Open Degree Master programme

General

Next to the fixed Master’s degree programmes it is also possible to compose an individual Master’s degree programme, based on article 7.3j WHW (Dutch Higher Education Act).
This will lead to a final examination, which content-wise deviates from any other legal Master’s degree programmes; this is called an Open Degree programme.

Admission

Such individual programme must be discussed with the study adviser and needs prior approval of the Board of Examiners.
The Board of Examiners also decides to which Master’s degree programme the programme would belong.

Duration & size

The size of the Open Degree programme is a minimum of 60 ECTS; the duration is – dependent on the size – at least one year. You can find more information in Article 3.19 of the English-taught Master programmes Teaching and Examination Regulation.

‘Civiel effect’

An Open Degree programme in principle does not grant the so-called ‘civiel effect’, but it also depends on the content of the programme and the bachelor programme.
Access to the bar or judiciary is in principle excluded.
Check the ‘Civiel Effect’ page for more details and possibilities to supplement the programme with extra courses for ‘civiel effect’.

Title and degree

The Master’s degree programme leads to the degree of Master of Laws. You can use the title LLM behind your name after successful completion of the Master’s degree programme.

Programme

The following requirements apply to an Open Degree programme::

• The programme should be coherent in relation to the desired degree programme.
• The programme needs to fall outside the regular programmes and should deviate at least 50% from the compulsory curriculum of the desired degree programme.
• An Open Degree programme comprises of the following components:
  - a minimum of 30 ECTS worth of relevant legal master courses;
  - a seminar that is offered within the degree programme (6 ECTS; check Ocasys);
  - a Law in Practice course unit (6 ECTS)
  - a Master’s thesis (12 ECTS)

Only courses that are part of an accredited degree programme can be chosen for an Open Degree programme. Also check article 3.15 Teaching and Examination Regulation English-taught master programmes.

Open Degree programme after other master

Taking an Open Degree programme after having already completed another Master’s degree programme, the following guidelines apply:

1. The Open Degree programme should have at least 30 ECTS worth of new courses. The student can only get a maximum of 30 ECTS worth of exemptions for courses obtained in a previous Master’s degree programme;
2. The programme needs to be coherent;
3. At least half of the ECTS to be obtained should be legal courses;
4. It is not possible to complete this programme within one of the existing Master’s degree programmes. At least 21 ECTS should deviate from one of the existing Master’s degree programmes.
5. No exemptions are granted from having to write a Master’s thesis.

Seminar

Please check the regulations with regard to Seminars.

Master’s thesis

You complete the Open Degree programme by writing a Master’s thesis which connects to the content of the Master’s degree programme. Please also check the entry Master’s thesis. General Faculty guidelines with regard to writing a Master’s thesis can be found in the Thesis Regulations.

Last update: 21-7-2023