LLM in European Law Utrecht University

Today’s Europe demands lawyers who possess a thorough mastery of European law. The European Union increasingly affects all areas of law and the national legal systems of its member states have reached a high level of integration. EU law teaches a great deal about the relationship between law and economics, history, politics, and international relations. This makes EU law of interest not only to lawyers but also to anyone trying to understand one of the most ambitious attempts to get different states to work together. Our LLM program will immerse you in this challenging and dynamic field while opening up many new opportunities for you both during and after the program. It provides a thorough grounding in European law, covering areas such as internal market law, competition law, social law, judicial protection, refugee law, criminal law, and public law.

What is the EU banking union, for example? Why do they say that the EU features a democratic deficit and how can we enhance democracy and the rule of law in the EU? How is legal protection afforded in cases where decisions are made by both EU and national enforcement authorities? Our unique program will help you build both substantive and institutional knowledge of European law.

The Program

Learning by doing is key to this program and, as such, knowledge and understanding gained through theoretical modules is complemented by training in legal analysis, argumentation, and research. Your professors take a supportive role in this self-created, individualized approach to your studies. In the Capita Selecta modules, you will be trained in essential skills, such as quickly deepening your knowledge in a current, specialized legal topic. From the very beginning, you will also take part in the Research and Thesis Training that prepares you to write your master’s thesis, the culmination of your LLM program.

If you have the drive to go the extra mile in your studies, there is – the LLM's Honours Programme – an additional (extra-curricular) honors program for the best and most highly motivated students. Master’s programs within Utrecht University’s School of Law are based on multidisciplinary research conducted by the Faculty of Law, Economics, and Governance. This research takes into account socio-economic and sociopolitical perspectives, as well as the impact of European law on national laws.