Study information
The Dutch higher education system may differ from that in your home country. In the sections below is some brief, but important, information with regard to various aspects of studying in the LLM programmes.
Academic year
The academic year is divided into two terms (semesters). Each semester consists of two blocks of classes and exams. Mostly two courses (each 6 ECTS) will be taught in each block plus the seminar and your Master's thesis which run for two blocks.
Each block consists of six weeks of classes, one study week and three weeks of examinations. The 3rd week of exams usually offers the resits of the courses of the previous block.
The first semester usually starts on the first Monday in September. The current academic year calendars - including scheduled holidays - can be found here.
Examinations
An examination period without classes follows each term. Written and oral examinations are used to assess students’ comprehension of lectures and required reading. Most examinations are written examinations, which are conducted digitally in the main Exam Hall of the University of Groningen. In some cases, a course is assessed by way of paper or a combination of a paper and a (written) examination.
The duration of a written examination is two to three hours. An oral examination normally takes one hour.
In the case of seminars, performance is assessed and grades are given on the basis of papers, presentations, quality of participation in group discussions, and other assignments.
Dutch grading system
The Dutch grading system is using a 1 to 10 grading scale in which 10 is the highest grade, 6 the minimum pass grade, and 1 the lowest grade. However, the grade 10 is rarely awarded. The scale used translates as follows:
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10
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=
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outstanding
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9
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=
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excellent
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8
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=
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very good
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7
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=
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good pass
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6
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=
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pass
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1-5
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=
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fail
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Absolute grading system
In the Netherlands, grades are given on an absolute basis. Results of exams will hardly ever be adjusted to a curve, because we do not use a comparative system for grading.
All assessments are graded in full marks. The only exceptions to this are the Master's thesis and seminars. These can be graded in half grades. The grade 6.0 is considered to be a pass grade in this respect. For all other assessments only full marks are given.
Distinctions
The distinction Cum Laude is awarded, when a degree programme is completed with an average grade of at least 8.0 or higher, including a Master's thesis marked 8.0 or higher.The distinction Summa Cum Laude is awarded, when a degree programme is completed with an average grade of at least 9.0 or higher, including a Master's thesis marked 9.0 or higher.
In order to be granted the distinctions Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude, students are not allowed to resit an examination or score a six on one of the examinations.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees for students depend on their country of origin (EU/EEA or non-EU/EEA). Fees are indexed each year by the Dutch government.
The tuition fee does not include costs of travel, living, accommodation, insurance, books and readers.
Current tuition fees for the University of Groningen can be seen here.
Scholarships
For scholarship possibilities you can best check the University of Groningen Grantfinder. The Grantfinder offers prospective students a scholarship database in which to enter their nationality and study details, and then initiate a search in which the database will list the scholarships that they are eligible to apply for.
The Grantfinder only lists scholarships the University of Groningen is aware of and therefore is by no means a limitative list of available scholarships.
Law in Practice
Moot Courts
In some LLM programmes it is at times possible to participate in moot court competitions. Such competitions will in most cases be an extracurricular activity, even though some moot courts, if content-wise linked to the LLM you are participating in, might also be used as the compulsory Law in Practice course unit in your LLM.
In the past, academic staff has provided extensive coaching for the written and oral phases of various moot courts such as the Telders International Moot Court Competition, the ICC Moot Court Competition, the Jean-Pictet Competition on International Humanitarian Law, the Frits Kalshoven International Humanitarian Law Competition, the ELSA European Human Rights Moot Court Competition, the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, and the Pax Moot Court Competition.
Law in practice activities such as moots offers you valuable experience in defending your legal arguments in front of judges. The particular moot court(s) students participate in varies from year to year and depends on student interest.
Internships
Internships are a great opportunity for students to experience how legal professionals work and to experience possible work environments. It is possible to participate in an internship as an option within the Law in Practice component offered in each LLM programme. You are not limited to one internship, but can take several if you wish.
Publishing
If you are considering an academic career or want to raise your professional profile of activities, various opportunities exist to actively submit articles or papers to law focused journals or mediums, or be involved in their editorial activities. For example, some students submit articles to the Groningen Journal of International Law or write for the Groningen Centre for Health Law blog.