Why study this programme?
You will have a lot of choice regarding the topics you would like to study, but for an optimised and worldwide recognised study programme there are suggested packages with a particular focus on competition, company or commercial law. You will study at a Dutch Law School that was rated number one in the Netherlands for student satisfaction.
The Faculty of Law in Nijmegen was the first in the Netherlands to start a European Law programme. It has built an international reputation in the field of European law, immigration law and private law and is part of a large network that includes more than fifty universities in Europe, the United States, Asia and Australia.
You will work together with the prestigious Business & Law Research Centre. This centre combines academic excellence with the practical expertise of major companies and law firms. The centre has been accredited by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).
You will be taught in a stimulating, collegiate setting with small groups by internationally recognised professors of law, all specialists in their specific fields.
The international mix of students gives the classes and project work a multicultural touch. This will give you the extra benefit of gaining multicultural communication skills as well as a multitude of cultural perspectives in this field. By the time you receive your Master's diploma, you’ll have gained excellent skills to work in the Netherlands or in any other country.
This programme is not just geared at students from European countries. All nations in the world trade with the European Union which has rules and regulations that have to be complied with. Law students from all over the world will therefore benefit from this Master’s specialisation.
Overview
The Master's programme in international and European Law at Radboud University is unique in that it not only provides a thorough understanding of international and European law in general, but also offers further specialisation. After completing the compulsory courses you can specialise in one of four tracks. With the diverse array of areas that you can secialise in, upon graduation you will become the legal expert that is well-prepared for the job market.
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Course details
The Master’s programme in International and European Law is an LL.M programme taught at the Faculty of Law at Radboud University. It has a course load of 60 EC* (one-year). All the courses are 7 EC and the Master’s thesis is 18 EC. You’ll be attending 6 courses in total.
Master's thesis
The Master's thesis consists of an individual research project, which allows you to investigate a topic of your choice under the close supervision of our expert staff.
* European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
The workload of an academic year is equivalent to 60 European credits (EC), where 1 EC point is 28 hours of study.
Entry requirements
A completed Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Law equivalent to the Dutch educational level.
For the specialisation European Law and Global Affairs: Students with a degree in Politics, Governance, International Relations, Liberal Arts or equivalent, with a substantial number of courses in Law, are also eligible for admission to this specialisation. These students should provide proof of their knowledge of the basic concepts of Law.
A proficiency in English:
In order to take part in this programme, you need to have an adequate knowledge of English. Non-native speakers of English** need to provide evidence of their proficiency by submitting one of the following tests: a TOEFL certificate with a minimum score of 90 overall (internet-based, with a minimum of 23 for writing) or 575 (paper-based). The institutional TOEFL code for Radboud University is 3387; or an IELTS with a minimum score of 6.5 overall (with a minimum score of 6.0 minimum for the components listening, reading and speaking and a 6.5 minimum for writing); or a Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) with grade C or higher or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with grade C or higher. Please be aware that the validity of the IELTS and TOEFL certificates is 2 years and the validity of the CAE/CPE 5 years.
Students from EU countries (including Dutch students) who have obtained an LL.B (bachelor's diploma in law) taught in another language than English can take the RATEr test at our language institute Radboud In'to Languages on 16 April, 5 June or 7 August 2020, location: Erasmusbuilding, Erasmusplein 1, room 00.28 in Nijmegen.
The Nijmegen Law Faculty will pay for the RATEr-test. Please refer to this website for more information and for making an appointment for the RATEr test.
We also accept TOEFL, IELTS, CAE and CPE certificates with the scores mentioned above. However, the Law Faculty will not reimburse the costs for these tests.
Motivation letter in English: please explain in your motivation letter why you would like to enrol in the Master’s specialisation of your choice within the International and European Law programme. Please note that the motivation letter is obliged and plays an important role in the admission decision.
Career outcomes
Master's specialisation in Business Law:
This Master’s specialisation is primarily designed for students who wish to pursue an international legal career in the area of corporate law. It offers a thorough and broad education in company law that includes competition law, commercial law, labour law and insolvency law. And because it’s part of the International and European Law programme at Radboud University, you’ll also gain a good understanding of the internal and external markets of the European Union and the position of Europe in the world.
Graduates of Business Law can expect a wide variety of employment prospects. The vast knowledge of EU businesses and the European decision-process makes that graduates of this specialisation are well equipped for a job in law, lobbying or consulting firms anywhere in the world. You could also work for financial institutions, multinationals and listed companies as well as for governmental institutions and NGOs. Graduates can also strive for one of the few law positions within the European Commission as this Master’s will definitely gain a sound basis needed to acquire the necessary professional competences. You could also work as a researcher.
Master's specialisation in European Law and Global Affairs:
Students who have successfully completed this specialisation will be able to pursue a variety of job opportunities at the national or the international level. They may for example find work as policy advisor, consultant or lobbyist in the public sector, governmental agencies or other non-governmental organisations, or continue their career in academia.
Master's specialisation in Human Rights and Migration:
Graduates of this specialisation are well-qualified to take up positions in law, lobbying or consulting firms anywhere in the world. As the name of the Master’s implies, your area of expertise will be in the legal field of human rights and migration, and specifically where it applies to citizens dealing with the European Union. You’ll also have a thorough, general understanding of the internal and external markets of the European Union and the position of Europe in the world.
Prospective employers interested in your expertise include NGOs, governmental organisations including the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, and international organisations such as the European Commission, the United Nations, international courts and tribunals, lobby organisations, councils for refugees and charity foundations. There are also a number of commercial businesses with a need for legal experts with knowledge of free movement of persons in the European Union.
Master's specialisation in International and European Law Advanced:
Besides in-depth knowledge of international and European law, you’ll also acquire the skills needed to conduct high-level legal research, or policy analysis in adjacent fields. In the field of law, linguistic skills are also extremely important. This intensive Master’s programme enables non-native speakers to improve their legal English, in order to successfully pursue a career in an international, often English-speaking, environment.
The specialisation offers you a broad perspective on European Union and international law, and is therefore most suited to students interested to take up positions in research, consultancy or diplomacy. At the same time, graduates are also well-qualified for work in the practise of law, counselling and advocacy. Prospective employers interested in your expertise include NGOs and international organisations such as the European Commission, the European Central Bank, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations, international courts and tribunals, lobby organisations, and charity foundations.
