Tuition and Fees
For the 2023-2024 academic year, tuition and fees are estimated $59,898.* All students must have valid health insurance and are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at an additional annual cost of $6,186*. The health care coverage may be waived with proof of comparable health care coverage.
Fee payment is due in the Cashier's Office, Dutton Hall, by 4:00 p.m. on September 15 for fall semester and January 15 for spring semester. You are responsible for paying your account balance by the deadline. You will not receive a paper bill.
You can send your payment via wire transfer, a check in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank account, or an international money order in U.S. dollars. Cash is not accepted. For a bank wire transfer, please refer to the UC Davis bank routing information provided in the LL.M. registration materials. Please make sure that your bank sends the full amount due plus an amount sufficient to cover any bank wire transfer fee.
Fellowships
UC Davis Law has a limited number of fellowships available to highly qualified LL.M. students. All applicants are considered for fellowship funding; there is no separate application process for scholarships. Students will be notified about any fellowship offer as part of their letter of acceptance.
For financial assistance or financial aid, you may wish to contact international education funding groups, such as the Institute of International Education, which administers Fulbright Scholarships. You can also inquire about travel grants and other fellowship opportunities from the United States Embassy or Consulate in your home country, as well as private businesses or religious organizations.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for a selection of helpful links to funding organizations.
If you are a permanent resident or a U.S. citizen, you may qualify for FAFSA (Federal Student Aid). Please contact our office at llm@ucdavis.edu if you are a permanent resident or U.S. citizen and are planning to apply for FAFSA.
Health Insurance
The SHIP insurance doesn't cover student's dependents (which are usually family members). Students must purchase separate health insurance for their dependents. UC Davis offers separate insurance packages. Please consult with the LL.M. Admissions Office at llm@ucdavis.edu if you need more information about purchasing insurance for your dependents.
Estimated Expenses
To help you with your plans and decisions, we have estimated the costs for the LL.M. program. Every student is expected to have sufficient funds to cover their expenses.
These estimated costs include University tuition and fees and the estimated costs of housing, food and incidentals for an unmarried student with no dependents in Davis. They do not include the cost of transportation to and from the United States.
TUITION & FEES:
Tuition: $59,898*
ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES:
Health Insurance (if applicable): $6,186*
Books and Supplies: $2,273*
LIVING EXPENSES:
Housing, food, incidentals, personal, transportation: approximately $22,554*
*All fees are subject to the control of the UC Regents and California Legislature and may change without notice. Tuition and fees are posted on the Office of Budget & Institutional Analysis website.
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL MINIMUM COSTS FOR MARRIED STUDENTS:
SPOUSE: budget an additional $5,000 for the ten-month period.
CHILD: budget $2,500 for each child for the ten-month period.
In addition to the costs estimated above for an LL.M. student, married students will need to have health insurance for family members. This can cost several hundred dollars a month per family member. Full-time child-care may cost $800 – $1,500 per month or more. Please consider this additional expense when deciding whether or not to bring your family.
Housing
Housing within the on-campus apartments is available to enrolled students and their families. If you wish to live on campus, please visit the On-Campus Housing website. On campus housing is a popular option among students. For this reason, it is very important that you file your housing application by the specified dates in order to ensure a place for you and your family. Campus housing might not be available during the Summer months. Please note that for a healthier community and cleaner environment, UC Davis became smoke and tobacco free effective January 2, 2014. Smoking is not allowed in campus buildings, which includes housing rental units and parking lots.
Many students enrolled at UC Davis live outside of university housing. For general information about costs and accommodation options, please contact the LL.M. Admissions Office at llm@ucdavis.edu.
Immigration and Visa Information
F-1 is the most common visa status for international students in the United States and best fits a student's situation. However, students who are government sponsored or who are on exchange programs may be eligible for the J-1 student status. Please contact our office if you have questions about which status is appropriate for you.
F-1/J-1 Attainment Process
If you accept UC Davis School of Law's offer of admission, the UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) will email you instructions for applying online for an I-20 form. Along with your I-20 application, you will be required to submit an electronic copy of your passport, as well as financial documentation which demonstrates that you possess the necessary funds to pay for the costs of tuition and living expenses. After receiving and processing these items, SISS will issue your I-20 form, and you can arrange for it to be sent to you. After receiving the I-20 form, you must make an appointment at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of residence in order to apply for an F-1 student visa to travel to the United States. Please make an appointment well in advance of the date you intend to travel to the United States, as some embassies and consulates take several weeks (or even months) to process visa requests.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Our LL.M. students may qualify to obtain temporary employment authorization. For an F-1 student, this is known as Optional Practical Training (OPT). For a J-1 student, it is referred to as Academic Training (AT). Both provide eligible international students with employment experience to complement their academic programs in the United States. F-1 holders are eligible for 12 months of OPT while J-1 holders can engage in AT as long as the total amount of training does not exceed the time spent in the LL.M. program. Students interested in OPT may apply no sooner than 90 days prior to the end of their program. Detailed information regarding the application process will be distributed at our weekly meetings and workshops during the year.
Cancellations, Withdrawals and Planned Educational Leave (PELP) Return of Title IV Funds and Refund Policies
The Planned Educational Leave Program (PELP) allows any continuing registered student-undergraduate or graduate-to temporarily suspend academic work at UC Davis.
Law students who wish to withdraw from school or apply for Planned Educational Leave must obtain official approval from the Dean. For students who paid fees and cancel, withdraw, or PELP with official approval from the Dean before the end of any semester, fees are refunded according to UC Davis campus-wide refund policies.
Contact the LL.M. Admissions Office at llm@ucdavis.edu for more information about any of the above programs and services.
Funding Opportunities
Following is a partial list of funding opportunities. This list is for informational purposes and does not imply any connection with, or endorsement by, the UC Davis School of Law. Information below is kept as current as possible; please contact each organization for the most current information and requirements.
- EducationUSA
- Edupass
- Fastweb
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program
- LLMGuide.com Scholarship Search
- Open Society Foundations
- World Learning
Additional Resources
Arthur C. Helton Fellowship Program
Helton Fellowships provide financial assistance in the form of "micro-grants" for law students and young professionals to pursue field work and research on significant issues involving international law, human rights, humanitarian affairs, and related areas. The fellowships are intended to help cover travel, housing, living expenses and other costs related to the Fellow’s fieldwork and research.
The Baumgartner Law Firm Scholarship
The Baumgartner Law Firm is offering a scholarship for law students enrolled at an accredited Law School in the US. This scholarship will be awarded based on need and commitment to helping others. A one-time award of $3,000.00 will be awarded to one winner. The application deadline is August 31. In order to apply, applicant must be enrolled, accepted or have applied at an accredited law school in the US. The scholarship will only be awarded once accepted and enrolled at an accredited Law School at the time of scholarship selection.
foreignborn.com
Foreignborn.com serves as a resource for international students who will be entering and living in the U.S. Along with immigration, visa, and health insurance information, the site provides a guide for foreign students seeking financial aid to study in the U.S. in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and other kinds of financial assistance.
Golden Key National Honour Society Member Scholarships
Golden Key is one of the largest, most renowned international honor societies with 400 chapters located in eight countries around the Globe.
International Student Organization of America (ISOA)
ISOA provides a detailed list of organizations which offer scholarships and grants to international students based upon factors such as background and area of interest.
internationalstudentloan.com
InternationalStudentLoan.com provides financial aid resources, articles, videos, and comparison tools to help students navigate their financial aid options. The site offers loan information for international students pursuing study in the U.S.
Institute for Humane Studies
The Institute for Humane Studies offers Humane Studies Fellowships to individuals who intend to pursue full-time graduate study and have demonstrated a research interest in the intellectual and institutional foundations of a free society. Applications are considered from outside the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, but fellowships are generally awarded to applicants who live or study in those countries. Fellowships are awarded in the amount of $2,000 to $15,000.
Postgrad Solutions Global LL.M. Study Bursary
Postgrad Solutions offers two global and U.S. LL.M. study bursaries per year of £500 each to international and UK students who have been accepted to an LL.M. Program in the U.S. or abroad. Eligible candidates must have already accepted an offer at the chosen institution where they intend to pursue the LL.M.
Prodigy Finance offers loans to international postgraduate students attending top universities. Through its community platform, alumni, impact investors, and other private qualified entities invest in tomorrow's leaders whilst earning a financial and social return.
For Women
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
AAUW helps women around the globe break through barriers and pursue their dreams of obtaining graduate degrees or making an impact in their communities. International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study in the U.S. to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the amount of $18,000 (Master’s/First Professional Degree Fellowship).
Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) International
The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund provides scholarships up to $10,000 for women from other countries for full-time graduate study in the U.S. and Canada.
Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund (MMMF)
Offers “Education Grants for Women Who Make a Difference.”
Australian Federation of University Women Scholarships
Funding for Australian women to pursue postgraduate study.
For Students with Disabilities
Take English classes to open doors for further opportunities. Gain professional experience to wow future employers. Apply to universities for a short-term exchange or degree program. International students, interns, and volunteers with all types of disabilities are coming to the U.S.A to pursue their professional, academic, and personal goals.
George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law and Public Policy (for Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing)
The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) offers the George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law and Public Policy. Three scholarships of $5,000 each are available each year for full-time graduate students with a moderately severe to profound hearing loss who use listening and spoken language and who are attending an accredited law school or a masters or doctoral program in public policy or public administration at an accredited university or college. Visit the AG Bell website to learn more.
For Students from Specific Regions Or Countries
Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme
The Aga Khan Foundation provides scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies. Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant: 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year. The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master’s level courses of any field of study. The Foundation accepts applications from nationals of the following countries: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique.
Latin America
Organization of American States Rowe Fund Loans
The Rowe Fund is an educational loan program of the Organization of American States (OAS) that helps citizens from Latin America and Caribbean OAS Member States finance their studies or research in accredited universities across the United States by awarding interest-free loans of up to US$15,000 dollars.
CONACYT offers funding opportunities to Mexican professionals who wish to or are already doing graduate studies in foreign institutions of high international quality, preferably within the areas set out in the Special Program of Science, Technology and Innovation (PECITI): Natural Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Science, biotechnology and Agricultural Sciences, Health Sciences, Energy.
Scholarships awarded to citizens of Chile and other nationalities who have permanent residence in Chile. Applicants can apply for these scholarships to either start or continue studies leading to a master’s or PhD degree at leading institutions abroad.
Colofuturo facilitates access for Colombian students to more and better study opportunities and enables them to contribute with their experiences of studying abroad to the economic and social development of Colombia. Once students have graduated from their programs abroad, they must return to Colombia within one year of finishing their programs in order to qualify for a scholarship comprising a 50% waiver of the loan.
This program offers young students scholarships to support them in studies in undergraduate, graduate exchange, graduate and executive education.
Instituto Ling/EAGV-LLM offers partial scholarships to Brazilians who have been accepted to an LL.M. Program in the U.S. or Europe and can demonstrate a need for funding. Individual amounts of funding vary, but a typical award is approximately $5,000 - $10,000.
The Rowe Fund (Organization of American States) : Interest-free loans to assist citizens from Latin America and Caribbean OAS member states to finance study in the U.S.
North America
Aide Financiere Aux Etudes - Canada
This Aide Financière Aux Études provides Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are residents of Quebec with financial assistance for full-time study at an educational institution in or outside of Quebec through the Loans and Bursaries Program. Funding is provided in the form of loans or bursaries in varying amounts.
Canadian Federation of University Women
The CFUW Charitable Trust provides funds for a range of post graduate awards and fellowships to women. The CFUW Fellowships and Awards Program is an affirmative action program as provided for in the Constitution of Canada and eligibility is restricted to female Canadian citizens. Rewards range from $1,000 to 10,000. Past winners have produced work in a variety of academic areas, including international humanitarian efforts, feminist and gender analysis, advanced science, medicine, social justice and human rights for women and girls. Applications for the CFUW Fellowships and Awards are available now.
Mackenzie King Scholarships for Canadians
The Travelling Scholarship is available to graduates of Canadian universities who pursue graduate study in the United States or the United Kingdom in the areas of international relations or industrial relations.
Europe and Eurasia
American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) - Scandinavia
ASF offers funding to citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden to pursue study or research programs (typically at the graduate level) in the U.S. for up to one year.
ASLA-ALMA Joint Scholarship - Italy: Scholarships for Italian law graduates seeking to pursue an LL.M. in the United States.
DAAD Scholarships for German Citizens - Germany
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is a publicly-funded independent organization of higher education institutions in Germany. Each year DAAD, its Regional Branch Offices, its Information Centers, and DAAD Professors around the globe provide information and financial support to over 67,000 highly-qualified students and faculty for international research and study.
Finlandia Foundation National P.J.C. Lindfors Legal Studies Fund
Awards for citizens of Finland who have applied to, been accepted to or are enrolled in an ABA-approved U.S. law school.
Fondo Per Studenti Italiani (The Italian Student Fund)
A not-for-profit corporation that offers financial aid to Italian university graduates, who wish to attend a post-graduate course (Master or Ph.D.) in the United States.
Scholarships for Spanish graduate students who plan to pursue graduate-level study in Spain or abroad.
Kosciuszko Foundation Fellowships & Grants for Polish Citizens
Funding for Poles residing in Poland who seek to pursue postgraduate studies abroad.
The Norway-America Association offers stipends to Norwegian citizens for graduate study and research in the U.S. in the amount of $2,000 - $20,000. Preference will be given to those residing in Norway and planning to return to Norway to continue their academic/professional work.
White & Case Annual Business Law Scholarship
Scholarship for economically disadvantaged law students in France to study abroad.
World Wide Studies for Ukraine
World Wide Studies encourages Ukrainian youth to get Master’s degrees at the world’s best universities in the fields selected by the Foundation as top priority for further development of Ukraine.
Asia
The Bridgat scholarship
One award of $6,500 will be made to a student who is a citizen of an Asian country who is also a full-time graduate student currently enrolled at an accredited institution in the U.S. and holds a valid student ID card.
Other Funding Resources for International Students
Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP)