Overview

Rather than studying law as a neutral set of rules, you will examine how law interacts with politics, economics, history and society. Learn to understand how legal systems influence global issues such as conflict, inequality, climate change, economic markets, migration and international cooperation. Explore both traditional and criticalperspectives on international and European law, learning how different schools of thought explain the role of law in international politics. You will examine how international and European legal concepts and institutions have developed over time, and how historical events continue to shape today's legal systems.

• Join a vibrant, prestigious research community that tracks cutting-edge theoretical and historical developments in the field.
• This track is ideal for students who enjoy theoretical and critical analysis. It provides an excellent foundation for doctoral research, but also prepares you for careers in international organizations, EU institutions, governments and NGOs. 
• Gain a comprehensive, historically and theoretically grounded understanding of international and European law to interpret contemporary legal issues with precision and critical insight.
• Work with concrete case studies to ground the theory and put law concepts into practical context.

• Benefit from an interdisciplinary and international perspective as this track is part of the LLM International and European Law.

Career prospects

This program delivers broad training in the theory and history of international and European law while essential academic skills such as close reading, critical reasoning, and historical-comparative analysis are fostered and trained. After graduation, you will be well placed for careers in think tanks, academia, (foreign) ministries, and EU and international organizations.

Accreditation

#35 in Law worldwide (Times Higher Education, 2026)

#5 In law in the Netherlands (QS world university ranking by subject (2026)