Comillas University

image of Comillas

Marquette University Law School currently participates in an exchange program with the Universidad Pontificia Comillas (Madrid). In an exchange program, Marquette law students pay tuition and fees to Marquette University on the same basis that they would pay for a regular semester at Marquette, but students are enrolled in and attend classes at the foreign law school.

Founded in 1904, the Universidad Pontificia Comillas is located in Madrid, the political and cultural heart of Spain. It is regarded as one of the best universities in Europe and has a rich tradition in subjects related to the humanities and business. The University has an international reputation and attracts exchange students from Europe and the rest of the world. More information about the Universidad Pontificia Comillas is available here.

Law students selected to participate in the exchange program will enroll in classes at the foreign law school according to procedures established by the foreign law school. In addition, students must enroll at the same time in parallel Law School courses titled “Law XXX Study Abroad – Comillas University.” Only the Marquette Law School courses will appear on the student's transcript.

Students must receive prior approval for their exchange courses from the Law School Director of Study Abroad Programs. All credits awarded will receive a grade of Satisfactory, unless the student fails to achieve a grade of C in any class, in which case the student's transcript will show that the student earned no credits for the course with a grade of Unsatisfactory. Students will be awarded credit hours for classes taken in exchange programs depending on the number of hours of classroom instruction for each class.

Comillas University offers a wide selection of law courses treating international and European Union law that are taught in the English language. Additional law courses are taught in Spanish. Marquette Law School students participating in an exchange at Comillas University may choose to take all English language courses or to take a mix of English and Spanish language courses. It is recommended that law students participating in the exchange register solely for English language law courses unless they speak Spanish fluently.

A “fact sheet” with additional information about the semester exchange program with the Universidad Pontificia Comillas is available here.

Madrid is a large city, and it is recommended that exchange students have at least basic proficiency in the Spanish language in order to live and study in Spain for a semester. Comillas University typically requires all exchange students to take a tuition-free course in Spanish language instruction while they are enrolled in law classes. Law School credit is NOT awarded for the Spanish language instruction course.

The number of Marquette Law students permitted to participate in a semester exchange at Comillas University is limited to a maximum of two each academic semester, and there may be certain semesters when no exchange positions are available at all.

Comillas University is currently offering a mix of online and in-person classes for law students. The University has posted an online presentation regarding the measures taken to protect the health and safety of its students during the coronavirus pandemic.

Application Deadlines:

September 15 for exchange visits during the following spring semester

April 1 for exchange visits during the following fall semester

For further information about the semester exchange program with the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, contact Professor Ed Fallone, Director of Study Abroad Programs, at edward.fallone@marquette.edu.

IMPORTANT: The application process begins with approval from Prof. Ed Fallone, the Law School’s Director of Study Abroad programs. If you would like to apply for a semester exchange at the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, contact Prof. Fallone before the deadline date. Do not contact Comillas University directly.

Return to the Study Abroad Overview