Public International Law (International and European Law)

Overview

Why Public International Law at the UvA? 

• The Public International Law (International and European Law) programme of the University of Amsterdam is taught by leading international law scholars with a high academic reputation and often broad experience in the practice of international law. We have an excellent reputation for high quality of teaching and research and consistently rank among the world’s top 40 law schools in both the Times Higher Education University Rankings and the QS World University Rankings, and in the top 5 among continental European law schools.

• In addition to the larger lectures, classes are taught in seminars or working groups, allowing for a challenging exchange of ideas on the latest developments and academic insights in this dynamic area of law.

• The Amsterdam Center for International Law offers a vibrant research community and many events are open to Master’s students.

• Public International Law offers unique courses under the umbrella of the Amsterdam Law Practice, where you will work with fellow students towards the solution of practical legal problems.

• Over 60% of students has an international background and teaching hence takes place in an international classroom setting.

The study programme

This Master’s programme will extend your knowledge of general international law. Through the wide variety of elective courses on offer you can specialize in specific areas such as human rights law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law and international environmental law. This allows you to tailor the curriculum to your personal interests and ambitions.

You’ll take at least one experiential education course as part of the Amsterdam Law Practice. During the course Practising International Law, students work in a team preparing a memorandum on an international legal problem as part of a Clinic simulation. In the Amsterdam Law Clinics you can work on actual legal cases for NGOs and other clients under the guidance of our clinical staff. You also have the opportunity to participate in a moot court or pursue an internship in the field of international law.

Career prospects

The ever-increasing importance and complexity of public international law is reflected in a growing demand for professionals specialising in this area of law. This Master’s programme prepares you for a wide range of career paths in national and international legal practice. For Dutch students with an LLB degree from a Dutch university there’s the possibility of ‘civiel effect’. Go to the study programme to read more about the conditions.