Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (UTDT) is a private non-profit institution founded in 1991 by the Di Tella Foundation and the Instituto Torcuato Di Tella.  The stated mission of the University is to educate new generations of academic, social, political and business leaders, and to enhance research and scholarship in the arts and sciences.  The University prides itself on its small classes and distinguished faculty. 

The University is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the most cosmopolitan and elegant metropolis in South America. Known for its bustling streets, grand avenues, and fashionable residences, it is a city where old-world Europe and Latin America come together seamlessly, and where visitors can enjoy the historic architecture, fine restaurants, world-class shopping, and unparalleled nightlife. Some of the many sight-seeing attractions Buenos Aires has to offer include: the Cementario de la Recoleta, where Eva Perón is buried; the Teatro Colón, a matchless venue for opera, concerts and ballet; and San Telmo, Buenos Aires’ chic neighborhood for antiques and tango.

The Universidad Torcuato Di Tella School of Law opened in 1996. Its chief objective is to provide a first-rate legal education in the hope of promoting the establishment of a reliable, just, and efficient legal system in Argentina. Since its inception, the School of Law has stressed the importance of changing the nature of legal studies in countries that, like Argentina, follow both the Civil Law system and the doctrinal approach to legal scholarship.        

The School of Law’s full-time faculty is comprised of scholars who publish their research work in international journals and publishing houses. It is complemented by a distinguished group of adjunct instructors, many of whom have made important contributions to legal doctrine in Argentina. In addition, renowned foreign scholars teach courses in both the undergraduate and the graduate programs. The School of Law also boasts several influential publications, including the Revista Argentina de Teoría Jurídica, a bilingual, electronic journal in legal theory edited by the law students. The Revista focuses on interdisciplinary legal research, particularly in the Spanish-speaking world.

Up to 4 Georgetown Law students will be approved to study at UTDT for the fall 2008 semester.  Although 14 credits is the maximum amount that students can transfer back to Georgetown Law, most full time students participating in this program have elected to take 12 credits.   

FALL 2008 ACADEMIC CALENDAR

July 14-August 1	Intensive Spanish Course for International Students
August 1	Orientation Meeting and Lunch for International Students Auditorium, 10:30-14:00 hs
August 4	Classes Begin
August 6	End of Registration Period
August 18	Holiday
September 15-26	Midterm Exam Period
September 21	Holiday
October 12	Holiday
November 21	Classes End
Nov. 24 - Dec. 12	Final Exam Period
December 8	Holiday

 

AVAILABLE COURSES

 

The School of Law offers three educational programs: the law degree program (Abogacía), and the LL.M. programs in Law and Economics (Maestría en Derecho y Economía) and Tax Law (Programa Internacional de Derecho Tributario). The law degree program is a full-time five-year course of study. It uses the case method and simulation techniques. It also features moot court competitions, intensive training in legal writing, and externship programs. Students visiting the university can take classes offered to fourth and fifth year students, including (but not limited to) Accounting and Financial Analysis, Seminars in Mediation and Arbitration, Bankruptcy, Macroeconomics, Intellectual Property, the Law of Financial Markets, Philosophy of Law, and International Law. The Masters in Law and Economics is a part-time, two-year program, aimed at lawyers and law-related graduates. It provides three areas of specialization: Business Law, Law and Finance, and Law and Public Policy. The Master in Tax Law focuses on the structure of transactions and also allows specialization in International Tax Law.  These courses tend to be short courses, meeting over the span of a month or less.

Fourth and fifth year courses in the undergraduate law degree program and courses offered in the Law and Economics LLM are open to Georgetown students.  Approved students will submit their initial course preferences by March 31; however, registration in individual courses will not be confirmed until students arrive at UTDT in July.  A list of courses offered in Fall 2008 is below. 

Fourth and Fifth Year Undergraduate Law Courses (Updated 2/11/08)

 

1st and 2nd Year LL.M. Courses (Updated 2/11/08)

 

HOUSING

 

The Universidad Torcuato Di Tella does not offer on-campus housing to its students. The International Programs Office at UTDT can assist in the housing search by offering a list of families who rent rooms to students (this provides a more intimate glimpse of Argentine life).  The UTDT Office of International Programs can also provide information on off-campus student dormitories.

 

SPANISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Students participating in this program are required to have a high level of Spanish proficiency.  The Office of International and Transnational Programs reserves the right to ask students to submit to language testing before issuing final approval for their participation.

 

APPLICATION TIME LINE

 

Deadline to submit the Georgetown Law Center Semester Abroad Application to the Office of International and Transnational Programs (OITP).	March 13
Deadline for OITP to notify applicants if their UTDT applications have been approved.	March 19
Deadline for approved students to submit the following to the Office of International and Transnational Programs (OITP): (Note: Do not send materials to UTDT directly) Application Form*  Course Preference Form*  Health Form* Photocopy of Passport (pages 1, 2, 3) Official University Transcript (including the most recent semester) Proof of Health Insurance (photocopy) Documentation of Spanish Language Proficiency (recommended) 2 Photographs (passport size) Statement of Purpose for participating in exchange program (in most cases, the statement of interest submitted with the Georgetown Semester Abroad application will suffice after being translated into Spanish) Acknowledgement of Risks and Release of Responsibility*  Exchange Student Checklist* * These forms are available on UTDT's web site for International Students	March 31
Deadline for UTDT to notify approved students if they have been admitted to the UTDT program.	April 22

After considering the material here and on the web sites, a student who is interested in participating in Georgetown’s Semester Abroad Program might seek the advice of Professor Joseph Page, UTDT Program Faculty Advisor.  His telephone number is 202-662-9091 and his e-mail is page@law.georgetown.edu.

 

Before students who are admitted to the program can submit the Course Preference Form mentioned above, they should consult with Professor Joseph Page.

Click Here to read reports from Fall 2007 students

Click here for additional information about UTDT including visa requirements.

Revised February 9, 2008 (CM)