Overview

Climate change threatens humanity. The purpose of law is to protect legitimate human interests. You want to join the new generation of lawyers who engage constructively with these problems. They see practicing law in the context of the wider developments in society -- such as climate change and sustainability -- as the way forward for the legal profession.

VU Amsterdam is the first university in Europe to offer an International Business Law degree that combines an outstanding, all-round Master’s programme in Business Law with a specific focus on one of the most complex legal challenges of our day: climate change.

During this International Business Law - Climate Change and Corporations programme from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, you will be seeking answers to highly important, yet complex, questions such as: What are the legal means to fight climate change? What rights and responsibilities do businesses and governments have in terms of sustainability? Can states be forced to bring their policies in line with the Paris 2015 Agreement? How can corporate law facilitate green startups?

Climate change provides a clear lens through which we can study a range of fundamental legal concepts. In the process of studying law and climate change, you will become an all-round lawyer. The programme concentrates on private law (company law, contract law and liability law) but will also address financial regulatory law, administrative law (European legislation in particular) and international public law.

Entering the job market

Students who successfully completed the programme have a wide range of career choices. They can work as professional business lawyers, in-house legal counsels for companies, government officials, corporate executives, legal professionals for an international (intergovernmental) organization, etc.

The alumni have jobs at, e.g., multinational companies, international law firms, banks and international accounting companies all over the world. Others pursue a career as a legal counsel in government institutions or international organizations. Some alumni choose to further develop their academic legal research skills by enrolling into a PhD programme at VU Amsterdam or elsewhere.

Programme Structure

Climate Change and Corporations courses

International Law on Climate Change and Sustainability

Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Change

Anatomy of Corporate Law

Problems of Market Regulation

Climate Change and Financial Regulation

Climate Change Liability

The Energy Transition in Legal Practice

Corporate Social Responsibility

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-01 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-06-01 00:00:00 , EEA/EU
- Apply before 2026-04-01 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

92

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Credits

60 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Disciplines

International Law Climate Studies & Meteorology International Business View 13 other Masters in Climate Studies & Meteorology in Netherlands

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

92

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Other requirements

General requirements

You can apply with an academic Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) or equivalent.

If you do not have such a degree, but you have a sound academic background and considerable experience in the field of law, and you can substantiate this, then you can also apply.

If you have a degree from a University of Applied Sciences, you need a completed relevant premaster to apply. The faculty does not offer a pre-master for this master.

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and/or in Netherlands, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

24150 EUR/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 24150 EUR per year during 12 months.
EU/EEA

2601 EUR/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 2601 EUR per year during 12 months.

Living costs for Amsterdam

1000 - 1500 EUR /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for International Business Law - Climate Change and Corporations.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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