LLM in International and European Law Brussels School of Governance (BSoG)

Join our programme director, current students and alumni to learn more about what it is like to study at the BSoG!

This innovative LLM’s curriculum offers the best of both worlds: on the one hand, it provides solid foundations in the core areas of international and European law, building on the strengths of the programme’s 50-year history. On the other, the new curriculum offers its students a holistic approach of today’s emerging global legal challenges, focusing on the following three challenges: sustainability – social inclusiveness & human rights – digitalisation.

This LLM in International and European Law is a programme that is organised by the Institute for European Studies, a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, and of which the degree will be awarded by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). The Institute for European Studies is part of the Brussels School of Governance, an alliance with Vesalius College, established in February 2021.

Key features

• Innovative LLM with holistic approach of contemporary global legal challenges, focusing on sustainability – social inclusiveness & human rights – digitalisation
• Versatile training. Students will be able to assume key responsibilities in interconnected areas that require highly specialised legal knowledge, leadership skills and intercultural approaches
• Taught at the Brussels School of Governance, a leading institute in policy and fundamental research of the highest quality in an international context. Its President, former EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, is one of the professors in the LLM.
• The Brussels School of Governance’s central location in Brussels, which allows the programme to benefit from the knowledge and networks of professors working at the EU and other institutions and law firms in Brussels. Teaching staff includes a former European Trade Commissioner, the President of the Litigation Chamber at the Belgian Data Protection Authority, a Deputy Director-General (DG Competition) and a Head of Unit (DG Trade) in the European Commission, a partner in an international law firm, and renowned researchers
• ​Cutting-edge education. It is an exclusively advanced master: basics of international and European law are a prerequisite
• Experience: programme of excellence established in 1971.
• Limited class size ensures high interaction and close contacts among students and with the professors, helping create true bonds that last
• Alumni network of over 1300 lawyers from 110 countries
• Supported by the expertise of our Office for Teaching, Learning and Innovation to accommodate sophisticated blended teaching methods

The Brussels School of Governance hosts important research projects funded by the EU in topics such as sustainability, climate policies, the role of the EU in the world politics, digitalisation, and migration and diversity,among other topics. This environment allows LLM students to learn about developments in these topics directly from those who are leading the field.

Studying in Brussels offers students some unique advantages that could just give them the edge in achieving their career goals. The students will benefit from the immediate vicinity of EU institutions and numerous international organisations, law firms, NGOs and companies, where several professors are working.

Limited class size ensures high interaction amongst professors and students, who are of truly versatile international backgrounds.

Curriculum

The LLM has three components: the first block deals with core contemporary areas of international and European Law, with a total of 18 ECTS. The second block trains students on the major challenges of the interconnected global and cross-cutting areas: sustainability, social inclusiveness and human rights, and digitalisation. Each of these areas is weighted equally, i.e. 9 credits for a total of 27 ECTS. The third (research) block of 15 credits consists of writing a Master’s thesis on a topic chosen by the student, with personalised guidance during the process.

For more information, please visit our website here.

Teaching staff

The teaching staff is a unique mixture of renowned EU scholars, top-level EU practitioners and practising lawyers that combine academic rigour with the latest practical insights and cultural diversity.

Programme structure

The LLM in International and European law is an Advanced Master's degree obtained in one academic year (from the end of September until early July). The program offers a balanced, versatile package that consists of compulsory and optional courses as well as a Master thesis:

• Compulsory courses: these 8 courses give a broad overview of the main topics of international and European law.
• Optional courses on either Business Law, Public law, or Data Law. Since 2020, there is also the opportunity to take a special and exclusive Moot Court course.
• Master Thesis.

Career & alumni

Our students are offered personalized coaching and career advice at the VUB Career Centre. Clients of the VUB Career Centre include major law firms, the European Commission, the European Parliament, European Agencies, and consultancies. We have over 1250 highly successful alumni who are now working in international institutions such as the European Union, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in national administrations, diplomatic services, the judiciary, as well as in major law firms, corporations and NGOs.