Fordham-Ghana Summer Program

The Fordham-Ghana Summer Law Program is held in Accra, Ghana. Building on our long and successful history of partnership with Ghanaian legal institutions, this exciting program offers students the opportunity to study international and comparative law, while witnessing the path of democracy and development first hand in this regional center of international business and enterprise.

The Program is accredited by the American Bar Association and admits up to 30 students to earn up to six credits:

• Three credits over two weeks of classroom instruction; plus an additional three credits through our optional internship program. All participating students enroll in one of three 3-credit courses on offer, taught by distinguished members of the Fordham Law Faculty and other leading scholars.
• Participating students can also apply to be placed in 5-week internships with Ghanaian courts, as well as local law firms, non-profits, and government agencies, which begin immediately after the academic session.
• Internships may be taken for an additional 3 credits, for a maximum total of 6 credits earned over the summer.

Who Should Apply

While designed for American law students, the Program is also open to students and professionals from around the world, affording participants the unique opportunity to live and study with Ghanaian and other international students and practitioners in an exciting new environment. The Program also features field trips to Ghanaian law institutions, both formal and informal social events, and optional visits to historic and cultural attractions, to enable students to experience Ghanaian society and cultural life.

The program has enrolled over 200 students from over 30 law schools since its inception in 2009. The program also enrolls at least fifteen Ghanaian law students each year.

Application Due Date

Due date for submission is April 1, 2025.

The final due date to apply for both the academic session and optional internship program is April 1, 2025, after which participants will only be admitted if space is available; however, some classes and internship placements fill up early, so applicants with a strong preference are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Information for the Summer 2025 program will be posted in due course. In the meantime, please feel free to contact [email protected] if you are interested in applying.

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis and applicants may expect to receive a decision within 2 weeks of receipt of all application materials.

Academic Policy

This program is accredited by the American Bar Association. Fordham's academic rules and regulations will apply for awarding academic credit. Fordham uses an "A-F" grading system. Daily attendance and preparation for classes are required and may be taken into account in determining the course grade. The for-credit internship is pass/fail; however, taking academic session courses for pass/fail is not permissible. The for-credit internship is pass/fail; however, taking academic session courses for pass/fail is not permissible.

Students are permitted to enroll in a maximum of six credits (One 3-credit course + One 3-credit internship) during the program. Acceptance of any credit or grade for any course is subject to determination by the student's home institution. All classes and the for-credit internship qualify for three academic semester credit hours towards the JD or LLM degree at Fordham. Fordham Law Evening Division students who are planning to transfer to the full-time day division are eligible to participate, but must consult the Registrar regarding residency requirements.

Non-Fordham Law students should consult their law school's registrar to verify that the Fordham course and internship may be credited toward their degree. Students should also consult their registrar with respect to the ABA residency requirement. It is unlikely that participation in this program will accelerate graduation.

Summer grades are generally available by late-August; transcript requests are free of charge and should be addressed to the Fordham Law Office of the Registrar.

Cancellation Policy

The Ghana Summer Program reserves the right to alter or cancel its programs. Cancellation would occur in the event of under-enrollment by May 1, 2025, or unforeseen international events that could inhibit program operations or seriously affect participants' safety. In the unlikely event that the program is canceled, students will be notified immediately via telephone and email; the refunds of the otherwise non-refundable application fee and all other payments will be requested within 20 days of cancellation; and Fordham will use its best efforts to make alternative arrangements for any enrolled student to attend a similar program, if desired. If the program were to be modified substantially, students affected by the modifications would be entitled to a refund upon request.