A Canadian law school experience for international law school grads.
Are you a law graduate from outside Canada in search of an in-person study opportunity? Are you eager to study at one of Canada’s top law schools? OsgoodePD and Osgoode’s JD program have teamed to offer a new option for NCA candidates who need to complete an in-person study component or are looking to have a Canadian law school experience while completing accreditation. Osgoode’s Certificate in Canadian Law Studies allows students to complete the equivalent of one year of full-time study (8 to 10 courses) in an eight-month period. Students in this option get access to:
- Eight upper year JD courses
- The option to take two courses from the Professional LLM
- Career and licensing support
- Extracurricular activities such as Osgoode student clubs and moots
Who should apply?
Graduates of distance education law degree programs who require a period of in-person study
Graduates of two-year law degree programs or those who don’t have pre-law school university education who need to do additional subjects for their NCA requirements
Law graduates looking for an Osgoode Law degree experience that allows them to take course of interest, prepare of licensing exams and engage in extracurricular activities and supports
Course Options
Upper Year JD Course Offerings Include:
- Administrative Law
- Business Associations
- Commercial Law
- Evidence
- Family Law
- Public International Law
- Real Estate Transactions
- Refugee Law
- Securities Regulation
- Taxation Law
- Trusts
- Wills & Estates
See a full list here: https://www.osgoode.yorku.ca/courses-and-seminars/
Keep in mind you will not have access to 1L courses through this offering.
Professional LLM Course Offerings Include:
Students who wish to take courses from the Professional LLM will receive 1:1 advising on course selection, to ensure that course selection is aligned with your strategy for completing your NCA requirements and future career goals. Options include:
- NCA Accredited courses that cover NCA mandatory and elective subjects
- 30+ specialized courses in other areas of law
Course Selection Process
When can I pick my courses? You’ll gain access to course selection mid-July. In the JD program, you will access to a wide range of upper year JD courses. Enrollment in upper year JD courses will be based on space available. Should you choose to take credits with OsgoodePD as well, you will have a 1:1 advising session re: course selection options to ensure that selections are well suited to your background and goals.
How will I know that I’m meeting my NCA requirements? Your formal NCA assessment governs your requirements, so it will be important to get your assessment as soon as you can. However, Osgoode is very familiar with National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) requirements and will help you to select courses likely to be acceptable to the NCA. We can also help you obtain pre-approval from the NCA for the courses you select.
If you are a UK law graduate requiring in-person study, you’ll likely need at least 30 credits of JD courses (4 or 5 courses per term in each of the Fall and Winter terms). You’ll also need to satisfy the NCA’s five compulsory subjects plus legal research & writing. Because most of these subjects (all of them except Canadian Administrative Law) are part of the first-year JD curriculum, you won’t be able to take courses in these subjects. However, Osgoode will provide you with support in writing NCA exams in these subjects so that you can complete all your NCA requirements in the 2024-25 year. Once the NCA approves your course selections, you’ll be able to register to write any required NCA challenge exams concurrently with your JD courses.
What will happen at the end of my studies at Osgoode? Once you have your final grades, you’ll simply send an official transcript to the NCA to show that you’ve completed your approved courses. If you have also written any applicable NCA exams during the year, you’ll be eligible to obtain your Certificate of Qualification and move on to the lawyer licensing process. Osgoode will provide you with resources during your studies for career development and licensing specifically relating to NCA candidates.
Your transcript will include all of your grades and courses, and will indicate that you were enrolled as a non-degree student. In addition to your transcript, you’ll receive a certificate of completion confirming that you completed the Certificate in Canadian Law Studies in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Attend an upcoming information session.
Program Start and Application Deadlines
Applications for Fall 2025 Open: May 30, 2025
Application Deadline for Fall 2025: July 2, 2025
Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Space allocation will be made based on having an acceptable academic record and otherwise based on order of applications.
Tuition and Fees
Students are registered as non-degree students. Students in this status won’t receive a degree or diploma, but will receive an official transcript showing their Osgoode courses and grades and a certificate of completion. Tuition is charged as follows:
Tuition for JD Courses
JD course tuition is charged in two installments (one in the Fall and one in the Winter term).
2024-2025 Tuition (Serves as an estimate – 2025-2026 fees will be confirmed in Summer 2025)
| Domestic (Ontario) | Domestic (Out of Province) | International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $26,056.16 | $27,296.26 | $43,170.50 |
Tuition for LLM Courses
Students who opt to take LLM courses will be charged on a per course basis (in addition to their JD course fees above) based on credit weight.
| Domestic | International | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 credits | $1,900.40 | $4,244.55 |
| 6 credits | $3,800.79 | $8,489.10 |
| 9 credits | $5,701.19 | $12,733.65 |
Students are also subject to supplementary/ancillary fees. Find out more about supplementary fees here.
Admission Requirements
Degree in law from outside of Canada
Required Application Documents: Copy of your final LLB/JD Transcript; Copy of your current CV; If your law degree was not taught in English a language test is also required – students must meet the language requirements for the LLM program.
Your NCA assessment is not required for the application but must be submitted if you are admitted to the program as soon as possible, but not later than September 30, 2024
How to Apply
Apply using these steps:
Step 1: Create Your OsgoodePD Applicant Profile
Create an applicant profile in our online application portal. This portal allows us to gather your information, transcripts, and other documents electronically. You will receive an email with directions outlining how to create a new password for your application, along with a link to access the application.
Indicate that your program of interest is Single Course Enrollment – Professional Development
Step 2: Login and Complete Your Application – Paying Special Attention to Page 4
In order for the system to prompt you for the right information ensure you complete Page 4 as follows:
Which term and type of courses are you interested in?
Single Course Enrollment – Professional Development – Fall 2025 Part Time
How many courses are you interested in?
1 Course
Course 1
NCA In-Person Study at Osgoode – OHLS 2025
Step 3: Pay Application Fee & Await Decision
Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Space allocation will be made based on having an acceptable academic record and otherwise based on order of applications.