The University of Neuchâtel’s Faculty of Law welcomes exchange students from other Swiss universities, or foreign universities (European or other) with which exchange programme agreements have been signed (more information). Students from foreign universities which have no agreement with the University of Neuchâtel can apply to the Faculty of Law’s Study Counsellor for a free exchange programme (conseil.droit@unine.ch).

Choice of courses

Exchange students at Neuchâtel can access all courses, themed seminars and moot courts at the Faculty of Law, at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels alike. The Faculty reserves the right to deny admission to these classes, or place specific requirements on an exchange student, as stipulated by the exchange programme or by a study contract ratified by the student’s home university. Exchange students can choose their courses freely, within the limits set by their home universities. The list of courses and course descriptions can be viewed here:

• Bachelor’s and Master's degrees study programmes
• Moot courts
• Themed seminars
• Timetables

Among the courses included in the Master of Law programme, students can choose a number of courses taught in English, such as: Comparative and European Private Law, Competition Law and Policy, European Intellectual Property Law, European Law Moot Court Competition (ELMC), Internal Market Law of the EU, International and European Taxation, International Arbitration, International Commercial Mediation Competition, International Financial Reporting Standards, Lawyering Skills and Legal Writing, Legal Aspects of Swiss Company Law in an Innovative Perspective, External Relations of the EU, Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, and WTO Law.

During the first two weeks of the semester, students must enrol in their chosen courses on the Academia platform, using the username and password given to them at the beginning of the semester. The course materials, Powerpoint slides and other information specific to each course are available via the Moodle platform.

To complete their study programmes, exchange students can also follow a law course at the Universities of Bern or Fribourg (BeNeFri agreement), or Lausanne or Geneva (Triangle Azur). The exchange programmes at Lausanne and Geneva are only possible where the subjects are not taught at Neuchâtel. For more information on the application criteria and deadlines, see the related information on the BeNeFri and Triangle Azur pages. Students must ensure in advance that there is an agreement between the UniNE and their home university.

It is also possible to take language courses at the University of Neuchâtel, in French, English and German. Exchange students must adhere to the enrolment deadlines for these courses. It is up to each home university to decide whether the ECTS credits awarded to exchange students for these language courses are recognized. In addition to the aforementioned language courses taught during the semester, exchange students who do not speak French may take an intensive French language course, organized by the Exchange Programmes Office, in the week immediately prior to the semester (more information).

Exams

The Faculty of Law organizes three exam sessions per year: the first session (the end of January to mid-February); the second session (June); and the third session (the end of August to mid-September). Exam enrolment must be done online, via Academia, strictly following the relevant deadlines. Carefull : Prior enrolment in courses within the set deadline is compulsory to be able to enrol for exams.

For exchange students who follow a course at the Universities of Bern or Fribourg (BeNeFri agreement) or Lausanne or Geneva (Triangle Azur), the deadlines and methods of enrolment are established by these universities.

Exchange students follow the same exam enrolment procedures, and sit the same exams as regular Faculty of Law students at the University of Neuchâtel. Some exceptions are admissible:

• Where exams have been failed, exchange students who have reached the end of their study period and must return to their home university can retake the relevant exam(s) immediately, if they so desire, and if the teaching professor agrees.
• Where exchange students must leave the UniNE before the end of an exam session — in particular, if courses at their home university start before the session end — they must notify the Professor and the Study Counsellor. In these cases, exams may be taken in advance, if the teaching professor agrees.

Process of enrolment and practical information (accommodation, social insurance and budgets)

Students wishing to take part in an exchange programme at the University of Neuchâtel’s Faculty of Law must apply using the forms provided by their home universities, according to the requirements of the relevant exchange programme. Once the application has been accepted by their home university and the University of Neuchâtel’s Faculty of Law, students will receive the necessary forms and information from the Exchange Programmes Office:

• Study Exchange Office website 

On arriving at the University of Neuchâtel, exchange students are invited to attend induction events organized by the Exchange Programmes Office, at which they will receive their UniNE student cards, as well as the information allowing them to access the University’s electronic resources (email, the Academia platform for enrolling in courses and exams, and the Moodle platform for course materials). Students must consult the Faculty of Law website on a daily basis, where the Faculty Secretariat will post any cancellations, rescheduled classes, room changes and so forth. They must also check their @unine.ch email as regularly as possible, where they will receive all official communication from the UniNE.