Students-CIDE

General information

CIDE (Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas) is one of Mexico’s most important centers of higher education and research in the social sciences.  CIDE is fully committed to contributing to the development of Mexico through its demanding academic programs, rigorous and relevant research projects, as well as groundbreaking educational initiatives, which include our Public Interest Litigation Clinic and Center of Mediation and Conflict Resolution.

CIDE’s BA in Law (please note that, in Mexico, law is studied at the undergraduate BA level) is a one-of-a-kind academic program based on teaching through the analysis of judicial cases and problems. It is the only program in Mexico to have received the international prize Problem Solving in the Law School (CPR 2004, New York). The program features an interdisciplinary vision and emphasizes the development of abilities for critical argumentation and the use of quantitative and qualitative methods as analytic tools for juridical phenomena. The faculty is comprised of full time professor-researchers and professors who perform their activities in the public and private sectors, which guarantees an excellent balance between theory and practice. The students are professionally trained through classes, exercises, homework, research projects, professional practice, and continuous participation in workshops, seminars, and conferences. 

For more general information about the CIDE campus, click here.

The exchange program

More information is available here on CIDE exchange requirements.

Our exchange program for students in Law includes the opportunity to take courses at CIDE in either Fall or Spring semesters.  CIDE also permits exchange students to study at CIDE for one academic year (two semesters).

Exchange students can engage in research relevant to their academic interests, after obtaining the approval of a CIDE faculty member who will supervise the research agenda a student wishes to pursue. They can also join the Public Interest Litigation Clinic and Center of Mediation and Conflict Resolution, as a means to acquire first-hand experience on the practice of the legal profession in Mexico.

Academic calendar

Our semesters are comprised of 16 weeks of classes and 2 weeks of final exams. Spring semester runs through early February to mid-June, with a one week break in March or April (the week before Easter). Fall semester runes through mid-August to mid-December.

Language of instruction

All our courses are taught in Spanish.  In order to be admitted, foreign students, whose native language is not Spanish, mush at least have a level of proficiency equivalent to B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference. 

It should be noted that some academic materials used in our courses -such as books, academic papers and journals, are in English.

Eligible courses

Exchange students are eligible to enroll in all of the courses in our program in Law.

It is also possible to take courses from other programs at CIDE, but this must be approved by the Office of the BA in Law.  Students considering this option will be asked to submit their academic reasons for taking a course outside the Law program.

Academic requirements for admission to the exchange program

Postgraduate students must have completed one year of postgraduate studies; undergraduate students must have completed two years of undergraduate studies.

Standard course loads

Most of our courses involve 3 hours of class per week, usually divided into two 90-minute sessions that meet twice per the week. Exceptionally, some courses are taught in a single weekly session.  Occasionally, courses involve 4 hours of class per week, or require one to two hours per week of laboratory for practice of the theoretical skills developed in class.

CIDE Law students are expected to take five or six courses per semester. Exchange students are expected to take four to five courses per semester, depending on the sending university’s requirements.  However, they can register for more courses at the beginning of the term and make a final selection of their four or five courses after one week of classes.

Course enrollment and registration

Students will pre-register after their application has been accepted and confirmed by the Office of International Academic Affairs at CIDE.  During the first week of classes, the students will be able to add or drop courses according to their interest. Registration will be considered definitive after one week of classes, subject to the approval of the number of courses taken, as explained above.

Grading system

In all of our courses, the student will receive a partial grade that will be announced by the mid-point of the academic semester. The final grade is assigned after final exams are taken and/or papers are submitted during the final exams period (two weeks after the last day of classes). The final grade is the exclusive responsibility of the professor(s) teaching the course. Grades are not assigned on a curve.  CIDE’s grading system is 0-10, with a minimum passing grade of 6.0. 

The application procedure

• To apply, prospective exchange students must submit the following documents:
• Application form (available here)
• Letter of recommendation, written and signed or sealed by the International Exchange, International Affairs, or equivalent office at the sending university
• Official report of Spanish language level (for non-native speakers)
• Copy or electronic scan of the applicant’s passport
• 2 passport size photographs

Once these documents are received by CIDE’s Office of International Academic Affairs, prospective exchange students must complete the immigration procedures required by the Government of Mexico (see Section n below).

Application deadlines

Fall semester applicants must send their application forms by May 15.
Spring semester applicants must send their application forms by October 15.

Fees

Incoming exchange students will pay their normal tuition fees at their institution of origin, and will be exempt from any tuition fees at CIDE.

Program contacts/advisors at CIDE

Sergio Martínez
Student Exchange Coordinator
Phone: +52-55-57279800  2805
Email: andres.sanchez@cide.edu

Miriam Acosta
Director of the Office of International Academic Affairs
Phone: +52-55-57279800  2421
Email: miriam.acosta@cide.edu

Mailing Address: