European Law is a one-year Master’s specialisation at the internationally renowned Leiden Law School at Leiden University. The programme distinguishes itself by its multidisciplinary approach, covering substantive and institutional EU law as well as economic law and human rights within a EU perspective.
European law is an exciting and rapidly developing discipline. There are few areas of national law and policy within Europe that remain untouched by the influence of European legislation. The scope of EU law, however is even wider, as Europe is becoming an increasingly important actor on the international stage.
In this programme, you will focus on the various aspects of European Law, as well as the European protection of human rights. You will study topics ranging from EU competition law to EU external relations law, from European social policy to internal market regulations and EU institutional law. You will gain in-depth knowledge about these aspects, while at the same time developing the professional skills needed in a EU-related legal career.
Our aim in this programme is to provide you with in-depth academic knowledge, and to equip you with the professional skills needed in a EU-related legal career. For this purpose, teaching is done in small, seminar-style classes, with ample attention for practical skills in special `privatissimum’ and `practicum’ classes. Our programme attracts students from within and outside of the EU, which makes for a truly international atmosphere.
The European Law Master’s specialisation is founded on the Europa Institute’s research, ‘Securing the Rule of Law in a World of Multi-level Jurisdiction’. This has three components (‘Trias Europea’): the institutional structure of the Union, the protection of fundamental rights in an integrated Europe, and the regulation of economic relations. These three topics are included in every component of this programme, addressing the question as to how the rule of law (i.e. democracy, protection of human rights, adequate legal remedies) can be maintained while the law is developed at several levels.
You will study the institutional structure of the Union (looking at the present Treaty structure as well as at proposed reforms in the Treaty of Lisbon) and the manner in which compliance with the fundamental rights within the legal order of the Union is ensured. In addition, you will learn about the position of the European Union in the world, the relation between EU law and national law, and the way in which trade and commerce is regulated by the EU.
The European Law Master’s programme offered by Europa Institute at Leiden will provide you with the skills necessary for a successful legal career in the private or public sector. Our alumni have found employment in:
• European institutions, such as the Council of Europe;
• international organisations, such as the United Nations, the OECD and the OCSE;
• national and local government;
• governmental and non-governmental organisations, such as UNHCR, IOM, Amnesty International and Greenpeace
• corporate companies;
• major law firms in Amsterdam, London, Brussels and Luxembourg;
• academia.
Which laws govern the commercial use of outer space? Are States responsible for mitigating space debris? Who is liable for accidents that happen onboard an the aircraft? Learn how to deal with questions like these from both an international and a European perspective.
This LL.M. programme combines public air law, private air law and space law. It has a clearly defined European and international dimension, making it unique in the world. In this intensive one-year master’s programme, you will gain a solid legal foundation in this exciting field, learning from some of the foremost experts in academia and legal practice.
You will learn how to address a wide variety of issues that affect society, such as:
As a student of Advanced Studies in Air and Space Law, you will benefit from:
Are you fascinated by the myriad legal issues involved with aviation and aerospace activities? This programme will help you gain a thorough understanding of the international and European dimensions of this complex, cutting-edge field.
This programme is a good fit for you if you are a law graduate wishing to pursue a challenging master’s study or a legal practitioner wishing to specialise in air and space law who is currently working at for example a(n):
The European Union is one of the most influential international organizations in the world. But how does it impact on governance, enterprise and innovation within a global economy, in the area of business law? And how does EU law interact with that of other international organisations?
As the EU passes a growing number of economic regulations, these mandates increasingly interact with global trade regulations and with those of its Member States. Businesses that operate internationally are faced with various layers of jurisdiction that sometimes have an unclear hierarchy. In this programme, you will learn how to decipher the complex hierarchy of European and international business law.
You will learn to:
As a student of the advanced master’s European and International Business Law, you will benefit from:
1. Excellent reputation: This programme has more than two decades of history and is offered through Leiden Law School’s Europa Institute. The teaching is grounded in the Law School’s distinguished research programme ‘The progression of EU law: accommodating change and upholding values.’
2. Expert instructors: Courses are taught by expert staff with an international reputation as well as by guest lecturers who hold senior positions with legal firms, international courts or business organisations.
3. Moot court skills: You will have the possibility of participating in the European Law Moot Court (ELMC), the most renowned competition in the field of EU law. If you advance to the oral round of the ELMC competition, you will receive training in research, analysis, legal writing and pleading in a simulation of an EU law case. If interested, you may have the opportunity to present at the ELSA Moot Court, which relates to the field of WTO law.
More reasons to study European and International Business Law at Leiden University.
Are you interested in learning how to navigate conflicts between international trade law and European laws as they reflect on global businesses? This programme will provide you with all the tools to strengthen your keen commercial and business sense.
You should have a law degree or a sufficient background in law to qualify for admission.
You can either complete this programme in one year as a full-time student or in two years as a part-time student.
When human rights are violated by a particular state, is it more effective to use the national, regional or international human rights protection mechanisms to address the issue? And what mechanism will probably be most effective in addressing specific types of human rights violations?
Human rights are at risk in all societies. Though various national, regional and international laws and treaties have been developed to protect the human rights of all people, some laws are more effective than others in particular situations. In this programme, you will compare the functionality of different protection mechanisms that are currently in place. You will also learn how to apply them successfully in different political, social and cultural settings.
As a student of the European and International Human Rights Law Advanced Studies programme, you will benefit from:
Would you like to actively work to protect the rights of people across the globe? Are you interested in applying your knowledge of human rights law to real-world political, social and legal settings? Then this is the programme for you. You should also have a sufficient background in law.
The Advanced Studies in European Tax Law is a small-scale programme. It will provide you with a strong foundation in EU tax law and the option to specialise in direct taxation, indirect taxation or state aid law.
In the master’s programme in European Tax Law, you will develop a firm grasp of key European case law and fundamental legal concepts. You will also become familiar with prominent scholars in the field of European tax law. At the same time, you will acquire the skills needed to translate EU tax law into practice in a commercial, public sector or judicial setting.
As a student of the European Tax Law programme, you will benefit from:
What are the rights of the child when it comes to forced marriages or protection against violence or exploitation? Which rights do refugee children have in their host communities? And how can children’s rights be legally enforced in various countries across the globe?
Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights provides in-depth specialisation and teaches you to respond to the increasing international, regional and national legal developments in relation to children. During the programme, you will address highly topical and global issues related to children and their human rights. You will also take a theoretical, legal and practical approach to exploring various fields, including:
During this programme, you will learn to:
More reasons to study International Children’s Rights at Leiden.
Are you interested in learning how to promote and protect the rights of children around the world? This programme will provide the specialist knowledge and professional skills you need to effectively protect the rights of children worldwide.
To be a good fit for this programme, one of the following should apply:
What effects have globalisation had on international trade? What are the essential elements of international business contracts? When there is a dispute concerning a cross-border business transaction, which country's or region's laws apply and which court has jurisdiction? Learn how to deal with questions like these from both an international comparative perspective.
Globalisation and increasing international trade have led to the rapid internationalisation of civil and commercial law, thus forming a complex and multi-layered discipline. Leiden University’s International Civil and Commercial Law programme deals with different levels of international, EU and national laws as they coexist and interact with one another. This programme will equip you with the skills necessary to fully understand and apply such intertwined layers to domain-specific legal issues.
As a student of the advanced master’s European and International Business Law, you will benefit from:
More reasons to study of International Civil and Commercial Law at Leiden University.
Are you interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of the intertwined layers of international, EU, UN and national laws which make up the complex area of international civil and commercial law? Then this could be the programme for you.
This programme is a good fit if you are a law graduate wishing to pursue a challenging master’s study or a legal practitioner wishing to specialise in various private and commercial law aspects of cross-border trading, contracting and competing.
You can either complete this programme in one year as a full-time student or in two years as a part-time student.
The Advanced Studies programme in International Tax Law will provide you with the knowledge and skills to navigate the many interrelated areas of international tax law in a constantly changing field.
The programme offers insights into the main topics of international taxation. Some of the many subjects that are covered in the programme include:
The curriculum is constantly being updated in light of relevant developments in the field, such as the OECD BEPS project and the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive.
As a student of the Advanced Studies in International Tax Law programme, you will benefit from:
More reasons to study International Tax Law at Leiden University.
This advanced Master of Laws programme could be for you if you are a Dutch or international:
In what ways do national and international financial regulations interact? How do you structure international financial transactions? What makes good financial regulation and how should financial integrity be maintained?
In today’s interconnected world, national and international financial markets have far-reaching effects on organisations and individuals around the globe. That is why the financial sector is becoming increasingly regulated, leading to a growing need for specialists who work at the intersection of law and finance. In the Law and Finance programme, you will be specially trained to excel in this global and multidisciplinary field.
As a student of the advanced master’s in Law and Finance, you will benefit from:
Find more reasons to study Law and Finance at Leiden University.
Are you fascinated by the complex, international and multidisciplinary questions facing the financial sector? Would you be interested in learning how to deal with these questions from the legal, economic and ethical disciplines? Then this could be the programme for you.
To be a good fit for this programme, one of the following should apply:
You can follow this programme for one year on a full-time basis or two years on a part-time basis.
Read more about the entry requirements for Law and Finance.
How does the digitisation and mass distribution of creative work affect intellectual property rights? In what ways can digital technnology regulations evolve to better protect individuals and organisations from identity fraud or security breaches?
Technology has become an important issue in almost every area of national and international law practice. Today, people are constantly confronted with concerns of privacy, personal data protection, cybercrime and cybersecurity. New uses for technology are often developing more rapidly than the law itself, creating interesting challenges for legal professionals and scholars. This programme will equip you with both theoretical knowledge and professional skills necessary to thrive in an interdisciplinary, global environment.
As a student of the Law and Digital Technologies programme, you will benefit from:
More reasons to study Law and Digital Technologies
Are you interested in learning more about complex legal and regulatory issues related to the development and convergence of digital technologies? Law and Digital Technologies is a focused and demanding postgraduate programme that will foster your knowledge of this ever-growing field. It is aimed at both legal professionals and top graduates who wish to acquire in-depth knowledge of law and digital technologies from an international and multidisciplinary perspective.
In this advanced master’s programme, you will gain a thorough understanding of the legislation that governs international relations in an increasingly complex global society. You will learn in-depth about a wide range of aspects that affect our world, in addition to getting the opportunity to specialise your area of study. Through focused seminars and workshops, you will be challenged to develop your own views on the role and functioning of public international law.
For this programme, you will choose one of the following specialisations:
To view the full programme outline, please choose the link to one of the specialisations.
Professional skills
During the programme, you will develop the skills to:
The Public International Law programme is a good fit for you if you have a sincere interest in the field and:
The programme caters to those who are working in or would like to pursue a career in international organisations, governmental institutions, international non-governmental organisations or in academia. You can follow the programme full-time for one year or part-time for two years.
Core courses
Specialisation courses: International Criminal Law
Specialisation courses: Peace, Justice and Development
Please select one of the specialisations to view the full prospectus and a more detailed programme description.
Public International Law is a one-year Master’s specialisation at the internationally acclaimed Leiden Law School at Leiden University. The programme focuses on legislation that governs international relations in an increasingly complex global society.
In this programme you will gain a thorough understanding of the fundamental doctrines of public international law, studying different perspectives from theory and practice. We will also challenge you to develop your own views on the role and functioning of law in international society.
As a result of globalisation and international interdependence, international law is changing. Whereas in the past, this law was limited to relations between states, in recent years, organisations, peoples, business and individuals have also become part of the realm of international law. Who is entitled to intervene in situations of mass violations of human rights? Which means are allowed to combat international terrorism? Can the international community develop governance mechanisms, including law, to deal with problems such as global climate change?
This Master’s is taught in Leiden and at Campus The Hague. A unique feature of the programme is that it makes use of the expertise available in the various international institutions located in The Hague, such as the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
The Public International Law Master’s programme offered at LeidenUniversity will provide you with a broad academic training. You will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career within:
• your national legal system;
• international law departments of national institutions;
• international governmental or non-governmental organisations;
• internationally operating business enterprises;
• academia.
Archaeology in Leiden encompasses the study of societies and cultures from the past, aiming to reconstruct and revive them. Make a meaningful contribution to resolving present-day societal issues such as migration, globalisation and climate change, using your interest in the past.
Leiden’s Archaeology master’s degree has the most diverse programme in the Netherlands. Leiden also boasts the only independent Faculty of Archaeology in the Netherlands. The study programme offers various regional and thematic specialisations and the teaching programme is closely linked to ongoing research.
Our academic staff are involved in research all over the world, with a strong focus on field research. In addition, the programme emphasises ecology and geology, combined with both iconology and historical studies, as well as ethno-archaeological, anthropological and experimental approaches. A combination with modern museum practices and developments in archaeological heritage management broadens your scope even more.
As a student of one of our specialisations, you will gain in-depth knowledge of the discipline of your choice. At the same time, you will take part in ongoing debates about general theory, the development of new methods and the use of information technology.
Our teaching is multidisciplinary and uses theories, methods and techniques drawn from the humanities, social sciences and sciences. By regarding the matter from an ecologist's viewpoint, or seeing it through a geologist's or anthropologist's eye, you add great value to your studies and research.
Students who choose the Archaeological Science specialisation receive a Master of Science degree in Archaeology. For World Archaeology and Heritage and Museum Studies, you receive a Master of Arts degree in Archaeology.
The Master’s programme in African Studies at Leiden University is an advanced area studies qualification that combines world-class scholarship with practice-based learning.
This multidisciplinary programme offers you the opportunity to explore the African continent from a wide range of perspectives: historical, literary, cultural, socio-economical and political. At Leiden, relevance and real-world issues are at the fore. During your programme you will analyse current events as they unfold and explore issues from a broad, comparative and global perspective. You will be able to pursue the issues and subject areas that interest you most by designing your own project and thesis.
Taught by top scholars from the African Studies Centre (ASC), the Master’s programme in African Studies has a genuine area studies profile. During your studies you will gain access to the African Studies Centre’s extensive international network and high-profile events that will connect you to the leading researchers in the field.
An important part of this Master's programme is a three-month internship at an organisation in Africa. This is your opportunity to test your new skills and ideas in practice while gaining invaluable cultural and professional experience. For your internship in Africa, you will receive funding from the Humanities Faculty’s Sustainable Humanities Internship Fund.
The research master's programme in African Studies at Leiden University is unique in continental Europe for the interdisciplinary range of subjects offered and the variety of perspectives.
The research master in African Studies at Leiden University bridges the often artificially drawn boundaries between the humanities and the social sciences. The programme combines disciplines from the humanities, such as history and literary studies, with disciplines from social sciences, in particular: political science; anthropology; and economics. As a result you have the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge about different aspects of the African continent and its peoples, at the same time you are not bound by boundary constraints of any of the more traditional disciplines focusing on Africa.
Within this research master you will focus on developing your research skills, and you will have an entire year (of which six months consists of fieldwork) to execute your own research project which offers you outstanding opportunities to get insights into working and conducting research in Africa and to enhance your job prospects. You will take in-depth courses that will guide you through social theory, methodology development, and proposal writing; you will write a scientific publication, and practice your debating and presentation skills. This will enable you, upon graduation, to initiate independent PhD or policy research, advise and participate in policy development and implementation, or offer training to businesses.
During your studies you will gain knowledge on the different regions on the African continent and contextualise and embed your regional knowledge in a broad set of theoretical and thematic perspectives. This will make you well-prepared to subsequently design your own research project on a topic of your liking. The programme is taught by leading African Studies scholars from all the relevant institutions in the Netherlands, including the International Institute of Social History (IISH) and the Universities of Wageningen and Amsterdam (UvA and VU).
During your studies you will have access to the excellent facilities of Leiden University, and in particular those of the Africa Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL) and its research library. The network of the ASCL, regular seminars, conferences and projects on Africa will provide international orientation and embedding for your MA research.
