HOPE scholarship may also be used to pay for study abroad tuition. Contact the Georgia State University Office of International Affairs at 404-463-9073 or see http://www2.gsu.edu/%7Ewwwoia/StudyAbroad/funding.html. Georgia State University law students may receive financial aid and should contact Benita Spencer, at bmatthews@gsu.edu  or by telephone at 404-651-2675.

Seattle University law students may apply for financial aid for study abroad programs. Students should contact, Kathleen Koch, Director of Financial Aid, at (206) 398-4255 or by e-mail at kkoch@seattleu.edu.

The University of Tennessee students may apply for financial aid. In addition, many have successfully applied for scholarships from the W.K. McClure Fund for the Study of World Affairs. Interested students should contact Professor Becky Jacobs by e-mail at jacobs@utk.edu,  UT Law's Financial Aid office, or UT’s Center for International Education, 1620 Melrose Avenue. The W.K. McClure Fund application deadline is February 15th .

RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY

Health and travel insurance, intended to supplement students’ primary health insurance coverage, is provided to all participants through the University System of Georgia study-abroad programs and is included in the program fee. None of Georgia State University, Seattle University and The University of Tennessee may be held responsible for damage to or loss of personal property or for personal injury or accident. However, Program faculty will make every effort to assist and aid students with any problems they encounter while studying abroad and will be responsible for notifying study abroad office representatives and participants’ family members in the unlikely event of an emergency or crisis situation. Participants must have a valid U.S. passport that will not expire within six months of the anticipated date of return from Brazil and that has sufficient blank pages for visa stamps. Students must acquire a Brazilian visa. More information on the procedure for obtaining a visa appears in the FAQs section of this site and will also be provided to students upon their acceptance into the program. 

Each participant must fill out a certificate of good health (Physician’s Certificate), a required immunization form to Georgia State University Immunizations Office (Certificate of Immunization), Waiver of Liability/ Indemnification form and a Participant Data sheet (with emergency contact information).

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT

Students with documented disabilities who may require specific accommodations while studying abroad should consult with the Program Director at the time of application. 

REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION

To apply for this program, the following must be received by February 16, 2009:

1.      Completed Application Packet (download the Application Packet)

2.      For non-GSU students not attending Seattle University, completed GSU transient student application form (in the Application Packet)

3.      A letter of good standing from your home institution

Payment of $900, which includes a nonrefundable $500 program fee and a nonrefundable $400 housing deposit is due at the latest on February 16, 2009.  Personal checks, money orders or cashier’s checks should be made payable to Georgia State University College of Law. 

PLEASE NOTE: NO SPACE IN A COURSE OR ACCOMMODATION IS GUARANTEED UNTIL THE $900 DEPOSIT HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

Upon notification of acceptance into the program, students who do NOT attend Georgia State University, Seattle University and The University of Tennessee School of Law who wish to be considered transient/visiting students so as to receive academic credit for the program, will be required to provide all of the following to Georgia State University (if they have not already done so):

1.      Law students from schools other than Georgia State University, Seattle University, or The University of Tennessee School of Law should complete an application for admission to the College of Law at Georgia State University.

2.      A letter of good standing, permission to attend, and statement of residency status from the Registrar's Office at the current/home institution.

3.      Proof of Immunization.

Please note that accepted students will be enrolled into courses on a first-come, first-served basis. Housing preferences will also be accommodated on this basis. Therefore, because program size is limited, prospective students should apply early.

Students will be notified of acceptance promptly after the final application deadline of February 16, 2009 and in any event no later than March 13, 2009.

Mandatory Orientations will be held as follows:

1.      Atlanta: Saturday, April 18, 2009 at Georgia State University College of Law, 653 Urban Life Building,
9 am - 12 noon.  Continental breakfast will be served.

2.      Knoxville – please contact Professor Becky Jacobs as to date and location, which will occur in April 2009, at The University of Tennessee College of Law

3.      Seattle: Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Seattle University School of Law, Room 109 Sullivan Hall, 8:30am-1:00 pm.  Continental breakfast will be served.

Students who have easy access to any of these locations are expected to attend.

All other students will have a mandatory orientation on their first day in Rio, and will be expected to submit all required documents in advance, as well as to read carefully all documents prior to arrival in Rio de Janeiro.

PAYMENT INFORMATION

Payment comes in two parts. First, the nonrefundable deposit of $900, due at the latest by February 16, 2009, made by personal check, money order, or cashier’s check.

Second payment for the remaining balance by personal check, money order, cashier’s check or credit card (online payment) made no later than May 1, 2009 as follows:

The initial deposit and payment of the balance of the program and housing fees are payable by mail to Ms. Karen Butler, Rio Program Assistant, Georgia State University College of Law, P.O. Box 4037, Atlanta, GA 30302-4037. Ms. Butler’s direct telephone is 404.413.9082.

Payment by check:

Checks or money orders should be made payable to Georgia State University College of Law.

Tuition payments may be made (subsequent to registration) at the Georgia State University Office of Student Accounts/Bursar. This may be done online, by mail or in person.

Tuition payment online:

Visit http://www.gsu.edu/es/payment.html

Tuition payment by mail:

Georgia State University Office of Student Accounts, P.O. Box 4029, Atlanta, GA 30302-4029

Tuition payment in person:

Georgia State University Office of Student Accounts, Sparks Hall, Room 100, 1st floor. Telephone 404.413.2600, fax 404.413.2220, or email onestopshop@gsu.edu.  The Student Payment Window is open from 8:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

All other payments by check:  

Make check payable to Georgia State University College of Law.