Education

The Master of Laws (LLM) programme was launched in 1990 and is modelled on programmes offered at law schools in the United States. While the programme has a marked international dimension - continuing the tradition of international student mobility through the Erasmus programme and other exchange agreements - it also offers courses, tutorials and clinics organised exclusively for the tightly-knit group of LLM students.

European law is an important focus of the programme. This is unsurprising given KU Leuven's close proximity to the EU institutions in Brussels. The programme taps into a large network of professionals with daily exposure to and experience in the European institutions, including the European Commission, the European Council and the Court of Justice of the European Union. Indeed, we are proud to count the first permanent President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, among the Faculty of Law alumni.

The Master of Laws is an advanced Master's programme. You can follow this programme on a full-time or part-time basis.

Profile

The ideal prospective student will have already obtained a Master's degree (or equivalent) in law and will 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 and have a general understanding of the operation of law in society. As a main prerequisite, the student must have a good knowledge of European Institutional Law. For students wishing to strengthen this knowledge, self-study reading materials are available from the beginning of the academic year.

For specific admission requirements, click on the desired programme in the 'Choose your courses of study' section.

Objectives

TThe LL.M.-programme is a post-graduate programme largely based on accompanied self-study and research. 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. Students are required to choose two out of a limited number of options: European Economic law, European Financial law, European and International Tax Law, Human Rights law and The E.U. in international relations. Each option consists of three compulsory courses taught by Faculty members (one of which is either for LL.M. students only or accompanied by a tutorial for LL.M. students only). In addition students attend one clinic per option. The clinic takes place in Brussels and will be animated by visiting professors recruited amongst senior practitioners.

(Inter)national

Every year, the programme organises visits to the most important European and international institutions, including the European Parliament, the European Court of Human Rights, the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and the Court of Justice in Luxembourg. All of the visits take place during the academic year before the Easter holidays and do not involve any extra cost to LLM students.

Spotlight

Just as many jurisdictions look to European law to inspire their own laws and regulations, so too do our professors look across the EU in their research and teaching. 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 experience as prominent legal practitioners.

Given its philosophy grounded in European law, its highly skilled teachers and its openness to the study and practice of various types of law - and of course, its proximity to Brussels - the Leuven LLM constitutes a tremendous added value for students seeking European legal careers.

Contact

Faculty of Law
Gema Rodríguez Valls
tel. + 32 16 32 53 12
gema.rodriguezvalls@law.kuleuven.be

General
Study Advice Service
Naamsestraat 80 bus 5415
3000 Leuven
To contact us please complete the contact form on our website.

Useful links

Visit this programme's website.