Marwan: 'I am from France and I have obtained a French Master of Laws in Taxation and Business Law from the University of Lyon III, as well as a British LLB from the University of Essex and a French LLB from the University of Lyon III. I have also done several internships abroad, including one at Dentons Cape Town. I already had knowledge of French domestic taxation and EU taxation but very limited as regards to international taxation. This programma is the best springboard for pursuing a career abroad.'

Wen-Chin: 'I am from Taiwan. My previous education was related to Economics and Finance. I have worked for the transfer pricing department of one of the Big Four accounting firms. Before starting in Amsterdam, I worked for the Ministry of Finance (Taiwan), focusing on international taxation. To strengthen my ability to deal with international tax affairs and tackle challenges, I found it important to gain more in-depth insight into international tax law by following this programme.'

Why the International Tax Law programme?

Wen-Chin: 'This is one of the top LLM programmes in the world. Moreover, its course design, particularly in the case of tax treaties, is very attractive. On top of solid academic training, the Adv. LLM also includes a one-month tax treaty negotiation course, allowing students to learn through action.'

Experiences

Marwan: 'I learnt so much in such a short period of time. I was happy with the curriculum and the interaction with the lecturers. I also appreciated the fact that is very practical by giving us various case studies. Even though the programme was taught online, the programme had not compromised in terms of content and teaching. It was not always easy to study online but we were not left all alone. The teaching assistants, the lecturers and the Admission’s Office were there to support us. Moreover, my classmates and I kept helping each other.'

Wen-Chin: 'The lectures provided a large number of reading materials and challenging case studies. Although the programme was tough, I'm happy that I have learned a lot in a short time. The online course was better than I expected. The number of students in this programme is small, so we had lots of chances to interact with professors and other students.'

Benefit of online classes

Marwan: 'We were saving some time by not commuting to the campus every day. It was also more flexible in the sense that I could attend classes in France or in the Netherlands.'

Wen-Chin: 'I could always stay in cosy surroundings. I didn't have to worry about heavy rain or cold or windy weather.'

Contact with professors and students 

Marwan: 'The professors were very approachable, and they were happy to answer any questions or concerns. With regard to the students, we had organized informal gatherings. Because of the online format of classes, we thought it was important to meet up in person, even if it is only for an hour for dinner.'

Wen-Chin: 'During the class, the professors always encouraged us to ask questions and share different perspectives. They were also very happy to answer questions via e-mail after the class. I met classmates all over the world.'

Trends in Tax Law

Marwan: 'I would cite all the issues related to the digitalization of the economy. That is the reason why I chose to join the CPT project for my thesis. It encompasses a large number of topics, such as the taxation of artificial intelligence, blockchain or the discussions about OECD’s Pillar I and Pillar II.'

Wen-Chin: 'International tax law is continuously changing. The OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project and digital economy have led to profound changes in the global tax system in the past few years, and this trend is expected to last for another decade, in my view.'

How was the application procedure? 

Marwan: 'It was pretty straight-forward. The admission’s office is always here to answer any question. I would recommend students apply in advance because they might have to comply with some further administrative requirements or paperwork.'

Wen-Chin: 'It was not complicated. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to contact the University. The admission officer is helpful and always reply to e-mails promptly.'