Air and Space Law (Advanced LL.M.) Leiden University

Overview

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.

The LL.M. programme Air and Space Law 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.

The International Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL), which houses this advanced master's specialisation, is one of the leading international academic research and teaching institutes in this field. The Institute maintains close relations with national and international organisations and institutions worldwide and enjoys the guidance of a prestigious International Advisory Board.

The programme also offers a two-year blended learning version. Blended learning is a combination of distance learning and face-to-face learning that enables participants to pursue their studies alongside employment or other commitments. These students come to Leiden three times for a period of one to two weeks.

What you will learn

The overall objective of the programme is to provide you with an advanced and thorough knowledge of the elements of Air and Space Law. You will also develop an overview of the nature and structure of related fields such as Public International Law, EU Law and Competition Law.

While maintaining the highest academic standards, this programme will help you further develop your professional skills through giving presentations and participating in a moot court competition. For the moot court, you will receive skills trainings in research, analysis, legal writing and pleading. You will gain further experience in preparing oral pleadings and written submissions for a legal case, as well as arguing before a panel of judges.

After completing your courses, you will undertake a 6-8 week internship in an institution dealing with either air or space law, often located beyond the Dutch border. This will not only allow you to gain useful practical insights into the professional world of air and space law, but will also clearly enhance your career prospects. You will complete the programme by writing a thesis.

Career prospects

The Air and Space Law programme prepares you for a successful career in this growing field, in Europe or around the world.

Many of our graduates find positions in:

• law firms or consulting firms with an aviation and space law practice
• legal departments of airports,airlines and aerospace companies
• civil aviation authorities
• ministries of transportation
• space organisations like the European Space Agency
• academia

With the liberalisation of the European aviation laws and the growing number of actors operating in outer space, the already high demand for experts in this field is only expected to increase.

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.