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About us Faculty of Law Study Guide Faculty of Law Bachelor International and European Law Year 2

Extracurricular options

It is possible to pursue extra options while registered as an LLB student. This can take several forms. Please be aware that most of these options are extracurricular.

Extra UG law courses

UG law courses from other tracks or programmes

From year 2 onward, you are allowed to participate in other UG law courses, which are not part of your own programme or track. Check:

  • the courses are at bachelor level
  • they are not offered in year 1


If you would like such courses to appear on your degree certificate, make sure to apply for approval with the Board of Examiners.

Taking both LLB tracks

Taking both LLB tracks

From your 2nd year, you select one of two tracks. If you want to pursue both, you can enrol in all courses for each track. Check the available courses in Ocasys and the LLB Teaching and Examination Regulations.

  • You only need to complete the Research Colloquium once.
  • Always discuss your study plan with a study adviser.


By the end of your 1st year, select your main track in Progress. Contact your study advisers to register the second track.

Approval list of courses for graduation

In the middle of 3rd year, we’ll ask you to submit your list of courses to the Board of Examiners for approval. Choose both tracks when applying, include all courses and add a note that you’re completing both tracks. You’ll receive one Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. Both tracks will appear on your diploma supplement this way.

Switch tracks

You can switch tracks until 1 August of your 1st year. After that, contact your study advisers for guidance and planning. They can also update your track selection in Progress.

Need help?

Contact your study advisers to discuss your options.

Minors and external courses

Taking courses outside the Faculty of Law

As an LLB student, you cannot include a minor in your degree programme. However, you can take individual courses from other faculties or universities and have them approved as extracurricular courses, provided they are 2nd or 3rd year courses.

Entry requirements and enrolment

Check the entry requirements and enrolment procedure at the faculty or university offering the course.

Approval extracurricular courses

If you want the course to count as an extracurricular course in your programme:

  • Request approval from the Board of Examiners before starting the course.
  • You can add the course under extracurricular courses on your list of courses.

Questions

Contact the Board of Examiners at BoE-Law rug.nl.

Summer schools, winter school & Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs)

Include such items on your degree certificate?

Want to include a summer school, winter school, or Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on your degree certificate? You must request approval from the Board of Examiners. These programmes are not part of your regular curriculum but can be recognised as extracurricular courses on your diploma supplement. They will appear on your list of courses but will not affect your GPA.

Requirements for approval

To qualify for approval, your summer school, winter school, or BIP must meet three criteria:

  • The course must have legal relevance (content related to law).
  • The course must be offered by an accredited institution.
  • The course must include an individual assessment (exam, presentation, paper, etc.).

Courses that do not meet these criteria cannot be approved. However, you can still include them on your CV to highlight your extracurricular activities.

How to request approval

Submit your request using the online approval form.

Registration of approved course units

If approved, the course will be registered as a separate course. Make sure to add it to your list of courses.

Questions?

Contact the study advisers for further assistance.

Global & Intercultural Engagement Distinction (GIED)

Boost your skills with GIED

The world is more interconnected than ever, and the Faculty of Law is committed to preparing you for it. Our Global & Intercultural Engagement Distinction (GIED) is designed to enhance your language and intercultural skills, making you more competitive in the global job market. The Faculty of Law is the first at the University of Groningen to offer this extracurricular programme. Discover how GIED can benefit you and take the first step toward expanding your horizons.

Programme structure

To earn the Distinction and have it recognised on your diploma supplement, you must complete all five categories, totaling 30 ECTS. Each category requires 168 hours of work (1 ECTS = 28 hours of work). Note that you can only start GIED after receiving a positive BSA.

The GIED-structure:

  1. Intercultural Competence course (6 ECTS)
  2. International or intercultural courses (6 ECTS)
  3. International or intercultural work experience/internship (6 ECTS)
  4. Foreign language learning and proficiency (6 ECTS)
  5. International study (6 ECTS)

All categories are subject to approval by the Board of Examiners of the Faculty of Law. You can find the approval (and exemption) forms on the GIED page.

How to enrol

Ready to take on the challenge? Enrolment is simple:

  • Enrol for the intercultural competence workshop (Category 1) in Ocasys.
  • Workshops are offered every block and labelled as "GIED Block X".
  • Act fast. Spaces are limited per block!

Questions?

For more information check the GIED page. Contact the study advisers.

Lokin courses

What are Lokin courses?

Lokin courses are small-scale, interactive courses of 3 ECTS and are specifically there for students who would like to explore a specific area of law. Taught by expert lecturers, each course offers limited seats to foster in-depth discussion, critical thinking, and interactive learning.

What to expect in a Lokin course

You’ll collaborate in a small group with a lecturer who specialises in the subject. Prepare to:

  • Study literature or sources in advance
  • Engage in group discussions on current and historical legal issues
  • Explore diverse perspectives in a dynamic, interactive setting


Each course reflects the lecturer’s expertise or research interests, providing considerable in-depth knowledge in the subject. Assessment methods vary from written assignments to presentations and are announced at the start of the course. Your 3 ECTS and grade will appear on your diploma supplement as an extracurricular course.

Lokin courses offered next semester

The topics and content of the Lokin courses will be announced on 1 November each year at the latest. The courses will be offered in the second semester

Why participate?

  • Deepen your knowledge in unique or less commonly studied legal fields
  • Learn in a small, motivated group with lots of room for interaction
  • Gain inspiration for your thesis or future research
  • Earn additional ECTS to highlight your engagement

Enrolment

To enrol, you must have obtained at least 80 ECTS. First-year students are not eligible.

  • Contact the lecturer of your chosen Lokin course or use this form
  • The registration deadline will be announced on 1 November each year

Questions

Contact the lecturer or email Rozemarijn Post at education-policy-law rug.nl.

Open Degree programme

What is an Open Degree programme?

In the 2nd and 3rd years of your LLB, you can put together your own individual study programme. This is known as an Open Degree programme. You will then follow a unique pathway that differs from the standard specialisations within the LLB. The content of your final examination will therefore differ from that of standard Bachelor’s degree programmes in Law.

Conditions and guidelines

Approval of an Open Degree programme is subject to strict conditions:

  • Year 1 is always the same: you begin the customised programme in year 2

  • Scope: the programme comprises 120 ECTS and aligns with the programme’s learning outcomes

  • Coherence: the programme must form a logical whole in terms of content

  • Law modules: at least 50% (60 ECTS) must consist of law modules

  • Deviation: the programme must deviate by a minimum of 42 ECTS (35%) and a maximum of 48 ECTS (40%) from an existing track

  • Bachelor-concluding course unit: the programme must include an appropriate bachelor-concluding course unit, such as the Research Colloquium (10 ECTS), at the UG Faculty of Law

  • Accredited course units: only course units from accredited degree programmes may be included in the Open Degree programme

Approval and deadlines

Would you like to follow an Open Degree programme? If so, you must submit a request to the Board of Examiners at least three months before the start date. If the request is submitted too late, the Board of Examiners may decide not to consider it.

The Board of Examiners also determines which accredited Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme your Open Degree programme falls under. That decision determines which degree you will ultimately receive.

More information

Check article 4.8 of the Teaching and Examination Regulations for the LLB programme for the full requirements.

Questions

Contact the Board of Examiners via BoE-Law rug.nl or your study advisers.

Last modified:13 August 2026 12.13 p.m.