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Education Bachelor's degree programmes International and European Law
Header image International and European Law

International and European Law

All states have laws and their own legal system, and in most countries you can only study national law at the university level.

Our LLB programme in International and European Law is specifically designed for students who wish to pursue a professional career in an international legal environment; it gives students an academic training in law without merely taking a national legal system as a starting point by offering students a general understanding of what 'law' is and how it functions.

Official detailed information about the programme can be found here.

Facts & Figures
Degree
LLB in International and European Law
Course type
Bachelor
Duration
36 months (180 ECTS)
Croho code
56829
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Law
Studie in Cijfers
Why study this programme in Groningen?

The focus on European law and public international law is far greater than the focus on national legal contexts. No national law system is being taught as a general rule.

This programme is unique in Europe with regard to the content of the programme. It also holds a compulsory semester of law courses abroad.

Programme

The full schedule of courses for the LLB programme can be seen here: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/education/international-programmes/llb/schedule-of-courses

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Law and legal skills: the Dutch example (including IT for Lawyers) (10 EC)
Legal and Academic English (5 EC)
Criminal law (10 EC)
Legal History (5 EC)
Contract and Tort Law (5 EC)
Introduction to International and European Law (10 EC)
Comparative Constitutional Law (10 EC)
Introduction to Technology Law (5 EC)

Students can pursue a new Technology Law track specialization for the 2nd and 3rd year of study. Courses below are for the regular LLB programme only. The full schedule of courses, including the Technology Law track, can be seen here: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/education/international-programmes/llb/schedule-of-courses

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Law of the European Union (10 EC)
Property Law (5 EC)
Law, Power, and Politics (5 EC)
Public International Law (10 EC)
Administrative Law and Market Regulation (10 EC)
Research seminar (10 EC)
Markets and Regulation (5 EC)
Private International Business Law (5 EC)

Students can pursue a new Technology Law track specialization for the 2nd and 3rd year of study. Courses below are for the regular LLB programme only. The full schedule of courses, including the Technology Law track, can be seen here: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/education/international-programmes/llb/schedule-of-courses

In the 3rd year, all students study a full semester abroad (at least 25 ECTS in law courses; 30 ECTS in total) at a partner university.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Semester abroad (30 EC)
Commercial Dispute Resolution (5 EC)
Competition Law in the Digital Market (5 EC)
Research Colloquium (10 EC)
European Judicial Protection (5 EC)
The Contemporary Value(s) of International Law (5 EC)
Programme options
Honours College (honours program)

The Honours College offers talented and motivation students the opportunity to develop to a greater extent.

It entails participating in an extra (honours) programme of 30 ECTS next to students' regular 180 ECTS degree programme plus several other activities that will be undertaken and organized with honours students from other degree programmes.

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is required
  • For an average of 20 weeks
Entry requirements

Admissible Dutch diploma profiles

  • VWO Natuur & Techniek
  • VWO Natuur & Gezondheid
  • VWO Economie & Maatschappij
  • VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij
  • HBO propedeuse

    International and European Law (Haagse Hogeschool)

  • academic propedeuse

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Previous education requirements for the 2022-2023 intake can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/education/international-programmes/llb/application/admission-requirements

language test

English language proficiency requirements, and situations where exemption may be considered, can be found here: https://bit.ly/2FwTSvt

other admission requirements

Applicants must complete a mandatory Online Matching Class in order to register and enroll in the programme, if deemed admissible. More information about the mandatory matching procedure for the 2022-2023 intake can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/education/international-programmes/llb/application/admission-requirements

Choice of degree programme check

The degree programme will organize a choice of degree programme check. Attendance is optional. The advice is not binding.

Explanatory notes

Matching is a way for first year students of a Bachelor's degree programme without a selection procedure to find out whether their chosen degree programme matches with what they want.

If you want to register as a first year student for a Bachelor's degree programme without a selection procedure, you must do so no later than 1 May. That is a statutory requirement. When you have applied via Studielink on time, you are entitled to participate in a matching activity. Through matching you can find out whether your chosen Bachelor's degree programme matches with what you want. Every Bachelor's degree programme has a different matching procedure. After you have registered for a degree programme via Studielink, you will automatically receive a message explaining the procedure for the degree programme of your choice.

Registration procedure

As this programme holds compulsory matching for all Dutch students, all students should meet the admission requirements. For more information about (and a full list of) the exact admission requirements, please check: https://bit.ly/2FwTSvt

Selection procedure

The exact procedure with regard to the selection and ranking of students is described on this page: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/education/international-programmes/llb/application/

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

Choice of degree programme check

If you intend to start with a bachelor degree programme at the University of Groningen in September, make sure to apply before May 1 in Studielink. The degree programme will give you the option to participate in a matching activity to see if you and the degree programme are a match. Which matchings activity they provide depends on the faculty and programme.

Any questions about matching? Check www.rug.nl/matching

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Previous education requirements for the 2022-2023 intake can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/education/international-programmes/llb/application/admission-requirements

language test

English language proficiency requirements, and situations where exemption may be considered, can be found here: https://bit.ly/2FwTSvt

other admission requirements

Applicants must complete a mandatory Online Matching Class in order to register and enroll in the programme, if deemed admissible. More information about the mandatory matching procedure for the 2022-2023 intake can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/education/international-programmes/llb/application/admission-requirements

Selection procedure

The exact procedure with regard to the selection and ranking of students is described on this page: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/education/international-programmes/llb/application/

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 11200full-time
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 13100full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

More information about career prospects can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/rechten/education/international-programmes/llb/career-prospects

Job examples

  • A career in as civil servants for national ministries
  • A career in the international commercial sector
  • A career in international politics
  • A career in diplomacy
  • A career in academic teaching and research
  • a career in international or non-governmental organizations
Research

Research international and European law

The faculty's research is carried out under the umbrella of the Groningen Centre for Law and Governance, in which all departments of the faculty are participating. Wherever possible teachers will use and involve this research in the courses that are being taught at the Bachelor's level.

Portrayed researchers:

Prof. dr M.M.T.A. Brus
M. Duchateau , LLM
Prof. dr H.B.B. Vedder

Testimonial mr. dr. B.C.A. Toebes (teacher and postdoc):

My research concentrates on the interfaces between the protection of health and international (human rights) law . It involves topics like access to healthcare, medical ethics during armed conflicts, as well as abortion and euthanasia. I use my research findings in several courses that we teach at the department of international law. Using health as an overall theme enables me to discuss the functioning and applicability of international law in practice. For example, in a course entitled ‘International Law and Organisation’ I teach a seminar on the role that international organisations play in the protection of health, thus using 'health' as a theme to explain the functioning of international organisations in our global society. Using a health-related theme also enables me to trigger the students to look beyond the law and to engage with interdisciplinary research. In the Honours Programme, I teach a seminar on healthcare privatisation and human rights, thereby building a bridge between health economics, social medicine, and human rights law.

  • 
						Testimonial of Christian Garrard, UK, LLB student International and European Law

    Coming to the Netherlands over three years ago was without doubt the best decision I have ever made.

    – Christian Garrard, UK, LLB student International and European Law
    Read more

    I never intended on studying 'English' law and just becoming a lawyer in the UK but rather to specialise in international and/or European law straight away. This was not possible in the UK (at the time) with all European or international law being offered at masters level only. I came across the LLB programme for international and European law in Groningen and immediately realised it was exactly what I wanted to do.

    Not only do you have the opportunity to study international and European law under the guidance of well respected professors in the field, in a country renowned for international law but you study with people from all over the world as well. Add on to this that Groningen is all you can ask for in a student city with plenty of opportunities, a vibrant nightlife and a great atmosphere, then you have the perfect combination. Coming to the Netherlands over three years ago was without doubt the best decision I have ever made. The law faculty offers a tremendous amount of support for new students and this continues over the course of the degree. The areas covered in the LLB programme vary greatly and gave me a good opportunity to decide what area of law I would want to specialise in on completion of my bachelor degree. Despite not focusing on any national law the legal understanding developed as part of the programme, especially in public international and EU law will be indispensable in any legal career. Asides from the high standard of education, what makes the experience of the LLB in Groningen so rewarding is the people I have shared that experience with, like minded students from so many different backgrounds make an excellent network of people that I will keep in contact with for the rest of my life. The city of Groningen, although small, is an excellent place to live as a student and especially an international student as there are already so many other international students in Groningen helping give it the great atmosphere it has. It is truly an overlooked gem in this part of Europe. You may even find yourself doing a masters in Groningen because you can't bring yourself to leave!

    Close

Study associations

Nexus

Nexus Student Association Groningen is the student association (studievereniging) for the LLB programme in International and European Law and related master programmes.
These programmes mainly consist of international students and, therefore, Nexus is very internationally orientated. Besides organizing activities to integrate internationals into Dutch culture, such as a political debate with local parties in English, Nexus also aims to provide members with the chance to obtain a social network, participate in the organization of guest lectures or informal activities, attend debating trainings, trips and workshops, all in a multicultural environment.
https://www.facebook.com/nexusgroningen
Read more
(Binding) study advice
  • A minimum of 45 EC in the first 12 months (binding)

You will be offered study advice after the first year of study. You can expect a positive result if you have earned more than 45 ECTS credit points (out of a total of 60 ECTS). If you have earned fewer than 45 ECTS and are issued a negative result, you will not be allowed to continue with your degree programme.

You will receive preliminary study advice in December to make sure that you know where you stand. Please contact your study advisor as soon as possible if you have any questions about the BSA system. N.B. Some degree programmes use a tutoring system; please check with your study advisor.

Study support

First year students are offered workshops 'Starting your Academic Career'. This workshop offers a mentor-system in which a small group of 1st year students is supervised weekly by a senior student and enables you to start up your studies more smoothly.

If you come across questions with regard to your programme, study progress, your way of studying, personal circumstances, etc, you can go to the International Office for guidance. All discussed in these conversations is treated confidentially.

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