Extracurricular options

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 master level
• are available for students from other LLMs

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

Are you a UG law student looking to study abroad? The Faculty’s Exchange Office can help you plan your exchange at one of our partner universities. Attend our annual information session in October to learn about opportunities for the next academic year.

• Deadlines vary by destination. Check the website for specific dates.
• Late registrations are not accepted. Ensure you submit your application on time.

• All LLM students are invited to go for a study abroad period.
• This is usually scheduled after the completion of the full LLM.
• The courses you take need to be at master level.
• You can choose any law course not included in your LLM programme, as well as related non-law courses (e.g., criminology, international relations, political science, philosophy of law, etc.).
• At least 25 ECTS must be law credits. Course categorisation is determined by the Board of Examiners.

All courses need to be approved by the Board of Examiners. Submit the approval form courses abroad for LLM students for approval. Make sure to apply for approval for as many courses as possible, so you will not have to repeat the application multiple times.

Results from approved courses will be registered in Progress as separate courses with individual results.

Explore scholarship opportunities to support your study abroad experience. Visit the website for details.

Questions? Check the contact information of the Exchange Office Law.

‘Law in Practice’ is the umbrella term for all modules in which you put theory into practice. Whether you want to undertake an internship, provide legal advice at a legal advice centre, or take part in moot court competitions: here you’ll practise skills that are essential for the legal profession. Discover all the options available to you during your master's degree on the Career Services Law website and in Ocasys.

Most students who choose extracurricular Law in Practice course unit take up internships.

In addition to following a research internship as part of your programme, you are allowed to take more Law in Practice components. These will, in most cases, be internships. Only ‘Law in Practice’ course units listed in the LLM programme in Ocasys can be awarded ECTS. These ECTS will in this case be extracurricular and can be added to the extra-curricular courses section on your degree certificate. To receive these ECTS, you must meet the following conditions:

• The course unit must have been approved in advance. For an internship, follow the internship step-by-step. In this case, the internship coordinator must approve your internship in advance. Your internship plan must meet the requirements set out in the Law in Practice Regulation.

• Employment may not be counted as an internship.

• Multiple internships and/or papers (or a combination of these) may not cover the same topic.

• One activity can only earn ECTS once.

• A Law in Practice course unit has a minimum of 3 ECTS and a maximum of 12 ECTS. You can participate in several Law in Practice course units and add them to the extracurricular courses section on your degree certificate.

Please note: all further requirements can be found in the Law in Practice Regulation.

Contact your study advisers.

An internship gives you hands-on experience and clarifies your career path. It also strengthens your job applications, as employers value practical work experience.

The best time to do an internship is during your final bachelor’s year or your master’s degree programme.

Boost your readiness by attending free workshops from UG Career Services. Find them on Brightspace under: Career > Events > UG Career Services (RUGConnect).

Workshops cover:

• LinkedIn optimisation
• CV and cover letter writing
• Networking
• Pitching yourself
• Professional self-analysis

• Follow the internship roadmap for ECTS to ensure your internship counts toward your degree.

• Check the Law in Practice Regulation for more detailed information.

Each track has an internship coordinator for guidance. For general questions, contact the Faculty internship coordinator.

The Faculty’s Law in Practice Regulation outlines:

• Internship duration
• Supervision requirements
• Approval process
• Non-disclosure and insurance guidelines

Approval process

1. Formal approval: your track’s internship coordinator must approve your internship before it starts.
2. Board of Examiners: add your internship to your course list for final approval.
3. Meet requirements: ensure your internship and final report align with the Law in Practice Regulation.

Explore opportunities on:

• RUGConnect
• Going Global

 Access both platforms via the Career tab in Brightspace.

Contact the internship coordinator of your track or the Faculty Internship Coordinator through CSL rug.nl.

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.

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.

Submit your request using the online approval form.

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

Contact the study advisers for further assistance.

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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

• 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

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

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