Which pre-LLM?

The pre-LLM programmes are all geared toward their specific LLM programmes and thus all are programmed to remove the specific deficiencies for that particular LLM programme. It is therefore not possible to switch LLM programmes after having completed a specific pre-LLM. Therefore carefully check which LLM you wish you join before applying. You can find all available LLM programmes on this page, with a schedule of courses (including course descriptions), career prospects and special features of the programmes.

The Faculty of Law offers a standard 1-year, 60 ECTS pre-LLM option for the following LLM programmes:

Pre-LLM Advanced European Union Law

The pre-Master's programme Advanced European Union Law consists of 60 ECTS in total and is set-up as follows:

Block 1		Block 2		Block 3		Block 4
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Public International Law	10	Administrative Law and Market Regulation	10	The Contemporary Value(s) of International Law	5
Law of the European Union	10			Administrative Law and Market Regulation	10	European Judicial Protection	5
Law of the European Union	10			Research seminar			10
Total semester 1			30	Total semester 2			30

International Relations degree

If you have an International Relations degree which includes a substantial law component, a 30 ECTS pre-LLM programme might suffice. The Admissions Board determines which of the pre-LLM programmes (60 ECTS or 30 ECTS) you would need to be able to be successful in this LLM. They determine this depending on the number of law credits and the content of the law courses that are already part of your bachelor's degree.

For the LLM Advanced European Union Law, two 30 ECTS pre-LLM variants are offered:

Variant 1, starting in semester 2

This variant allows for a direct start in the LLM Advanced European Union Law in September of the following academic year.

Block 3		Block 4
Administrative Law and Market Regulation	10	European Judicial Protection	5
Administrative Law and Market Regulation	10	The Contemporary Value(s) of International Law	5
Research seminar			10
Total semester 2			30

Variant 2, starting in semester 1

This variant leaves a half year for other activities (e.g., internships) before starting the LLM Advanced European Union Law in September of the following academic year.

Block 1		Block 2
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Public International Law	10
Law of the European Union	10	Public International Law	10
Total semester 1			30

Pre-LLM Energy and Climate Law

The pre-Master's programme Energy and Climate Law consists of 60 ECTS in total and is set-up as follows:

Block 1		Block 2		Block 3		Block 4
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Public International Law	10	Administrative Law and Market Regulation	10	Markets and Regulation	5
Law of the European Union	10			Administrative Law and Market Regulation	10	Private International Business Law	5
Law of the European Union	10			Research seminar			10
Total semester 1			30	Total semester 2			30

Pre-LLM Global Criminal Law

The pre-Master's programme Global Criminal Law consists of 60 ECTS in total and is set-up as follows:

Block 1		Block 2		Block 3		Block 4
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Public International Law	10	Regulating Cybercrime	5	European Judicial Protection	5
Law of the European Union	10	Criminal Law	10	Research seminar			10
Total semester 1			40	Total semester 2			20

Pre-LLM Health and Technology Law

The pre-Master's programme Health and Technology Law consists of 60 ECTS in total and is set-up as follows:

Block 1		Block 2		Block 3		Block 4
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Data Protection and Human Rights	10	IT in the context of law	5	Introduction to Technology Law	5
Law of the European Union	10	Criminal Law	10	Research seminar			10
Total semester 1			40	Total semester 2			20

Pre-LLM International Commercial Law

The pre-Master's programme International Commercial Law Law consists of 60 ECTS in total and is set-up as follows:

Block 1		Block 2		Block 3		Block 4
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Introduction to Common Law	5	Contract and Tort Law	5	Private International Business Law	5
Law of the European Union	10			Commercial Dispute Resolution	5	Markets and Regulation	5
Law of the European Union	10			Research seminar			10
Property Law	5			Research seminar			10
Total semester 1			30	Total semester 2			30

Pre-LLM International Human Rights Law

The pre-Master's programme International Human Rights Law consists of 60 ECTS in total and is set-up as follows:

Block 1		Block 2		Block 3		Block 4
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Public International Law	10	Administrative Law and Market Regulation	10	Comparative Constitutional Law	10
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Criminal Law	10	Research seminar			10
Total semester 1			30	Total semester 2			30

International Relations degree

For the LLM International Human Rights Law, two 30 ECTS pre-LLM variants are offered:

Variant 1, starting in semester 2

This variant allows for a direct start in the LLM International Human Rights Law in September of the following academic year.

Block 3		Block 4
Administrative Law and Market Regulation	10	Comparative Constitutional Law	10
Contract and Tort Law	5
Regulating Cybercrime	5
Total semester 2			30

Variant 2, starting in semester 1

This variant leaves a half year for other activities (e.g., internships) before starting the LLM International Human Rights Law in September of the following academic year.

Block 1		Block 2
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Public International Law	10
Property Law	5	Criminal Law	10
Total semester 1			30

Variant 2 holds 35 ECTS instead of 30 ECTS mentioned above. Since most International Relations degrees will have offered some public international law course, only 5 ECTS of the Public International Law course can be counted towards eliminating deficiencies.

Pre-LLM Public International Law

The pre-Master's programme Public International Law consists of 60 ECTS in total and is set-up as follows:

Block 1		Block 2		Block3		Block 4
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Public International Law	10	Administrative Law and Market Regulation	10	Comparative Constitutional Law	10
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Criminal Law	10	Research seminar			10
Total semester 1			30	Total semester 2			30

International Relations degree

For the LLM International Human Rights Law, two 30 ECTS pre-LLM variants are offered:

Variant 1, starting in semester 2

This variant allows for a direct start in the LLM Public International Law in September of the following academic year.

Block 3		Block 4
Administrative Law and Market Regulation	10	Comparative Constitutional Law	10
Contract and Tort Law	5
Regulating Cybercrime	5
Total semester 2			30

Variant 2, starting in semester 1

This variant leaves a half year for other activities (e.g., internships) before starting the LLM Public International Law in September of the following academic year.

Block 1		Block 2
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Public International Law	10
Property Law	5	Criminal Law	10
Total semester 1			30

Pre-LLM Technology Law and Innovation

The pre-Master's programme Technology Law and Innovation consists of 60 ECTS in total and is set-up as follows:

Block 1		Block 2		Block 3		Block 4
Law and Legal Skills: the Dutch example	10	Data Protection and Human Rights	10	IT in the context of law	5	European and International IP Law	5
Law of the European Union	10			Competition Law in the Digital Market	5	Telecom-munications Law	5
Law of the European Union	10			Research seminar			10
Total semester 1			30	Total semester 2			30

Please note our pre-LLM programmes are designed for students who wish to apply to one of the University of Groningen LLM programmes but are not directly admissible based on their current degrees. The pre-LLM programmes are closely linked to the corresponding UG LLM programmes and therefore are not stand alone general introduction to law programmes. As programmes designed to eliminate deficiencies in educational backgrounds, the pre-LLM programmes do not lead to a certificate.

Last modified:28 January 2026 4.08 p.m.