How does the law facilitate sustainability? What rights and responsibilities do businesses, governments and NGOs have in addressing the issues of climate change? Can states be forced to bring their policies in line with the Paris 2015 Agreement?

VU Amsterdam is the first university in Europe to offer a specific International Business Law degree that combines an outstanding, all-around Master’s in Business Law with a specific focus on one of the most complex legal challenges of our day: sustainability. It took some time for the corporate world to acknowledge the existential threat to mankind that climate change poses. But now, sustainability goes hand-in-hand with business success – and business survival. VU Amsterdam will help you become a lawyer in high demand, in both the public and the private sector.... [-]

ITL is a full-time, one-year specialization of the Law LLM graduate program. Mandatory elements of the specialization are:

You will additionally choose at least one of these courses:

And you will also choose at least one of these courses:

You have 12 EC to choose from the many electives offered as part of the master's program, including the other courses above You can also do an internship or period of study abroad.... [-]

Within the programme lecturers and researchers from various foreign backgrounds work together. The Faculty of Law of VU Amsterdam is distinctive in having united EU Law, International Public Law, Internet Governance and Legal theory all in one joint research programme. This approach allows a broad, and at the same time in-depth, analysis of transnational legal issues. Students can design their own programme in line with their personal preferences: practical, academic, public law, civil law, economic, theoretical and social.

Transnational Legal Studies is a full-time, one-year graduate programme, organized as a specialization in the VU Master of Laws (LLM). Its curriculum is designed for students who want to pursue careers related to European and international issues and who are passionate about exploring the political, economic and social context of law. You will follow:... [-]

Columbia University School of Law and the Amsterdam Law School offer a joint LLM programme in International Criminal Law, with an exchange to the US in the second semester. This Master track is the first to focus on international criminal law as a distinct field of legal study. The central aim of the joint LLM programme is to train a new style of international criminal lawyers who are capable of transcending (disciplinary) borders, by offering a broad and deep understanding of relevant issues pertaining to international and cross-border justice and supporting the development of academic skills through the in-depth analysis of such issues.

The programme is unique because of the dual perspective it offers on international criminal law. The International Criminal Law LLM combines insights from a common law focus offered by Columbia Law School with a civil law perspective provided by the Amsterdam Law School.... [-]

The two-year Research Master’s programme in Public International Law aims to give students knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of public international law, with a particular focus on key areas of the international rule of law.

Students of the Research Master's Public International Law will engage with questions of legal science and international legal research and will acquire the skills they need in order to apply their knowledge to conduct fundamental and applied research. Graduates of the Research Master’s may apply for an accelerated, three-year PhD track.

During the first year, students gain an understanding of the foundations of public international law and, more specifically, the international rule of law. In the second year, students will have the opportunity to specialise in a topic within the theme of the international rule of law, for example in the field of human rights, criminal law or humanitarian law.... [-]

Public International Law is a track of the Master's programme in International and European Law. The programme introduces students to the core areas of general international law, including sources, international responsibility, international organisations, and human rights.

The public international law has a long tradition but also an acute modern relevance. Its main functions are the facilitation of the co-existence of independent states and communities and the furtherance of international cooperation for shared interests. Both functions are of critical importance in an era of internationalisation and globalisation.

The Public International Law track is taught by leading international law scholars with a high academic reputation and broad experience in the practice of international law. In addition to lectures, most courses are taught in smaller seminars or working groups allowing for a challenging exchange of ideas on the latest developments and academic insights in this dynamic area of law.... [-]

The European Competition Law and Regulation track of the LLM programme in International and European Law focus on the law and governance of economic regulation and competition in the EU.

Today’s markets are characterized by rapid developments due to disruptive innovation and dynamic technological changes. As businesses adjust their practices to the changing market environment, the boundaries of the law are greatly challenged. Cases involving Google or Facebook as well as attempts to regulate Airbnb and Uber or the position of household energy producers may serve as examples.

The master track European Competition Law and Regulation offers a unique program across European universities to specialize in competition law and study the regulatory framework applicable to economic activities in fast-moving and progressively digitalized markets. You will learn to fully understand and explain the complex web of market processes in the European law context and will also obtain the fundamental legal skills that allow you to master new legal fields and solve a diverse range of legal problems.... [-]

The Amsterdam Law School offers a full LLM in International and Transnational Criminal Law, with transnational criminal law courses and opportunities for internships, law clinics and research for courts and tribunals in the Netherlands in the second semester. This Master programme track is the first to focus on international and transnational criminal law as distinct fields of legal study. The central aim is to train a new style of criminal lawyers who are capable of transcending (disciplinary) borders, by offering a broad and deep understanding of relevant issues pertaining to international and cross-border justice and supporting the development of academic skills through the in-depth analysis of such issues.... [-]

The International Trade and Investment Law track of the Master's programme in International and European Law deals with two aspects of the international economic law.

International trade and investment are driving forces in the world economy and its increasing globalization. This track focuses on the international law that governs these economic relations for states and regions.

A significant part of the programme concerns the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO). The WTO provides the legal framework for the multilateral trading systems for goods and services, including its advanced system of dispute resolution.

LLM - International and European Tax Law

Taught in English

Studying tax law is not about numbers: it is about bringing to bear the best in legal and financial consultants and managers. Tax professionals operate in a globalized environment where trade and investment take place on a multinational level. Thanks to their broad-based expert knowledge of financial and business matters, tax specialists/lawyers are highly successful in the job market. Generally speaking, their salary levels are higher than for jurists who graduate in other fields of law. A specialist in International and European tax law will be particularly suited to work with major international companies and other clients.... [-]

LLM - International Law

Taught in English

Globalisation and European integration have brought rapid change to the legal profession. There is a growing need for law graduates who are both well versed in international law and fluent in several languages. The International Laws master’s programme (formerly Law and Language Studies) was created to meet this demand. The programme gives law graduates a comprehensive education in different national and international legal systems while providing intensive language training.The International Law master’s programme is a two-year programme taught in English.

Programme information

The master’s programme in International Law examines the effects of globalization and European integration on the international, European and national law. Students also receive intensive language training in one language other than English. The default language is French but depending on the interests and level of the students, other languages are made available (eg. Spanish or Mandarin Chinese).... [-]

LLM - Globalisation and Law

Taught in English

The Master Globalisation and Law offers four specializations in the following subjects:

International Dispute Settlement deals with the institutions and procedures for the settlement of disputes not only between states but also between states and private entities, including investment and human rights disputes. Corporate Social Responsibility focuses on responsible entrepreneurship and the legal possibilities to enforce such behavior. The Leitmotiv of the specialization in Human Rights is how humanitarian standards and procedures may be used to mitigate the negative consequences of globalization. Humanitarian’ in this context refers to both international human rights law, international criminal law and international humanitarian law. This track is taught by staff members of the renowned Maastricht Centre for Human Rights with extensive experience in scholarship, government, and activism. Students may substitute up to two courses of their specialization (not being a common course) with courses of the other specialization or one of the Faculty’s other Master programmes, traineeships or participation in a Moot Court competition. This allows students to tailor their programme to their interests and ambitions.... [-]

The Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights is a one of a kind program, offering an advanced master (LL.M) dedicated to the rights and interests of children from a legal perspective. Today – more than 25 years after the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – the role of international, regional and domestic systems in issues of child protection, participation and empowerment is ever-growing and requires in-depth specialization.

Multi-layered and interdisciplinary

International children's rights (law) is a unique area of law because it is multi-layered (covering international, regional and national legal spectrums) and interdisciplinary (crossing different areas of law, both domestically and internationally).... [-]

What effects have globalization had in the international trade? What are the essential elements of international business contracts? When there is a dispute concerning a cross-border business transaction, which country's or region's laws apply and which court has jurisdiction? Learn how to deal with questions like these from both an international comparative perspective.

What does this master's programme entail?

Globalisation and increasing international trade have led to the rapid internationalization of civil and commercial law, thus forming a complex and multi-layered discipline. Leiden University’s International Civil and Commercial Law programme deals with different levels of international, EU and national laws as they coexist and interact with one another. This programme will equip you with the skills necessary to fully understand and apply such intertwined layers to domain-specific legal issues.... [-]

Public International Law is a one-year Master’s specialization at the internationally acclaimed Leiden Law School at Leiden University. The programme focuses on the legal framework that governs international relations in an increasingly complex global society.

Different perspectives

The one-year programme - taught in English - focuses on the law that governs international relations. In the not so distant past, this was more or less limited to relations between states, but in recent years international organisations, peoples, enterprises and individuals have also become part of the increasingly complex global society and therewith of the realm of international law.