Tuition, Expenses and Visa Information

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Tuition and Fees

For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition and fees are estimated $62,892.* All students must have valid health insurance and are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at an additional annual cost of $7,446*. 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.

Scholarships

UC Davis Law has a limited number of scholarships available to highly qualified LL.M. students. All applicants are considered for scholarship funding; there is no separate application process for scholarships. Students will be notified about any scholarship 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 scholarship 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

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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: $62,892*

ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES:

Health Insurance (if applicable): $7,446*

Books and Supplies: $2,036*

LIVING EXPENSES:

Housing, food, incidentals, personal, transportation: approximately $23,329*

*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

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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.

Additional Scholarship 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.

For Students from Specific Regions Or Countries

  • 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 – Mexico

    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.

    CONICYT – Chile

    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.

    Colfuturo – Colombia

    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.  

    Fundacao Estudar – Brazil

    This program offers young students scholarships to support them in studies in undergraduate, graduate exchange, graduate and executive education.

    Instituto Ling - Brazil

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

    Fundación Rafael del Pino

    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.

    NORAM Scholarships  

    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.

  • Developing 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: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda.. Applications for the next cycle, 2025-2026, will open in early January 2025.

For Women 

  • 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.
  • The American Association of University Women
  • The American Association of University Women offers fellowships for non-American women who want to earn a Master's or doctorate in the USA. Priority is given to women who can demonstrate commitment to the advancement of women and girls, and the scholarship may be reapplied every year of the program.
  • Margaret McNamara Education Grant
  • The US-Canada Program accepts applications from September 15 to January 15. Click here to meet our 2024 grantees and apply here during the application period.

Other Funding Resources for International Students

  • Arthur C. Helton Fellowship Program
  • Arthur C. 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. Due date is January 17, 2025.
  • Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
  • The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund provides financial support for students who are active and emerging organizers in progressive movements for liberation, self-determination and social and economic justice in their communities. These need-based scholarships are awarded to students who are enrolled at a college or university or in a trade or technical program.
  • 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. 
  • Ford Foundation Global Fellowships Program
  • The Ford Foundation Global Fellowship is a program that identifies and connects emerging leaders from across the globe who are advancing innovative ideas and solutions to combat inequality—and gives them the support to work better, faster, and deeper. The Ford Foundation Global Fellowship seeks a diverse array of committed leaders who have demonstrated meaningful impact, but whose full potential has yet to be fully realized because of a lack of resources or access to a global network. They are particularly interested in people who are examining and addressing the root causes of inequality. Candidates should be ethical individuals, lead with visible integrity, and be profoundly curious to expand their perspectives beyond their current sphere of concern. Fellows for the upcoming cohort will be selected from: United States; Brazil; Andean Region; Mexico and Central America; India, Sri Lanka and Nepal;  Eastern Africa; West Africa; Southern Africa; Middle East and North Africa; Indonesia; and China.
  • Rotary Grants 
  • Rotary members contribute their skills, expertise, and resources to help solve some of the world’s toughest problems. From providing clean water to promoting peace worldwide, Rotary Foundation grants bring service project ideas to life.
  • World Bank Scholarships Program 
  • The World Bank’s Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) provides scholarships to students and young researchers, contributing to the World Bank’s mission of forging new dynamic approaches to capacity development and knowledge sharing in the developing world.

Private Loans

About

Private loans offer a solution for students who need additional financial assistance beyond what scholarships or personal savings can provide. This page is designed to help you understand the options available, so you can make an informed decision that suits your needs. 

The lender list provided here is intended as a starting point for your research. The choice of a private education lender is ultimately yours, and it is crucial to carefully and thoroughly evaluate each option.

PLEASE NOTE: The University cannot act as a co-signer or sponsor for international students. UC Davis does not prefer, recommend, promote, endorse, or suggest any of these lenders on the list. Please be aware that loan programs are subject to change at any time.

Terminology

Before diving into the loan options, it's important to understand some key terms:

  • Cosigner: A cosigner is someone, often a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, who agrees to take on the responsibility of repaying the loan if you are unable to do so. Having a cosigner can sometimes help you secure a loan with more favorable terms.
  • No Cosigner Loan: These are loans that do not require a cosigner. They are typically harder to obtain and may come with higher interest rates or more stringent repayment terms.
  • Interest Rate: The percentage of the loan that you pay in addition to the borrowed amount. It can be fixed or variable.
  • Repayment Terms: The conditions under which you agree to repay the loan, including the time frame and monthly payment amounts.

Considerations before applying

Before applying for a private loan, it is important to ensure that you have reviewed all your federal loan options and eligibility. Please note that application fees, if charged by a lender, are not refundable. Please plan accordingly. Loan processing times could take 3-4 weeks, or longer.

Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a Lender:

  1. When will I enter repayment, and are interest-only payments required while I'm still enrolled?
  2. How often is interest capitalized? (Frequent capitalization increases the total loan amount, as interest is charged on a higher principal.)
  3. How will the interest and fees (rate formula) change once repayment begins?
  4. What will my monthly payment be based on the loan amount when I enter repayment?
  5. Does the lender offer any borrower benefits? (e.g., interest rate reductions with automatic payments, principal reduction after a certain number of on-time payments)

Fixed vs Variable Rates

Why Choose Variable Rates?

If you prefer a lower initial interest rate and are comfortable with fluctuating monthly payments over time, a variable rate loan might be a good option for you.

Why Choose Fixed Rates?

If you value stability and want your interest rate and monthly payments to remain consistent over time, a fixed rate loan is likely the better choice.

Loans

We’ve gathered a list of lenders that offer private loans for international students. Each lender has different features, so it’s important to review them carefully to find the best match for your financial needs. Please note that most lenders require you to be residing in the United States at the time of disbursement. Additionally, some lenders may require an I-20 for the application process, which could limit availability for new students. Be sure to check with individual lenders regarding their specific policies. The loan programs and lenders listed here are meant to assist you in your research, but you are not restricted to these options.

Cosigner Loans