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Master
Vergelijk
European Union Law (International and European Law)

Study programme

The core curriculum is composed of compulsory courses and a selection of elective courses that allow different degrees of specialization. Both the compulsory courses and many of the electives contain distinct ‘EU law in action elements’, that allow students to experience the law in an interactive form.

Programme structure

In the first semester, all students attend the compulsory course Principles and Foundations of EU Law and European Constitutional Law and Fundamental Rights. These courses provide you with a deep understanding of the constitutional and institutional structures of the EU. They give you the legal and contextual knowledge and understanding, on the basis of which you can truly comprehend the complex factual and legal situations in which contemporary problems of the EU play out. In the second semester, everyone attends EU Legal Remedies. This course familiarises you with the judicial and procedural framework of EU law in practice.

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Principles and Foundations of EU Law
    6
  • European Constitutional Law and Fundamental Rights
    12
  • EU Legal Remedies
    6
  • Current Challenges of EU Law
    6
  • Restricted-choice electives
    18
  • Free-choice electives: Extracurricular
    —
  • Master's thesis
    12
UvA Course Catalogue: European Union Law

The information on this website is valid for the current academic year and may change for next year. In May the Course Catalogue is updated for the next academic year.

Discover the Master’s Honours programme

Are you looking for more challenge and academic depth? In that case the new Honours programme Academic Excellence track could be interesting for you!

More about the Academic Excellence Track
  • Compulsory courses (30 EC)
  • Restricted-choice electives (18 EC)
    • European Competition Law (12 EC)
    • European Law Moot Court (6 EC) (ALP course)
    • Amsterdam Law Clinics (6 EC) (ALP course)
    • Law of the Internal Market I: Free Movement of Goods and Services (6 EC)
    • Individual Research Project European Public Law and Governance (6 EC)
    • Internship (6 EC) (ALP course)
    • EU Migration Law: Forced and Unforced Migration to the EU (6 EC)
    • EU Regulated Markets (6 EC)
    • Foundations of EU Competition Law (6 EC)
    • Globalization of Cartel Law (6 EC)
    • EU State Aid Law (6 EC)
    • European Human Rights Law (6 EC)

    You can find the specific course information in the Course Catalogue.

  • Experiential education: the Amsterdam Law Practice

    You can choose from different skills courses that are part of the Amsterdam Law Practice, our unique, award winning experiential education. A contemporary way of learning, in which reflection on your own experiences and the development of a professional identity are central. The education programme received for this a Dutch Higher Education Award 2022 for innovative higher education.

    The following compulsory or restricted-choice elective courses are part of the Amsterdam Law Practice:

    • European Law Moot Court (6 EC)
    • European Constitutional Law and Fundamental Rights (12 EC)
    • Amsterdam Law Clinics (6 EC)
    • Principles and Foundations of EU Law (6 EC)
    • Internship (6 EC)

    You can find the specific course information in the Course Catalogue.

  • Free-choice electives: Extracurricular (0 EC)

    The 6 EC for Legal English do not count for the 60 mandatory EC's of this master, but are extracurricular.

    • Legal English (6 EC)

    You can find the specific course information in the Course Catalogue.

  • Master’s thesis (12 EC)

    The Master’s degree programme is concluded by writing a Master’s thesis. Students will research and write their thesis on an approved topic under the supervision of their faculty adviser.

For my thesis, I combined EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and EU Competition Law, exploring their potential conflict and focusing on the sub-fields I'm most passionate about. Lois Elshof, 1st prize at the Mededingingscongres Thesis competition 2023
The two LLM tracks in European Law

Thinking of studying EU Law at the Amsterdam Law School? Staff and students explain the difference between the LLM tracks in European Union Law and European Competition Law and Regulation.

Driven by a passion for climate justice, I explored the challenges ENGOs face in contesting state aid decisions at national and EU levels. My thesis highlights discrepancies between EU laws and the Aarhus Convention, proposing alignment strategies for better environmental protection. Anna Scherer, Master's student 2023-2024

Experience the programme

Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is the Amsterdam Law Practice?

    The Amsterdam Law Practice (ALP) is a unique experiential education program for all law Master's students. In the Amsterdam Law Practice, you learn by reflecting on who you are as a lawyer and how you want to contribute to society in the future. You apply your academic knowledge of law and your learned skills by stepping into the shoes of a lawyer in real or simulated cases.

    As part of your LLM programme, you must take at least one ALP course of 6 ECTS and a maximum of 12 ECTS. You can take these ALP courses in the form of clinics, where you participate in real cases, or in a moot court or law Lab, where practice is simulated.

    The Amsterdam Law Practice won a Dutch Higher Education Prize for innovative education in 2022.

  • What Master's degree will I get after graduation?

    The quality of this Master’s programme has been positively assessed by the Accreditation Organisation of The Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). This means that upon successful completion of the programme, students will receive a legally accredited Master’s degree in International and European Law and the title Master of Laws (LLM).

  • Can I follow this Master’s part-time?

    It is also possible to follow this Master's programme on a part-time basis; the programme then lasts 2 years. Most courses, however, are not offered in the evening. For more information, please contact the Education Desk.

  • What is a track?

    European Union Law is a side track in the Master’s programme International and European Law which you can choose. Other tracks of this Master’s programme are European Competition Law and Regulation, Public International Law and International Trade and Investment Law.

  • What does an academic year at the UvA look like?

    The education days and holidays can be found in the academic calendar. The academic year at the UvA is divided into 2 semesters, each with 3 blocks of classes and exams. Most courses are offered once a year. Check the academic calender.