The Doctorate in Law Like the three other EUI departments, the Law Department offers a programme leading to the doctorate. The general rules governing admission and the programme of doctoral studies are given on the Academic Service web page. In the first year, new research students in the doctoral programme will follow a series of seminars jointly with LL.M. students and after the successful completion of the first year, they will be awarded the LL.M. degree.

The research students, counselled and supervised by a Professor in the Department, participate in seminars on the basis of a structured programme during their first year and second year and on a voluntary basis in the following period. They write a dissertation which is the basis for the conferment of the degree. The dissertation should be submitted at the latest by the end of the fourth year following arrival.


The LL.M. programme in Comparative, European and International Law

The LL.M. programmme in Comparative, European and International Law of the European University Institute is a one-year research programme. It addresses candidates that aim at advancing their legal knowledge and their analytical skills in a stimulating international and interdisciplinary environment.

The Curriculum: LL.M. students, counselled and supervised by a Professor in the Department of Law, will be required to attend at least five seminars offered by the Department each year in European law, International law and Comparative law including a seminar on research methodology.
In addition LL.M. candidates will write a dissertation which is the basis for the conferment of the LL.M. degree. The dissertation is to be submitted by 1 October of the year following arrival.

Additional activities: LL.M. students will also have the possibility of attending the many cultural and scientific events (lectures, conferences, workshops) that take place at EUI.


First-year and LL.M. programme

All First Year researchers, whether Ph.D or LL.M., must attend at least five seminars in the first year.  In addition to the compulsory legal methodology seminar, researchers must choose two seminars in the First Term and two in the Second Term.  These seminars must include at least one Advanced Course.  LL.M. researchers are also required to participate in one of the two Summer School courses offered by the Academy of European Law.

All First Year researchers, whether Ph.D. or LL.M., are required to prepare a First Term Paper and either a Second Term Paper or a substantial Oral Presentation supported by a shorter written paper, in the framework of one of their chosen seminars.

The Third Term is dedicated essentially to individual research. First year Ph.D. students are required to prepare a substantial paper (‘June Paper – mémoire de juin’) on the basis of which admission to the second year is decided. LL.M. students are required to prepare their Dissertation on the basis of which the LL.M. will be granted.

Researchers should note that requests to transfer from one programme to the other will be considered by the Department on a case by case basis and should normally be made before the end of January of the first year.

Seminars

Each term the Law Department offers two kinds of seminars: (a) advanced courses, having a more general content, and (b) research seminars, addressing more specific topics. Research seminars usually reflect the principal research projects or research interests of the Department, including the research projects of the students.

Seminars are led by one or more professors of the Department, and they are designed for students with a fully-fledged legal education. Research students are often given the opportunity to present their work in a seminar on a subject related to their research.


Linguistic Diversity

The Law Department attaches particular importance to the maintenance and encouragement of linguistic diversity in all of its activities. It therefore encourages both professors and researchers who wish to do so to express themselves in more than one language during seminars and other Departmental activities.

The writing of papers and theses in languages other than English is also being encouraged whenever this is desired by the researcher and appropriate supervision is available.

Students applying for admission to the Department should take full account of this policy.

More information about the language courses at the EUI can be obtained from the Language Centre.