The Cincinnati Law programme appears in several US and international rankings thanks to the quality of its courses and to its excellent position in the categories rated. Under the double degree agreement, after attending two semesters at the University of Cincinnati with a subsidised fee, UniTrento students will also receive the American Master of Laws qualification (LL.M.) which allows access to the bar exams required to practise the legal profession in a number of US states including New York and California (see guide to the bar exams in the Useful Links).
The LL.M. degree certifies knowledge of US law and is highly valued in the legal profession job market by both Italian and foreign employers.
The partnership also provides the opportunity for graduates to continue their studies at the College of Law of the University of Cincinnati in the LL.M. programme upon payment of a reduced tuition fee.
UniTrento students enrolled in at least the third year of the single-cycle master’s degree in Law, who have earned at least 100 credits with a weighted grade average of at least 26/30 and a C1 level of English. Please check the correctness of the information and any updates in the UniTrento call and on the partner’s website.
Admission requirements for the programme are the following:
- Have earned and registered at least 180 CFU in your academic record;
- Have a weighted grade average of at least 26/30 for your UniTrento courses;
- Conclude the admission procedure at UC Law by the deadline indicated by the partner university (usually March in the year preceding the exchange).
The following documentation is required for the admission procedure:
- certification of your English level (TOELF with a score of at least 90 points, or IELTS Academic module with a score of at least 7.0)(correspondence table in the Useful Links)
- two letters of recommendation from UniTrento professors;
- a transcript of records in English of exams taken and those still to be taken;
- your CV;
- A motivation letter in which you introduce yourself and explain your interest in the LL.M. programme and how you intend to use the diploma awarded.
Once formally admitted to UC Law, you will receive an admission pack containing all the necessary information and as soon as your participation in the programme is confirmed, the procedure for obtaining the module for the I-20 visa for study will be initiated.
For this procedure students will have to present a Financial Certification, a module to complete with the help of a sponsor or family member confirming that you have the necessary resources to support yourself during your period of study at UC.
The exchange lasts for 2 semesters. UniTrento students will have to participate in the orientation activities and successfully complete the agreed programme (equal to at least 24 US credits).
In the August immediately preceding the first semesters of the LL.M., students will participate both in an international orientation session and an orientation session on university rights.
The LL.M. in the American legal system is a self-designed course of study. Students must follow two courses in the fall semester and can choose all the other courses based on their interests, with the help of an academic consultant. The LL.M. focuses on Commercial Law (with an option to study Intellectual Property Law) and in International Law, as well as a scholarship in International Human Rights Law and Penal Law.
Your study plan must be agreed with your supervisors both at UniTrento and UC.
UC allows UniTrento students a 50% reduction in the LL.M. tuition fees up to a maximum of 3 students. The total amount currently is approximately USD 29,000 (see Useful Links).
Students must pay the remaining 50% of the tuition fees plus approximately USD 1,050 in university fees and USD 2,500 for student health insurance. The exact amount will be communicated to participants at a later date.
A UniTrento scholarship is also available for students.
At the end of the study period at UC, students return to UniTrento for the completion of any missing exams and the discussion of their thesis. Once they have obtained their single-cycle degree from UniTrento, they can attend the UC Law graduation ceremony at which the LL.M. diploma will be conferred (if you cannot attend it will be sent by post).
At the end of the double degree course, students obtain two separate second-cycle degrees:
- a Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico in Law from UniTrento, and
- a LL.M. degree in the U.S. Legal System from UC Law.