Master of Laws

Master of Laws, LL.M.

  • Application Deadline
  • 12 months
    Duration

Overview

The programme has a marked international dimension with European law being an important focus. This is hardly surprising given KU Leuven's close proximity to the central EU institutions in Brussels. The programme taps into the knowledge and expertise of a large network of legal professionals who experience daily exposure to and professional contact with the European institutions.

The programme includes attending hearings at the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg in the first semester and at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in the second. Engaging in the debate over the current issues in international affairs with the staff members of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament in Strasbourg during the second semester is also part of the LLM Master’s programme.

Members of the professorial staff of the LLM programme generally hold degrees from top universities in the United States and the United Kingdom and many have substantial professional experience as prominent legal practitioners.

Programme outline

The course is predominantly determined by an area of specialisation of your choice:

  • International and European Business Law
  • International and European Public Law

Additional courses from the alternative option to your choice can be followed as elective courses. Each specialisation includes eight clinics led by distinguished legal and business practitioners.

Objectives

The LL.M. programme is a post-graduate programme. It aims at offering students who already graduated in law in countries with different legal cultures, a high profile programme focusing on European and international law.

The student:

  • has in-depth knowledge of universal legal issues, in particular as they are dealt with in the law of the E.U. and international law;
  • is able to independently identify, analyze and solve complex legal problems;
  • is able to work in a creative manner with international and national legal sources and techniques;
  • is able to conduct individual scientific research;
  • is able to argue a legal argument;
  • is able to express himself in an adequate and universal legal language;
  • is able to present both written and oral information in a clear and well-structured form;
  • knows how to use online legal databases;
  • conducts legal research to help finding remedies to current social/political issues (eg. to contribute for policy makers/researchers to find the right approach for a complete solution);
  • compares legal systems;
  • works independently (self-management during the writing process of their research work, ending in the final submission of their paper).

Career perspectives

Given its philosophy grounded in European law, its highly skilled teachers and its openness to the study and practice of various types of law - not to mention, its close proximity to Brussels - the Leuven LLM offers significant added value for students seeking legal careers in Europe.

The Master of Laws programme is offered at KU Leuven.

Questions about student life in Belgium, life at KU Leuven or more information about a specific course? Chat with our students: www.kuleuven/be/chatwithourstudents.

Programme Structure

International and European Business Law Option

  • The Law of the World Trade Organization
  • European Company Law
  • EU Economic Law (Internal Market and Competition)
  • LL.M. Master Classes EU and Economic Law
  • LL.M. Master Classes EU and Financial Law
  • European Financial Regulation
  • European Insurance Law

International and European Public Law Option

  • International and European Human Rights Law
  • E.U. Human Rights Law and Policy
  • International Law from a European Perspective
  • The Law of External Relations of the E.U.
  • LL.M. Master Classes EU and Human Rights Law
  • LL.M. Master Classes EU in International Relations

LL.M. Master Paper

LL.M. Global Law

Elective Courses

Audience

The ideal prospective student will:

  • have already obtained a master's degree (or equivalent) in law;
  • have received training in legal principles;
  • have the ability to think critically about the nature and purpose of rules;
  • have the analytical skills needed to assess factual situations;
  • have a general understanding of the operation of law in society.

Detailed Programme Facts

English Language Requirements

  • Minimum required score:

    7

    The IELTS – or the International English Language Test System – tests your English-language abilities (writing, listening, speaking, and reading) on a scale of 1.00–9.00. The minimum IELTS score requirement refers to which Overall Band Score you received, which is your combined average score. Read more about IELTS.

    Get a free IELTS practice test

  • Minimum required score:

    100

    The TOEFL iBT ® measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The test has four sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing), each with a score range of 0-30, for a total score range of 0-120. Read more about TOEFL iBT ®.

    Schedule TOEFL®

Academic Requirements

  • This programme does not recognise GRE® scores.

    The GRE® General Test is a widely administered admissions test that measures the skills needed in today's graduate and business school programs worldwide. The GRE® General Test contains three sections - Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Three scores are reported: a Verbal Reasoning score on a 130 - 170 score scale in one-point increments, a Quantitative Reasoning score on a 130 - 170 score scale in one-point increments, and an Analytical Writing score on a 0 - 6 score scale in half-point increments.

General Requirements

  • The basic requirement for admission to the LL.M. programme is the possession of a law degree which entitles the holder to practise law in his/her country of origin.
  • The decision on the admission is based upon evaluation of a complete application file and on the following elements: results obtained during the applicant's university studies, the level of knowledge of the English language, a statement of purpose (with the student's expectation of the programme) and three recommendation letters.
  • The language requirement consists of a minimum level of knowledge of the English language.
For more information on the admission requirements, please visit the homepage of the programme.

Tuition Fee

  • International

    6000 EUR/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the original amount of 6000 EUR per year and a duration of 12 months.

  • EU/EEA

    6000 EUR/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the original amount of 6000 EUR per year and a duration of 12 months.
We've labeled the tuition fee that applies to you because we think you are from and prefer over other currencies.

Living costs for Leuven

  • 810 - 1280 EUR/month
    Living Costs

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

Funding

Check the programme website for information about funding options.

Studyportals Tip: Students can search online for independent or external scholarships that can help fund their studies. Check the scholarships to see whether you are eligible to apply. Many scholarships are either merit-based or needs-based.

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