Programme

The programme is offered full-time (one academic year) and part-time (two academic years), both with daytime classes. Students studying part-time are offered the same facilities and courses as full-time students.
Courses are offered consecutively over two semesters, from September until early July. Seminars normally consist of two to four-hour sessions two to four times a week. Students are required to sit and pass an examination at the end of each course. Because of the seminar format, they are also expected to make regular contributions throughout the courses and are required to prepare oral and written presentations.

The programme consists of nine courses, mandatory work on the European Law Moot Court, and a thesis. For the most up to date course overview, see the e-Prospectus.

Optional courses

It is possible for students of the Advanced Studies programme in European and International Business Law to follow one or a maximum of two courses from one of the Leiden Law School’s other three Master of Laws: Advanced Studies Programme, in addition to the core curriculum. The complementary courses would need to be agreed with the Programme Director before or during the course of the degree programme. In exceptional cases, and again in consultation with the Programme Director, it may be possible to replace one of the core courses with another Master of Laws: Advanced Studies Programme course. The additional courses are included on the academic transcript issued upon completion of the degree.

Internships

Although internships are not a compulsory part of the programme, we do encourage our students to take full advantage of our contacts should they wish to undertake an internship during or after their study. Regular vacancies for both jobs and internships are sent to us by European institutions and law firms.

Libraries available for students

The Institute has an extensive library, containing both traditional and electronic sources of international air and space law, including studies on specific themes, handbooks dealing with law and policy, as well as the world’s most reputable journals. In addition, the Peace Palace in The Hague, which hosts the International Court of Justice, has one of the world’s largest collections in the field of international public and private law, and national law and an impressive collection on international political and diplomatic history and the history of peace movements. This library also houses the Grotius Collection, the collection on the eminent 17th century Dutchman Hugo de Groot, founder of international law.

Student counseling

Student counseling is an important feature of our programme. The 2007 accreditation panel:

“[…] feels positive about the very personal way in which deficiencies are handled. The fact that most teachers have a great deal of international experience is expected to have a positive contribution to the way in which the students (from many different backgrounds) are counseled. All relevant information about the programme is communicated via Email and Blackboard. The panel thinks this is an adequate way to communicate with the students.”

Activities

• Moot Court
  The European Law Moot Court Competition is a traditional moot – i.e. simulated court – competition, in which teams of students prepare written pleadings with respect to a problem of European Law and present their arguments in oral proceedings before the Court of Justice.
  The European and International Business Law Programme at Leiden University has participated in the competition each year with one or more teams going through to the regional finals. Leiden LL.M. students have progressed to the finals before judges of the Court of Justice in Luxembourg and have been awarded prizes for best Advocate-General and second-best Advocate-General. Leiden teams have and continue to win best overall written pleadings and oral pleadings.

• Annual study trip to Luxembourg and Brussels
  At the end of each teaching year, prior to the writing of the thesis, students travel with members of the programme to Luxembourg and Brussels to visit the European Commission, the European Court of Justice and law firms.

Graduation

Students who have successfully completed the examinations and whose written assignments have been approved will be awarded the Master’s of Advanced Studies in European and International Business Law diploma during a graduation ceremony held at the very end of August.