Master of Laws (LL.M) 2025-2026 Study in Antwerp and learn about law in the world
Table of contents In brief 04 In detail 05 Programme structure 07 Job opportunities 17 Why choose UAntwerp 18 What others have said 19 Admission criteria 20 Application procedure 21 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System 22
4 Apart from its legal features, this Master of Laws is about bringing together students from all over the world, learning from each other, from our pasts and cultures, from our differences, finding our commonalities, and looking to the future together. In brief The Master of Laws (LL.M) is a two-year programme taught in English worth 120 ECTS credits. It offers a number of case-oriented courses in a modular setup within a broad range of legal fields. Specifically, you will experience a law-in-context approach in three chosen modules from a list of five: 1) Multilevel Constitutionalism and Fundamental Rights in Europe; 2) Sustainable Development and Global Justice; 3) Commercial Transactions & Disputes; 4) Economic Governance; and 5) Diversity and Law. You will also have the opportunity to develop research skills and make use of our partnerships with excellent universities across the globe by spending a semester abroad.
5 In detail After the first semester, which is focused on skills courses and some fundamental courses in European and international law and human rights, you will follow one cluster of courses each semester. You can also choose to study abroad for one semester during your second Master’s year and specialise in a cluster that you’ve already chosen in Antwerp. You will participate in a legal clinic, allowing you to bridge the gap between academic research and legal practice. Each legal clinic involves a different partner institution, e.g. a law firm, an NGO, or a government department. You will work with other students on one or more legal assignments that are developed in close cooperation with the partner institution concerned. The assignments are related to real-life cases or policy developments and need to respond to the institution’s needs. This requires an approach that significantly differs from writing an academic paper or studying for an exam. Therefore, the legal clinic is hard work and a hands-on experience of law in your preferred legal field. The research skills you develop in your first semester are further refined through the assignments in the semester clusters and within the context of the Master’s dissertation. With the support of your supervisor, you learn how to translate a problem into a legal question, carry out legal analysis, develop your own opinion based on legal arguments and propose legal solutions that reflect key societal and economic developments. This skill set gives lawyers a distinct edge in any field of law (legal practice, NGO, policy, academic). Excellent students have the opportunity to become student researchers within one of the faculty’s research groups
6 Choosing the LL.M was the best decision I have ever made. It offers an excellent balance between theory and practice, and while working together with other students, your English improves a lot. You can also choose between specific clusters, so you can do what interests you. for the duration of the programme. This position is aimed at allowing you to better understand the possibilities of an academic career, work closely with junior and senior researchers at the faculty, and participate in academic events (e.g. conferences, seminars, workshops or informal events). Ideally, this position enables you to prepare a funding application for a PhD fellowship. The additional research skills and attitudes you develop will nevertheless be useful for any professional career. Visiting researchers and internationally renowned speakers are frequently invited to the faculty. Our students are welcome to attend faculty lectures, courses and seminars given by these researchers. In this context the Faculty of Law at the University of Antwerp offers you a globally linked, locally embedded ‘metropolitan law faculty’, building on its tradition of strong research and already established networks. The location in the city of Antwerp allows the faculty to engage with a diverse population and a global economic landscape. Our law faculty responds to societal challenges at the domestic, European, and global level. And finally, our metropolitan law faculty trains lawyers with skills to operate in a changing and global society.
7 Programme structure This LL.M programme is problem-based. Law is not studied in isolation, but courses focus on contemporary problems that call for examination from various fields of law and different disciplines, including social sciences and humanities. The programme starts with some mandatory courses that will provide you with a solid academic foundation for the other courses, your Master’s dissertation and your professional career. Some of these courses are practice-oriented and will increase your research and communication skills. The methodological courses will introduce you to a variety of theoretical and epistemological approaches to legal research and legal research methodologies, and the requirements of academic writing by focusing on the development of your research skills and on the writing process. Other more substantive courses are meant to create a level playing field and focus on a wide range of subjects, such as EU institutional law, EU internal market law, EU external relations, constitutional principles and human rights, private international law, public international law and international dispute settlement. The five clusters are similarly problem-oriented and casebased. They require active participation in class and include assignments that prepare you for your career. Each cluster consists of two advanced courses and one basic course. The advanced courses are typically taught via lectures and seminars. Most are assessed on the basis of assignments or exercises, case studies, your participation in classroom activities and a final assignment or group project, usually with an oral presentation. Many basic courses are assessed on the basis of a final exam, which can be either written or oral, open or closed book,
8 in addition to class participation. Guest lecturers are common in both advanced and basic courses. And lastly, our lecturers are available for further explanation and feedback and are always happy to assist their students. Within the cluster ‘Sustainable Development and Global Justice’ you will undertake a post-colonial analysis of public international law by looking at the global development architecture, with attention to international (sustainable) development law and international economic governance. You will study the role of law in ecological crises and learn about human rights law and the potential and challenges for human rights law to contribute to global justice. The cluster ‘Multilevel Constitutionalism and Fundamental Rights in Europe’ studies constitutional law and fundamental rights based on the observation that different levels of authority are interconnected. It gives you the opportunity to study how all laws and governmental powers flow from a written or unwritten constitution safeguarding fundamental rights, the interplay between state institutions and the relationship between European, national and subnational governments. The specific emphasis is on how various governmental levels, such as supranational,
9 national and subnational correlate via concrete cases and wicked issues within the European territory (nation states, European Union and Council of Europe). You will gain insight into the multilevel aspects of European fundamental rights protection via such supranational, regional and national instruments. You will equally balance the domestic Three Branches – Legislature, Executive and Judiciary – in light of the increasing impact of supranational law. You will ultimately focus on the territorial structuring of political systems that distribute powers over different levels of government, and how a balance is found between regional or national autonomy, and overall cohesion. You can explore diversity from several perspectives and in different legal domains within the module ‘Diversity and Law’. We will do so by investigating together the role of legal professionals in tackling “wicked” societal problems (i.e. climate change, inequality, poverty, migration). You will study the interaction between genders, sexualities and the law by learning about feminist theory and jurisprudence, by analysing selected fundamental legal debates, and by studying the relevant legal framework in complex areas such as multi-parenthood. You will explore how combining an interdisciplinary approach with an analysis of administrative law, urban planning, consumer law, data protection law and human rights can contribute to turning cities into more inclusive and sustainable cities. You will also gain new insights into the essential field of international and European immigration and asylum law. The legal clinic in asylum or migration law will help you to understand better the implications of this complex area of the law in practice. If you wish to do a semester abroad, we have selected several privileged partners who offer fascinating courses that will enable you to deepen the expertise acquired in Antwerp.
10 In the cluster ‘Economic Governance’ you will study several aspects of economic regulation. This includes the European Union’s approach in this field, and how it combines government interventions with private initiatives. The interaction between the EU institutions, national legislators, regulators, businesses and other stakeholders is also covered, as well as the approach in specific sectors of the economy. Furthermore, you will learn about international trade law with a focus on the WTO, trade defence instruments, free trade agreements and methods of dispute settlement. In international investment law you will look into principles of protection and substantive standards and investor-state dispute settlement. You will also consider the role and competence of the EU in this field. Finally, the course on intellectual property law shows how this field affects economic regulation, taking into consideration both its business and public governance context. Within the cluster ‘Commercial Transactions & Disputes’ you will focus on the different approaches of and on the law applicable to commercial transactions. You will learn about the extent to which parties can navigate between legal systems, with respect to both substantive law and dispute settlement. You will tackle dispute settlement questions, such as: Should parties opt for court proceedings, arbitration or mediation and what are the consequences of these choices? You will consider what the international effect of the resulting judgment, award or agreement is. You will study the methods and potential of private and business law harmonisation at a European and international level. The focus will be on key domains of private law such as contract law (with a specific focus on choice of law, sales law, transport law, and consumer law). You will learn to map contract chains and identify resource gaps. You will examine international insolvency, including the question of enterprises
11 that have assets in different countries and the insolvency of enterprise groups that are active in various countries. The programme offers you an ‘open space’ of 9 ECTS credits. In this space you can choose from a wide range of electives or interdisciplinary courses or seminars. Alternatively, you can participate in a winter or summer school, a moot court competition, or you can apply for an internship through one of our partnerships with international organisations or law firms in Switzerland, India or Peru and gain critical experience in the field of human rights. A placement or internship of your choice is also an option. Over a period of two years you will learn to work independently on your Master’s dissertation, deepening your expertise in the selected topic and developing your research skills. Your dissertation is related to one of the clusters; the legal clinic that you follow is also aligned to that cluster. An overview of our legal clinic partners is available on page 12. You will write the dissertation under the supervision of a professor specialised in the subject matter, after your research proposal is accepted during the second semester of your first Master’s year, and you will defend the dissertation at the end of the second Master’s year. In the second and final year of the programme, you will have the opportunity to study abroad for one semester at one of our partner universities, within or outside Europe. Every cluster in the Master of Laws has a number of privileged partners that offer courses complementary to the UAntwerp clusters. This will allow you to experience a different international environment, and perhaps a different approach to law, legal education and legal science. You may find a list of our partner universities on page 12 and 13.
12 Summary of legal clinic partners and privileged partners Our legal clinic partners Economic Governance: Baker McKenzie law firm in Brussels Diversity and Law: Nansen Belgian refugee council Commercial Transactions and Disputes: Loyens & Loeff law firm in Brussels Multilevel Constitutionalism and Fundamental Rights in Europe: Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sustainable Development and Global Justice: ClientEarth and/or similar NGOs Our current privileged partners Economic Governance Maastricht University (the Netherlands) University of Bern (Switzerland) Vilnius University (Lithuania) Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (Lima, Peru) National Law University Delhi (India) University of Bologna (Italy)
13 Our two-year LL.M programme is the cream of the crop in our law school. It hosts a nice blend of international and local students and staff, who benefit from close collaboration in a small college. Professor Frederik Swennen, former Dean of the Faculty of Law Diversity and Law Tilburg University (the Netherlands) University of Lodz (Poland) University of Eastern Finland (Joensuu/Kuopio, Finland) University of Westminster (London, United Kingdom) National Law University Delhi (India) Nelson Mandela University Port Elisabeth (South Africa) (forthcoming) Commercial Transactions and Disputes University of Bologna (Italy) University College Dublin (Ireland) University of Johannesburg (South Africa) University of Mannheim (Germany) University of Zagreb (Croatia) Multilevel Constitutionalism and Fundamental Rights in Europe University of Graz (Austria) University of Trento (Italy) Maastricht University (the Netherlands) Sustainable Development and Global Justice National Law University Delhi (India) University of Padua (Italy) University of Pretoria (South Africa) Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (Lima, Peru) University of Eastern Finland (Joensuu/Kuopio, Finland)
14 Curriculum Year 1 In addition to the mandatory courses (semester 1) you choose one cluster (semester 2). You also start with the first part of your Master’s Project. Please refer to www.uantwerpen.be/master-of-laws for detailed information. Mandatory courses ECTS credits 33 Substantive courses Law of the European Union 6 Public International Law and International Enforcement 6 Constitutional Principles and Human Rights 3 Private International Law 3 Methodological courses Research Skills 6 Academic Writing, Oral and Communication Skills 6 Global Legal Systems 3 1 (compulsory) Cluster ECTS credits 21 In semester 2, choose one cluster out of A. Commercial Transactions and Disputes AC International Commercial Transactions 9 AC Dispute Settlement 9 International Insolvency Law 3 B. Multilevel Constitutionalism and Fundamental Rights in Europe AC Multilevel Fundamental Rights Law 9 AC Multilevel Institutional Law 9 Comparative Federalism 3 C. Sustainable Development and Global Justice AC International Development Law 9 AC Human Rights and Global Justice 9 Law and the Ecological Crises 3 Our competenceoriented approach comprises internships and legal clinics, where students function very well thanks to our focus on methodological skills. Professor Frederik Swennen, former Dean of the Faculty of Law
15 Master’s Project I ECTS credits 6 Legal Clinic 6 Year 2 In addition to your Master’s Project part II and some ‘open space’ elective(s) you choose one cluster in the first semester. The second semester is a free semester, which gives you several options (see further). You can either combine the ECTS of the free semester and the open space, or you can choose another cluster. Alternatively, you can subsitute the first or second semester by a semester abroad. In which case, you choose 18 ECTS abroad and 3 ECTS open space. The latter can be taken in Antwerp or abroad. 1 (compulsory) Cluster ECTS credits 21 In semester 1, choose one cluster out of A. Economic Governance AC European Economic Regulation 9 AC International Trade and Investment Law 9 European, International and Comparative Intellectual Property Law 3 B. Diversity and Law AC Genders, Sexualities and the Law 9 AC The Inclusive, Sustainable City and Law 9 International and European Immigration and Asylum Law 3 C. Mobility window (semester abroad) 18+3 Free semester ECTS credits 12 In semester 2, choose one advanced course and one specific course from a list of courses. Please refer to www.uantwerpen.be/master-of-laws for detailed information. Alternatively, you can choose another cluster and reduce your open space. Or you can opt for a semester
16 abroad. In which case, you choose 18 ECTS abroad and 3 ECTS open space. The latter can be taken in Antwerp or abroad. Master’s Project II ECTS credits 18 Master Thesis 18 Open space ECTS credits 9 Choose one or two courses for a total of 9 ECTS credits from a list of elective courses or alternatives, such as an internship, moot court, summer or winter course. Please refer to www.uantwerpen.be/master-of-laws for detailed information. Total ECTS credits 120
17 Job opportunities Our Master of Laws enables you to work in an internationally oriented legal environment, including internationally oriented law firms and ministries, international organisations, multinational companies, non-governmental organisations, or in academia. The programme will assist you in fulfilling your ambition, regardless of whether it is as: a practising lawyer a legal advisor in an internationally oriented company an international or domestic civil servant a diplomat or lobbyist an educator or researcher This degree is equivalent to the Flemish degree of ‘Master in de Rechten’. For admission to the legal profession in Belgium (the ‘bar’), a Belgian Bachelor of Laws is required in addition to this Master’s degree. If you hold a non-Belgian law degree you can apply for qualification in certain cases. For more information, go to www.advocaat.be (in Dutch) or www.avocats.be (in French). Orientation year After completing your studies you can choose to look for work opportunities in Belgium. You can apply for an orientation year and extend your stay in Belgium by 12 months. Guidance and administrative assistance with this process is available through the university.
18 Why choose UAntwerp Our university is located in the city of Antwerp, in the heart of Belgium and Europe. The port of Antwerp is one of the biggest in the world. Antwerp is not just an ancient medieval and baroque city, full of history. It is also a bustling metropolis with a vibrant social scene, impressive architecture and cultural contrasts. Over 170 nationalities live here, more than in New York! This cosmopolitan vibe is also reflected at the University of Antwerp. English is widely spoken in Antwerp, though if you learn Dutch during your stay here you will become a local in no time. First-rate research and education make the University of Antwerp a wonderful place to study and to work. We foster the nexus between research and education. Internationalisation is key to our mission. It is no coincidence that the University of Antwerp is a partner in a highly promising European university network, the Young Universities for the Future of Europe www.YUFE.eu. As home away from home to over 20,000 students, the University of Antwerp prides itself on operating on a human scale. Our faculty and staff will welcome you into top-notch infrastructure on one of our four campuses. While you’re here you are also invited to enjoy our vibrant cultural programme, sports facilities and many student services. The University of Antwerp scores extremely well in Young University Rankings
19 What others have said Pursuing my LL.M at the University of Antwerp broadened my perspective and offered new opportunities. The program encourages you to think critically, explore different viewpoints and form your own opinion. The presentations, debates, and practical exercises I took part in helped me build valuable skills that eased my job search after graduation. What I enjoyed most was the truly international environment – from the curriculum and global expertise of professors to classmates from all over the world. Looking back, I couldn’t have chosen a better place for my LL.M. Quote from Valentina Garcia Delgado, LL.M graduate 2024
20 Admission criteria Applicants should hold an academic Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) of at least 180 ECTS. Since the programme is taught in English, candidates with a prior degree issued outside of Belgium, the Netherlands or Luxembourg are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English. The following language certificates are accepted (obtained within the last two years; with the minimum score(s) mentioned). Paper-based TOEFL: minimum 550 TOEFL iBT (taken at a test center; home editions are not accepted): minimum 80 IELTS Academic (taken at a test center; online editions are not accepted): minimum total score of 6.5 and minimum score of 6.0 on each individual component Cambridge English: minimum B2 First with a score of at least 176 ITACE: minimum B2 Successfully passed one year of studies in an accredited Bachelor’s or Master’s programme in English
21 Application procedure Candidates with a Bachelor of Laws from a higher education institution in Belgium, the Netherlands or Luxembourg can enrol directly. All other candidates must submit an application through the online application tool Mobility Online. The link to Mobility Online is published early November 2025 on www.uantwerpen.be/admission. Application deadlines to submit an application through Mobility Online For non-EEA* nationals and for students who need to apply for a visa: before 1 March 2025 For EEA nationals: before 1 June 2025 When your application is fully approved (i.e. when you have received a Letter of Acceptance), you can proceed with your enrolment. Enrolment deadline Early October 2025 Enrolments start on 1 July 2025. The academic year 2025-2026 starts on Monday 22 September 2025. * EEA = European Economic Area Member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
22 ECTS credits The University of Antwerp applies the ‘European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System’ (ECTS) in all its degree programmes. A full-time one-year study programme amounts to 60 ECTS credits (30 ECTS credits per semester), which implies a student workload ranging from 1500 to 1800 hours. One ECTS credit amounts to 25 to 30 hours of work including contact hours, preparatory work, study and assessment.
UAntwerpen - Faculteit Rechten @uantwerplaw Faculteit Rechten Universiteit Antwerpen UAntwerpen - Faculteit Rechten Quick facts Level Master Language English Credits 120 ECTS credits Number of years 2 Tuition fee per year * EUR 1157 for EEA nationals EUR 5800 for non-EEA nationals Campus Stadscampus Faculty Law More information www.uantwerpen.be/ master-of-laws * subject to yearly revision Contact Master of Laws Student Administration Office masterlaw@uantwerp.be T: +32 3 265 57 38 International Students Office internationalstudents@uantwerp.be T: +32 3 265 31 89 www.uantwerpen.be Follow us! This brochure was published in January 2025. As all information is subject to change, please check our website for the latest updates.
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