Visiting International Scholars
Each year the Law School hosts a small group of non-compensated Visiting Scholars from around the world to spend a semester or an academic year with us. We welcome our visitors and make every effort to integrate them into our Law School and faculty, including seminars, lectures, and social events.
Visiting Scholars may use all University of Hawai‘i libraries, in addition to the Law Library, which can also provide computer access. Wireless internet access is available throughout the Law School and we recommend that visitors bring their own laptops for use here. Because of space limitations, the Law School cannot provide offices for Visiting Scholars, but individual carrels in the Law Library may be available.
Visiting Scholars are not allowed to audit classes, however, they may observe a class session with the permission of the instructor and Faculty Sponsor. Visitors wishing to receive formal credit for classes may be interested in one of the following programs:
Eligibility and Application Requirements
Visiting Scholars will ordinarily be law professors and scholars from law schools, research institutes or other academic institutions; we do not accept graduate or research students as Visiting Scholars. Special consideration will be given to visitors who can make a contribution to our Law School community through their research and other activities, or who will work with colleagues here. Prospective Visiting Scholars will be expected to arrange a Faculty Sponsor from the Law School before being accepted. Faculty Sponsors be full-time faculty members with a shared area of research interest and who are available to work with the Visiting Scholar for the duration on their visit.
For Visiting Scholars who require a Visa, the Law School will work in cooperation with Faculty Scholar Immigration Services (FSIS) to assist Visiting Scholars. Applications must be received far enough in advance to prepare and process the necessary paperwork. Required approvals and signed documentation must be submitted to FSIS no later than three months before the proposed arrival date. Preparation of documents beforehand could also take several months. If there is not sufficient time to process paperwork before the start date, it may be necessary to adjust the visit schedule.
Please consult the UH J-1 Exchange Visitors webpage for information and forms.
To apply, complete the online Visiting Scholar Application.
Expenses
Visiting Scholars are responsible for housing, food and medical insurance fees, as well as for travel and personal expenses. The Law School does not have funds to assist Visiting Scholars with their travel or living expenses, or staff to assist visitors to secure outside funding. Positions as lecturers or teaching assistants are not available to Visiting Scholars. The Law School is not currently able to provide housing for Visiting Scholars.
For Visa purposes, Visiting Scholars must be able to show that they can meet the minimum support requirements for themselves and their J-2 dependents:
- Visiting scholar: Minimum $3,000 per month
- Spouse: Additional $900 per month
- Child: Additional $700 per month per child
Please contact International Programs with any questions.