Leiden University · Universiteit Leiden

The University

Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was founded in February 1575, as a gift from William of Orange to the citizens of Leiden. It was the first university in the Netherlands where freedom of belief and religion was practised, as reflected by the university’s motto, Praesidium Libertatis, Bastion of Liberty. It was in this atmosphere of freedom of speech that philosophers like Spinoza and Descartes were able to develop their ideas.

In Leiden there are approximately 17,000 students and 4,000 staff members. The University consists of nine faculties, a School of Management and a School of Education. With this aim of promoting fundamental research, Leiden University has entered into an alliance with eleven other leading universities in Europe to form the League of European Research Universities. These universities are: Cambridge, Edinburgh, Geneva, Heidelberg, Helsinki, Karolinska Institutet, Leuven, Milan, Munich, Oxford and Strasbourg. In addition, Leiden University has reached agreements with numerous universities worldwide for the purpose of facilitating cooperation and the exchange of students and staff.

The Law School

Leiden University’s Faculty of Law is the oldest and one of the largest in the Netherlands. The Faculty has a full-time teaching staff of approximately 300.

Alongside the general Dutch legal syllabus, the Faculty enjoys an international reputation in a number of fields including Public International Law, Law of the European Union, Comparative Law, Legal History, and Air and Space Law.

The Program

The advanced Master's programme in European Business Law is a combination of public, private and economic law aspects in an International and European perspective. It thus focuses not only on institutional and administrative law of the European Community but also includes key features of international business.

The Master of Advanced Studies in Air and Space Law is a joint initiative of the International Institute of Air and Space Law and the Department of Air and Space Law at Leiden University. The master consists of six courses, including an internship and a thesis. In addition, students must take or already have taken introductory courses in European Law, Competition Law and International Organisations. The main courses are Public Air Law: treaties and institutions; Private Air Law: treaties and cases; Space Law: treaties and law making; Space Law: applications, and institutions and national law; European Aerospace Law, and an elective course or internship.

The Master's Programmme in International Taxation (organised in co-operation with International Tax Center Leiden) has been designed to provide in-depth training for lawyers and economists who are interested in expanding their knowledge of the theory and practice of international tax law. The programme is aimed at university graduates whose studies included at least one substantive tax course. Candidates will have recently graduated from law school (or obtained a master’s degree in economics or business) or will expect to do so before the start of classes.

The Master of Advanced Studies in Public International Law has been designed to provide a framework for intense, high-level graduate study in public international law. The programme offers students the opportunity to acquire a basic knowledge of this branch of law, while at the same time allowing sufficient freedom to specialise in an area of individual interest. By providing a combination of training in the theoretical aspects of public international law and in practical professional skills, the programme is of particular interest for students wishing to pursue a career in international organisations, governmental institutions, international non-governmental organisations, or within an academic setting.

The Master's Programme in European Law is designed primarily for foreign and Dutch law students who wish to specialise during the last phase of their studies in the field of European Community Law. The Programme focuses on various areas of Community Law - such as the internal market and the Union’s external relations – both from a substantive and institutional law perspective. Thus the Programme aims to equip the students with the necessary skills and knowledge for a future career as a European law expert.

The Master’s Programme Public International Law challenges students to develop their own views on the role and functioning of law in the international society. After providing students with a thorough understanding of the fundamental doctrines of public international law, the programme aims at confronting them with different perspectives from theory and practice. As the programme will be taught in The Hague, it will, as far as possible, draw upon the expertise available in the various international institutions located in The Hague, such as the International Court of Justice, The International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to hold a law degree from a recognised University.

The method of teaching requires students to have a high level of comprehension and oral expression in English, and the writing of thesis, papers and examinations require a high proficiency in the English language. This is reflected in the admission standards, which require a TOEFL score of 600 (paper)/ 250 (computer) / 100 (internet) and an IELTS score of 7.

Student Life

Leiden and surrounding areas offer a wide range of cultural and recreational possibilities. You will find theatres, museums and a lot of small bars and restaurants. In the summer there are bands playing along the streets of the city and the city also has a special Jazz week.

There are also many possibilities for sports activities including rowing, swimming, bowling, ice-skating, cycling, etc. And let's not forget the night life of Leiden: the city has many bars, clubs and café's where you can dance and listen to music.

Summer Program

Columbia Summer Program

The Columbia Summer Program is proud to announce that the forty-sixth Summer Program in American Law will be offered at Leiden University from July 7th to August 1st, 2008.

Since 1963 this internationally renowned summer program is held alternately at Leiden University and at the University of Amsterdam. It is designed to provide a general introduction to the American legal system for lawyers, master students, and others interested in the program. In addition to the excellent educational aspects, the Columbia Summer Program is also known for its intimate and pleasant atmosphere amongst participants and professors from Columbia University.

It is now possible to sign up for the 2008 session of this renowned summer program. Please check our website www.columbiasummerprogram.org or send an email to csp@law.leidenuniv.nl.

To assure a shared basic knowledge, Litigation, Statutes & Regulations and Constitutional Law are compulsory courses for all participants. In addition, each participant is required to enroll in at least three elective courses.


Summer course in International Tax Law

The International Tax Center Leiden is pleased to announce its first summer course in International Tax Law. This intensive summer course will be held from 16 – 21 July 2007 in Leiden, the Netherlands.
The course comprises of five days of high-level learning by experienced top teachers from the Advanced LLM Program in International Tax Law at Leiden University

Monday 16 July
Fundamentals of international taxation

Tuesday 17 July
Introduction to tax treaties

Wednesday 18 July
Business profits taxation under tax treaties

Thursday 19 July
Passive income and capital gains under tax treaties

Friday 20 July
Income from employment, pensions, etc. under tax treaties


All classes are taught in the landmark building of the ITC in the historical center of Leiden.
Daily teaching hours will be from 9.00-12.00 & 13.00 -16.00.

Course fee: € 2000 (incl. reading materials and the following two books: Arnold/McIntyre, International Tax Primer (KLI, 2002; 185 pp)) and Van Raad (ed.), Materials on International & EC Tax Law 2005-2006 (ITC, Leiden, approx. 3000 pp).

A second week of advanced tax issues will be offered if a minimum number of participants (10) confirm their registration by effecting the payment of the course fee.