Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants must submit a brief personal statement (1-2 pages) that provides a clear and well-organized rationale for pursuing an LL.M. degree and specifically why the applicant has chosen to do so at Penn State Dickinson Law. This rationale should succinctly explain the applicant’s career plans and the relevance of an LL.M. degree in realization of those plans. Consider the personal statement akin to an interview with the law school. Make a strong first impression.

Yes. For any number of reasons, LL.M. students may need to defer admission. In such cases, a student may submit a formal request, explaining the reasons for the deferral, to defer admission to the next admission cycle. Only those students who have submitted a one-time, non-refundable seat deposit will be approved. The seat deposit will be forfeited if a deferral request is not approved. (S.J.D. applications may not be deferred.)

To be considered for admission, applicants must have completed, or be in the process of completing, a first professional degree in law (such as a bachelor's in law outside of the U.S.), or have practiced law in a jurisdiction outside of the United States. A first degree in law is the initial academic qualification required to practice law in most countries. A U.S. J.D. also meets this requirement.

The LL.M. program at Penn State Dickinson Law is highly selective. The LL.M. cohort at the Carlisle location is kept intentionally small with roughly 10-25 students enrolled each academic year. The University Park location typically enrolls 100-175 students each year.

LL.M. students attending another ABA-accredited law school may apply to complete the second or final semester of their LL.M. education at Penn State Dickinson Law. To earn an LL.M. degree, a transfer student must complete at least one semester at Penn State Dickinson Law as a full-time student, earning at least 16 credits of the required 24 credits. As part of the transfer admission process, the Penn State Dickinson Law admissions team will evaluate transferable credits. A minimum grade of B is required for all credits approved for transfer to Penn State Dickinson Law. Any credits earned at another law school are recorded on the student academic transcript by reference only, and no attempt is made to convert grades to Penn State Dickinson Law equivalents. Students who transfer into the LL.M. program are not eligible to apply for transfer into Penn State Dickinson Law’s J.D. program.

For a breakdown of costs, including tuition, fees, books, and living allowances, visit Cost of Attendance. To reduce living expenses, most students establish a personal budget, opt to live with a roommate, shop at discount food stores, walk or bike to school, bring their meals, and more. Penn State offers student discounts on software, computers, clothes, and much more.

Yes. Penn State Dickinson Law is committed to providing every student access to a world-class education. All LL.M. applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships at the time of admission.

Tuition billing begins in August for fall semester and January for spring semester. Click here for more information on tuition due dates. An e-mail notification will be sent to via official Penn State e-mail when the Statement is available to view and/or pay on LionPATH. Click here for more information on paying tuition and payment options. Scholarships awarded through Penn State Dickinson Law will be reflected on one’s student account. For more information on financial aid, please see here.

All admitted students should be sufficiently prepared for study in English at Penn State Dickinson Law. However, international students enrolled in the LL.M., M.L.S., or S.J.D. programs for whom English is not their first language may request additional time on timed, in-person assessments and the use of a hard-copy English language and/or translation dictionaries.

Candidates for the LL.M. degree may seek admission to the J.D. program in two ways: 1) by completing the LL.M. program, taking an LSAT or GRE, and applying to enter the J.D. program as a first year law student; or 2) by applying for special LL.M. admission to the J.D. program. This path is extremely competitive and applicants should have a minimum LL.M. GPA of 3.5. More info can be found in the student handbook.

Yes. The LL.M. program requires a minimum of 24 credits. It can be completed in one academic year as a full-time student or, with permission, in up to four semesters as a part-time student. Part-time students may not be eligible for loans or other external funding. International students may not pursue part-time study in order to remain in compliance with immigration requirements.

LL.M. students receive letter grades for their classes. They are not graded with the J.D. students on a curve. The GPA is recorded on the student transcript, but students will not be ranked. LL.M. students should consult the LL.M. Student Handbook, Supplemental for academic policies and protocols specific to grading.

LL.M. students are not permitted to take required classes on a pass/fail basis. However, they may opt to take non-required courses on a pass/fail basis, provided they obtain approval from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and adhere to the same credit limits as J.D. students. In such cases, students should review bar exam eligibility requirements for these courses.

Penn State Dickinson Law offers a flexible LL.M. degree program designed to give students a high-level understanding of the U.S. legal system. Students must earn a minimum of 24 credits and complete a limited number of required courses. LL.M. students may enroll in a variety of courses that allow concentration in specific areas of law. Students must successfully complete 9 total credits of required and elective coursework to satisfy any specific concentration requirement. Students may earn multiple concentrations. Concentration offerings vary by school location.

The American Bar Association (ABA) defines one credit hour as one hour of classroom instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work. The LL.M. program requires a minimum of 24 credits. If enrolled in 12 credits a semester, one should expect to spend approximately 12 hours a week in class and 24 hours a week studying outside of the classroom.

Yes. LL.M. students enroll in the same classes as J.D. students. Other than the three LL.M. specific required courses, LL.M. students generally take classes alongside J.D. students.

Yes. Penn State Dickinson Law welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Students with temporary or permanent medical conditions or physical, cognitive, or psychological disabilities may be able to receive accommodations to eliminate barriers to their success. Accommodated students do not receive an advantage over others; rather, accommodations allow such students to not be at a disadvantage relative to other students as a result of conditions beyond their control. Please see Disability Accommodations Process.

Yes. LL.M. students may opt to stay for a third semester of legal study with the intent of completing an experiential learning program or preparing for a U.S. bar exam. International LL.M. students may have immigration restrictions. Scholarship support is subject to availability and is not guaranteed.

In Carlisle, the school is only a 10-minute walk away from downtown, and most law students live within a walking distance of the school. However, there is no major public transportation available in Carlisle. As such, some students have purchased cars and others have used bikes and rideshare options like Uber and Lyft. The Amtrak train connects Harrisburg to cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. One can get to Harrisburg from Carlisle via taxi or rideshare options like Uber and Lyft.

In State College, CataBus is the exclusive local bus service. For information about bus routes, schedules, or bus passes, see CataBus. LL.M. students may be eligible to apply for a RIDEpass. See the Eligibility Requirements and Registration Instructions. On site Shuttle Service provides free and convenient transportation across University Park for faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

Yes. At Penn State Dickinson Law, there are also many student organizations that allow students to become involved. Student organizations make it easier to meet classmates and learn about areas of the law or other interests. There is no limitation on how many student organizations a student can join.

The Student Bar Association (SBA) is Penn State Dickinson Law's student government organization. Composed of all law students, the SBA is led by an executive board elected by the student body. The SBA oversees and allocates funding for student organizations and events, and it is the formal liaison between students, faculty, and administration.

Yes. Incoming LL.M. students are responsible for securing their own housing, and Penn State Dickinson Law has resources to assist.

Carlisle offers plenty of off-campus housing within walking distance of Penn State Dickinson Law. Visit our Housing webpage to learn more and also see the Housing Guide for Fall 2025.

University Park has both on and off campus options. Incoming students may apply for on-campus housing at the White Course Apartments, an on-site community of the University offering apartments for single students and students with families. Penn State University maintains local housing information on its website. Visit the University’s Off Site Housing site for more information. Visit our Housing webpage to learn more and also see the Housing Guide for Fall 2025.

Once enrolled, international students will receive notice from iStart, Penn State’s immigration management system for international student and scholar advising. Each student will receive an email message from Pre-Arrival Admissions that will explain what is needed regarding immigration compliance. Once the student has submitted the necessary documentation into iStart, an I-20 (assuming an F-visa type) will be sent within 2-4 weeks. The I-20 is a “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status” that allows a student to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Students on other visa types, including J-1 visas, will require different paperwork but the visa process itself is generally the same.

International students are supported by the Office of International Students and Scholars at Penn State Global for all immigration matters.

Yes. Health insurance is mandatory for all international students. Each international student will be automatically enrolled in the Penn State Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). To waive out of this requirement, one must submit a waiver request at the start of the semester documenting proof of insurance coverage that meets Penn State’s insurance requirements. SHIP does not cover visual or dental insurance. Direct questions to the Student Health Insurance Office at UHS-insurance@psu.edu.

Penn State policy requires full time, degree-seeking students to provide documentation of immunization against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR). Students living in University-owned housing are required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to either be immunized against meningococcal disease or to complete a waiver of exemption. Students may complete the immunization documentation on the University Health Services Immunization Requirements web page.

Upon receiving an I-20, students may apply for a student visa within 12 months of their intended arrival. Entry to the U.S. is permissible only within 30 days before the program start date specified on the I-20 or DS-2019 form.

Yes. Only spouses and children (under 21) may come as dependents of the F-1 or J-1 visa holder. Health insurance is mandatory for accompanying dependents. For more information, please see: https://global.psu.edu/category/dependents-spouse-children.