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The School of Law welcomes applications from international students. In addition to our regular application, international students are also required to complete a supplemental international application. International students who have legal training in their home country and seek only an overview of American law should consider applying as a visiting nondegree student.
TOEFL Report
If you received your undergraduate degree from an institution in which English was not the instructional language, you must submit an Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score report showing a minimum score of 600 on Paper or 250 on Computer (Concordance Table). The University of Montana School of Law's school code is N4489-00. To obtain information concerning this test contact: Test of English as a Foreign Language, P.O. Box 899, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.
LSAT
All applicants to the School of Law must take the Law School Admission Test. You can obtain information concerning the LSAT from: Law School Admission Council, Box 2000, Newtown, PA 18940-0998; (215) 968-1001.
If the applicant's home country does not offer the LSAT, please contact our Admissions Officer. In this case, under certain conditions, the School of Law may accept the Graduate Record Exam.
Evaluation of Undergraduate Education Credentials
In the United States, law programs awarding the Juris Doctor degree are graduate programs, requiring an undergraduate college degree as a condition of admission. All applicants must at a minimum have completed a four-year college bachelors degree or an equivalent degree requiring four years of college study. To demonstrate satisfaction of this requirement, applicants must submit either a report of their college study from the LSDAS or, if this report is unavailable, a Detailed Evaluation Report of non-US academic credentials by Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., P.O. Box 17499, Milwaukee WI 53217.
The Admissions Committee of the School of Law will evaluate the applicant's credentials. Based on the documentation provided, the Committee must be satisfied that the applicant's background prepares him or her to understand the political and economic systems operating in the United States. All final determinations on academic credentials will be made by the Admissions Committee.
The Admissions Committee may waive the requirement of a four-year college degree for applicants applying as Visiting Students.
Statement of Financial Support
An original, current financial statement from the applicant's bank/sponsor must certify that funding will be available to cover estimated expenses during the applicant's first year at UM. All international students applying for admission must provide a financial statement showing at least $24,758 U.S. of available funds.* This figure includes the cost of health insurance coverage. (NOTE: The financial statement should cover expenses for dependents accompanying the applicants to the U.S. by certifying an additional $4,000.00 for a spouse, and $2,000.00 for each child.)
*All fees are subject to modification by the Board of Regents without prior notice.
Law School Application
The applicant must complete a School of Law Application and an International Student Supplemental Application and return it with a nonrefundable fee of $60.00 U.S. The application fee cannot be waived. The University of Montana School of Law recommends you submit your application as soon as possible. We begin reviewing completed applications after January 1. Applications are not considered complete until all application materials, including the LSAT score, are received. If your file is completed by February 15, you will notified of a decision (admit, deny or retain for further review) by March 15. If your file is completed by March 15, you will be notified of our decision by April 15. Files completed after March 15, may be considered on a space-available basis. If monetary policy in the applicant's country prevents the applicant from complying with this requirement, the applicant should send a letter of explanation to:
Heidi Fanslow
Director of Admissions
School of Law
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
406-243-2698
heidi.fanslow@umontana.edu
VISA Information
Admitted applicants must satisfy certain visa requirements before enrolling. Foreign nationals (except Canadians) need a passport issued by their own government and a visa issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate to enter the United States. To obtain an F-1 (Student Visa) at a U.S. embassy or consulate, applicants must first obtain Form I-20AB, which the University will issue upon final acceptance for admission. Canadian students must have an I-20AB form and a copy of their financial statement for inspection at the U.S. port of entry.
Students under certain grant or scholarship programs may qualify for a J-1 (exchange visitor) visa. In such cases, the student must present Form IAP-66 issued by the sponsor of the program to obtain the visa.
By federal law, foreign students are not allowed to work except by special permission of the U.S. Immigration Service, and then only after residing for 9 months in the United States. Dependents of students (on F-2 visas) are not allowed to work.
For additional information regarding VISAs, please contact:
Foreign Student Services Office
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812-6552
406-243-2226
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