Master of

Laws (LL.M)
2024-2025

Study in Antwerp
and learn about
law in the world
Table of contents

In brief 04

In detail 05

Programme structure 07

Job opportunities 17

Why choose UAntwerp 18

What others have said 19

Admission criteria 20

Application procedure 21

European Credit Transfer

and Accumulation System 22
 4

Apart from its legal features, this Master of Laws

is about bringing together students from all over
the world, learning from each other, from our pasts
and cultures, from our differences, finding our
commonalities, and looking to the future together.

In brief
The Master of Laws (LL.M) is a two-year programme
taught in English worth 120 ECTS credits. It offers a
number of case-oriented courses in a modular setup
within a broad range of legal fields. Specifically, you will
experience a law-in-context approach in three chosen
modules from a list of five: 1) European Constitutionalism
and Fundamental Rights; 2) Sustainable Development
and Global Justice; 3) Commercial Transactions &
Disputes; 4) Commercial Transactions: Rights &
Governance; and 5) Diversity and Law. You will also have
the opportunity to develop research skills and make use
of our partnerships with excellent universities across the
globe by spending a semester abroad.
 5

In detail
After the first semester, which is focused on skills courses and
some fundamental courses in European and international
law and human rights, you will follow one module (cluster of
courses) each semester. You can also choose to study abroad
for one semester during your second Master’s year and
specialise in a module that you’ve already chosen in Antwerp.

You will participate in a legal clinic, allowing you to bridge

the gap between academic research and legal practice. Each
legal clinic involves a different partner institution, e.g. a law
firm, an NGO, or a government department. You will work with
other students on one or more legal assignments that are
developed in close cooperation with the partner institution
concerned. The assignments are related to real-life cases or
policy developments and need to respond to the institution’s
needs. This requires an approach that significantly differs from
writing an academic paper or studying for an exam. Therefore,
the legal clinic is hard work and a hands-on experience of law
in your preferred legal field.

The research skills you develop in your first semester are

further refined through the assignments in the semester
modules and within the context of the Master’s dissertation.
With the support of your supervisor, you learn how to translate
a problem into a legal question, carry out legal analysis,
develop your own opinion based on legal arguments and
propose legal solutions that reflect key societal and economic
developments. This skill set gives lawyers a distinct edge in any
field of law (legal practice, NGO, policy, academic).
Excellent students have the opportunity to become student
researchers within one of the faculty’s research groups
 6

for the duration of the programme. This position is aimed

at allowing you to better understand the possibilities of
an academic career, work closely with junior and senior
researchers at the faculty, and participate in academic events
(e.g. conferences, seminars, workshops or informal events).
Ideally, this position enables you to prepare a funding
application for a PhD fellowship. The additional research
skills and attitudes you develop will nevertheless be useful
for any professional career.

Visiting researchers and internationally renowned speakers

are frequently invited to the faculty. Our students are
welcome to attend faculty lectures, courses and seminars
given by these researchers.
In this context the Faculty of Law at the University of Antwerp
offers you a globally linked, locally embedded ‘metropolitan
Choosing the law faculty’, building on its tradition of strong research
LL.M was the and already established networks. The location in the city
best decision I of Antwerp allows the faculty to engage with a diverse
have ever made. population and a global economic landscape. Our law faculty
It offers an responds to societal challenges at the domestic, European,
excellent balance and global level. And finally, our metropolitan law faculty
between theory trains lawyers with skills to operate in a changing and global
and practice, and society.
while working
together with
other students,
your English
improves a lot.
You can also
choose between
specific modules,
so you can do
what interests
you.
 7

Programme structure
This LL.M programme is problem-based. Law is not studied in
isolation, but courses focus on contemporary problems that
call for examination from various fields of law and different
disciplines, including social sciences and humanities.

The programme starts with some mandatory courses

that will provide you with a solid academic foundation for
the other courses, your Master’s dissertation and your
professional career. Some of these courses are practice-
oriented and will increase your research and communication
skills. The methodological courses will introduce you to
a variety of theoretical and epistemological approaches
to legal research and legal research methodologies, and
the requirements of academic writing by focusing on the
development of your research skills and on the writing
process. Other more substantive courses are meant to
create a level playing field and focus on a wide range of
subjects, such as EU institutional law, EU internal market law,
EU external relations, constitutional principles and human
rights, private international law, public international law
and international dispute settlement.

The five course modules are similarly problem-oriented

and case-based. They require active participation in class
and include assignments that prepare you for your career.
Each module consists of two advanced courses and two
basic courses. The advanced courses are typically taught
via lectures and seminars. Most are assessed on the basis of
assignments or exercises, case studies, your participation in
classroom activities and a final assignment or group project,
usually with an oral presentation. Many basic courses are
assessed on the basis of a final exam, which can be either
written or oral, open or closed book,
 8

in addition to class participation. Guest lecturers are

common in both advanced and basic courses. And lastly, our
lecturers are available for further explanation and feedback
and are always happy to assist their students.

Within the module ‘Sustainable Development and Global

Justice’ you will undertake a post-colonial analysis of
public international law by looking at the current role of
the United Nations in the global development architecture,
with attention to international environmental law and
development. You will learn about human rights law with
a focus on the Global South while revisiting this field from
a developmental perspective, and study a number of
cross-cutting issues in order to demonstrate the links and
complexities that weave together the three development
policy regimes of aid, trade and investment.

The module ‘European Constitutionalism and Fundamental

Rights’ gives you the opportunity to study the institutions
and the instruments of EU governance specifically from a
perspective of multilevel governance with a sharp focus on
multilevel constitutionalism and on the basis of concrete
cases. You will focus on federal and quasi-federal systems,
based on indicators that allow useful comparison of multi-
 9

tiered systems, and learn to identify different approaches

that national multi-tiered systems adopt in the face of
national as well as global challenges, and how they can adopt
a centralist, federal or confederal approach. You will gain
insight into the multilevel aspects of European fundamental
rights protection via supranational, regional and national
instruments and institutions.

You can explore diversity from several perspectives and in

different legal domains within the module ‘Diversity and
Law’. You will look into the interaction between genders,
sexualities and the law by learning about feminist theory
and jurisprudence, by analysing selected fundamental legal
debates, and by studying the relevant legal framework in
complex areas such as multi-parenthood. You will study how
an interdisciplinary approach to property, planning and
privacy law and human rights can contribute to building
sustainable cities. You will also gain new insights into the
essential field of international and European immigration
and asylum law, as well as the rights and obligations of
employees and employers in an international and European
employment context.

In the module ‘Commercial Transactions: Rights &

Governance’ you will study competition law. This field covers
the rules addressed both to undertakings and to Member
States to establish good governance. You will learn about
international trade law with a focus on the WTO, trade
defence instruments, free trade agreements and methods of
dispute settlement. In international investment law you will
look into principles of protection and substantive standards
and investor-state dispute settlement. You will also consider
the role and competence of the EU in this field. The course
on intellectual property law takes into consideration both
the business and public governance context. You will be
 10

encouraged to consider various strategies to Mergers and

Acquisitions (M&A), which will include the international
context and different types of agreements.

Within the module ‘Commercial Transactions & Disputes’

you will focus on the different approaches of and on the law
applicable to commercial transactions. You will learn about
the extent to which parties can navigate between legal
systems, with respect to both substantive law and dispute
settlement.
You will tackle dispute settlement questions, such as: Should
parties opt for court proceedings, arbitration or mediation
and what are the consequences of these choices? You will
consider what the international effect of the resulting
judgment, award or agreement is.
You will consider the methods and potential of private
and business law harmonisation at a European and
international level. The focus will be on key domains of
private law such as contract law and consumer law. You will
examine international insolvency, including the question of
enterprises that have assets in different countries and the
insolvency of enterprise groups that are active in various
countries.

The programme offers you an ‘open space’ of 6 ECTS credits.

In this space you can choose from a wide range of electives
or interdisciplinary courses or seminars. Alternatively, you
can participate in a winter or summer school, a moot court
competition, or you can apply for an internship through one
of our partnerships with international organisations or law
firms in Switzerland, India or Peru and gain critical experi-
ence in the field of human rights. A placement or internship
of your choice is also an option.
 11

Over a period of two years you will learn to work independently

on your Master’s dissertation, deepening your expertise in the
selected topic and developing your research skills. Your disser-
tation is related to one of the modules; the legal clinic that
you follow is also aligned to that module. An overview of our
legal clinic partners is available on page 12. You will write the
dissertation under the su­pervision of a professor specialised
in the subject matter, after your research proposal is accepted
during the second semester of your first Master’s year, and you
will defend the dissertation at the end of the sec­ond Master’s
year.

In the second and final year of the programme, you will have
the opportunity to study abroad for one semester at one of our
partner universities, within or outside Europe. Every module in
the Master of Laws has a number of privileged partners that offer
courses complementary to the UAntwerp modules. This will allow
you to experience a different international environment, and
perhaps a different approach to law, legal education and legal
science.
You may find a list of our partner universities on page 12 and 13.
 12

Summary of legal clinic partners

and privileged partners
Our legal clinic partners

Commercial Transactions: Rights and Governance:

Baker McKenzie law firm in Brussels
Diversity and Law:
Nansen Belgian refugee council
Commercial Transactions and Disputes:
Loyens & Loeff law firm in Brussels
European Constitutionalism and Fundamental Rights:
Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Sustainable Development and Global Justice:
ClientEarth and/or similar NGOs

Our current privileged partners

Commercial Transactions: Rights and Governance

Maastricht University (the Netherlands)

University of Bern (Switzerland)
Vilnius University (Lithuania)
Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (Lima, Peru)
National Law University Delhi (India)
University of Bologna (Italy)
 13

Diversity and Law

Tilburg University (the Netherlands)

University of Lodz (Poland)
University of Eastern Finland
(Joensuu/Kuopio, Finland)
University of Westminster (London, United Kingdom)
National Law University Delhi (India)

Commercial Transactions and Disputes

University of Bologna (Italy)

University College Dublin (Ireland) Our two-year
University of Johannesburg (South Africa) LL.M programme
University of Mannheim (Germany) is the cream
University of Zagreb (Croatia) of the crop in
our law school.
European Constitutionalism and Fundamental Rights It hosts a
nice blend of
University of Graz (Austria) international
University of Trento (Italy) and local
Maastricht University (the Netherlands) students
and staff,
Sustainable Development and Global Justice who benefit
from close
National Law University Delhi (India) collaboration in
University of Padua (Italy) a small college.
University of Pretoria (South Africa)
Professor Frederik
Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (Lima, Peru)
Swennen, Dean of the
Faculty of Law
 14

Curriculum

Year 1
In addition to the mandatory courses (semester 1) you choose
one module (semester 2). You also start with the first part of
your Master’s Project. Please refer to
www.uantwerpen.be/master-of-laws for detailed information.

Mandatory courses ECTS credits 30

Substantive courses
Law of the European Union 6
Public International Law and International Enforcement 6
Constitutional Principles and Human Rights 3
Private International Law 3

Methodological courses
Legal Research Methodology 3
Empirical Research Methods in Law 3
Academic Writing, Oral and Communication Skills 3
Global Legal Systems 3
Our competence-
oriented 1 (compulsory) Module ECTS credits 18
approach In semester 2, choose one module out of
comprises A. Commercial Transactions and Disputes
internships and AC International Commercial Transactions 6
legal clinics, AC Dispute Settlement  6
where students Harmonised Private Law 3
function very International Insolvency Law  3
well thanks to B. European Constitutionalism and Fundamental
our focus on Rights
methodological AC Constitutional Law of the European Union  6
skills. AC Institutional Dynamics in Multilevel
Constitutionalism  6
Professor Frederik
Comparative Federalism  3
Swennen, Dean of
the Faculty of Law European Fundamental Rights Law  3
 15

C. Sustainable Development and Global Justice

AC International Law and Sustainable Development 6
AC Human Rights and Global Justice  6
Law and the Ecological Crises 3
Law and the Global Economic Governance of
Development  3

Master’s Project I ECTS credits 12

Legal Clinic 9
Research Proposal 3

Year 2
In addition to your Master’s Project part II and 1 or 2 ‘open
space’ elective(s) you choose two modules, one for each
semester. Alternatively, you can subsitute one of your
modules by a semester abroad.

2 (compulsory) Modules ECTS credits 36

In semester 1, choose one module out of
A. Commercial Transactions: Rights and Governance
AC European Economic Regulation  6
AC International Trade and Investment Law  6
European, International and Comparative
Intellectual Property Law 3
International Mergers and Acquisitions 3
B. Diversity and Law
AC Genders, Sexualities and the Law 6
AC The Inclusive, Sustainable City and Law  6
International and European Immigration and Asylum
Law3
Legal Issues of International Employment  3
C. Mobility window (semester abroad)
 16

In semester 2, choose one module out of

A. Commercial Transactions and Disputes
AC International Commercial Transactions 6
AC Dispute Settlement  6
Harmonised Private Law 3
International Insolvency Law  3
B. European Constitutionalism and
Fundamental Rights
AC Constitutional Law of the European Union  6
AC Institutional Dynamics in Multilevel
Constitutionalism  6
Comparative Federalism  3
European Fundamental Rights Law  3
C. Sustainable Development and Global Justice
AC International Law and Sustainable Development 6
AC Human Rights and Global Justice  6
Law and the Ecological Crises 3
Law and the Global Economic Governance of
Development  3
D. Mobility window(semester abroad)

Master’s Project II ECTS credits 18

Master Thesis

Open space ECTS credits 6

Choose one or two courses for a total of 6 ECTS credits from a
list of elective courses or alternatives, such as an internship,
moot court, summer or winter course. Please refer to
www.uantwerpen.be/master-of-laws for detailed information.

Total ECTS credits 120

 17

Job opportunities
Our Master of Laws enables you to work in an internationally
oriented legal environment, including internationally
oriented law firms and ministries, international
organisations, multinational companies, non-governmental
organisations, or in academia.

The programme will assist you in fulfilling your ambition,

regardless of whether it is as:

a practising lawyer
a legal advisor in an internationally oriented company
an international or domestic civil servant
a diplomat or lobbyist
an educator or researcher

This degree is equivalent to the Flemish degree of ‘Master

in de Rechten’. For admission to the legal profession in
Belgium (the ‘bar’), a Belgian Bachelor of Laws is required
in addition to this Master’s degree. If you hold a non-Belgian
law degree you can apply for qualification in certain cases.
For more information, go to www.advocaat.be (in Dutch) or
www.avocats.be (in French).

Orientation year
After completing your studies you can choose to look
for work opportunities in Belgium. You can apply for an
orientation year and extend your stay in Belgium by 12
months. Guidance and administrative assistance with this
process is available through the university.
 18

Why choose UAntwerp

Our university is located in the city of Antwerp, in the heart
of Belgium and Europe. The port of Antwerp is one of the
biggest in the world. Antwerp is not just an ancient medieval
and baroque city, full of history. It is also a bustling metrop-
olis with a vibrant social scene, impressive architecture and
cultural contrasts. Over 170 nationalities live here, more than
in New York! This cosmopolitan vibe is also reflected at the
University of Antwerp.

First-rate research and education make the University of

Antwerp a wonderful place to study and work. We foster the
nexus between research and education. Internationalisation
is key to our mission. It is no coincidence that the University of
Antwerp is a partner in a highly promising European University
Network, the Young Universities for the Future of Europe
www.YUFE.eu.

As home away from home to over 20,000 students, the

University of Antwerp prides itself on operating on a human
scale. Our faculty and staff will welcome you into top-notch
infrastructure on one of our four campuses. While you’re here
you are also invited to enjoy our vibrant cultural programme,
sports facilities and many student services.

The University
of Antwerp
scores
extremely
well in Young
University
Rankings
 19

What others have said

The Master of Laws made me grow on both an intellectual
and a personal level thanks to the diverse team of
professors, guest lecturers and the many interactions
with students from all over the world. The modules
encourage critical thinking in an interdisciplinary setting.
The programme gave me a great sense of belonging and
confidence, allowing me to thrive in a future international
career.

Quote from an LL.M student

 20

Admission criteria
Applicants should hold an academic Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
of at least 180 ECTS. Since the programme is taught in
English, candidates with a prior degree issued outside of
Belgium, the Netherlands or Luxembourg are required to
demonstrate their proficiency in English. The following tests
are accepted:

Paper-based TOEFL: minimum 550

Internet-based TOEFL: minimum 80

IELTS: minimum total score of 6.5 and minimum score

of 6.0 for each individual component

Cambridge English: minimum B2 First with a score of

at least 176

Interuniversity Test of Academic English (ITACE):

minimum B2

Successfully passed one year of studies in an

accredited Bachelor’s or Master’s programme in English
 21

Application procedure
Candidates with a Bachelor of Laws from a higher
education institution in Belgium, the Netherlands or
Luxembourg can enrol directly. All other candidates
must submit an application through the online application
tool Mobility Online. As of 9 November 2023, the link to
Mobility Online is published on
www.uantwerpen.be/admission.

Application deadlines to submit an application through

Mobility Online

For non-EEA* nationals and for students who need to

apply for a visa: before 1 March 2024

For EEA nationals: before 1 June 2024

When your application is fully approved (i.e. when you have

received a Letter of Acceptance), you can proceed with your
enrolment.

Enrolment deadline * EEA = European

4 October 2024 Economic Area
Member states:
Enrolments start on 1 July 2024. Austria, Belgium,
The academic year 2024-2025 starts on Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Monday 23 September 2024. Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France,
Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxemburg,
Malta, the Netherlands,
Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain and Sweden
 22

ECTS credits
The University of Antwerp applies the ‘European Credit
Transfer and Accumulation System’ (ECTS) in all its degree
programmes.

A full-time one-year study programme amounts to 60 ECTS

credits (30 ECTS credits per semester), which implies a
student workload ranging from 1500 to 1800 hours. One ECTS
credit amounts to 25 to 30 hours of work including contact
hours, preparatory work, study and assessment.
Quick facts Contact
Level Master of Laws
Master Student Administration Office
masterlaw@uantwerp.be
Language T: +32 3 265 57 38
English

Credits International Students Office

120 ECTS credits internationalstudents@uantwerp.be
T: +32 3 265 31 89
Number of years www.uantwerpen.be
2

Tuition fee per year *

EUR 1092.10 for EEA nationals Follow us!
EUR 5800 for non-EEA nationals
UAntwerpen - Faculteit Rechten
Campus
Stadscampus @uantwerplaw

Faculty Faculteit Rechten

Law Universiteit Antwerpen

More information UAntwerpen - Faculteit Rechten

www.uantwerpen.be/
master-of-laws

This brochure was published in September 2023.

* subject to yearly revision
As all information is subject to change,
please check our website for the latest updates.