Université de Lausanne (UNIL)

The Law School

The University of Lausanne has been engaged in the teaching of law since 1537 when the Academy of Lausanne (Académie de Lausanne) was founded. Professors like Jean Barbeyrac (1771), Leon Walrŕs (1871) or Alfredo Pareto (1893) have taught at what today is the Faculty of Law and Criminal Sciences of the University of Lausanne.

Since 1991 the Faculty of Law and Criminal Sciences at the University of Lausanne has established Switzerland's most important Centre for the teaching of European Union law within the Center for Comparative, European and International Law. During his tenure as a professor of law, 1991-2007, Professor Roland Bieber, the European Parliament's former Legal Adviser, has managed to consolidate the programme in the field of E.U law.

The Program

The University of Lausanne situated a conveniently short distance from Geneva and its international organisations offers a unique postgraduate programme leading to the award of an LL.M in International and European Economic and Commercial Law.

The programme can be entirely taken in English as per the following specialisations: International and European Economic Law and International and European Commercial Law.
French and English language courses are available prior to the programme and throughout the year. This way even students who don't speak French in the beginning have a good chance to acquire a decent level of this language for a career in government, business, legal practice or in an international organisation.

The programme can be taken in one-year of full time studies (September to June). Alternatively the programme can be taken in two years of part-time studies, for example while working in a related field (law firm, internship etc.) as the programme is made up of specialised modules (1-4 days) which can easily be planned in advance. Furthermore futur candidates can start either in FALL or SPRING semesters.

The programme is based on the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) Model under the Bologna Declaration for a European Higher Education Area - thus intended for participants who have already a graduate diploma in law or a related field.

The 60 ECTS credits of the programme are made up of taught courses and interactive seminars, a Master Thesis and various excursions to international organisations and the E.U institutions.

The Faculty

The courses are given by a team of distinguished academics and experienced practitioners, working in the Government, in major international law firms and international organisations in Geneva as well as the EU institutions in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg.

Entry Requirements

The programme is open to candidates holding a university diploma in law after at least 4,5 years of study (under the Bologna system this corresponds normally to a MLaw).
Bachelor and/or LL.B Law degree holders: The Diploma Committee may admit students who have obtained a diploma following at least 3 years of study and at least one further year of studies and/or practical experience, in particular from countries not applying the Bologna system.

Students whose previous university diploma is not in law but a related field may be admitted at the discretion of the Diploma Committee.

Participants must prove a good knowledge of English.

Application Procedure

Applicants must fill in the application form (below) and attach the additional documents requested therein.

The available places will be allocated in a rolling process; therefore early registration at any time throughout the year is highly encouraged. The complete file has to be sent before 30 June for Fall semester applicants and 30 of October for Spring semester applicants to the following address:

Service des immatriculations et inscriptions
LL.M in International and European Economic and Commercial Law
University of Lausanne
CH-1015 Lausanne
Switzerland

(for specific queries: Tél. 021/692 21 00 - Fax: 021/692 21 05)

Once the candidate has been accepted, he/she is requested to make an initial payment of 2'000 Swiss Francs within four weeks (payment indications follow with the letter of acceptance). Failure to make this payment in time will result in non-acceptance.

The formal registration has to take place upon arrival in Lausanne.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the programme amount currently to 15'000 Swiss Francs. ( Approximately 12'000 euro)

This amount includes the cost of the field trips to Brussels and Geneva as well as the printed material distributed in the courses.

A first payment of 2'000 Swiss Francs must be made within four weeks upon acceptance; the rest of the tuition has to be paid upon reception of the payment slip, before the beggining of the programme.

Financial Aid

A number of programme-specific scholarships to cover the tuition fees may be available. Students who wish to apply for such a scholarship are requested to do so when applying for the programme.

Further information on the LL.M website

Location

Lausanne, the second-largest city on Lake Geneva, combines a dynamic commercial town with the locality of a holiday resort. The capital of the canton of Vaud is also a lively university and convention town. Sports and culture are given a high profile in the Olympic capital.

The setting of Lausanne is extremely picturesque: it is hardly surprising that the International Olympic Committee has been based here since 1914. The town is built on three hills, surrounded by vineyard-covered slopes, with Lake Geneva at its feet. Rising impressively from the opposing French lakeshore are the Savoy Alps. The attractive old town is largely car-free. Small alleyways with cafes and boutiques shape the streetscape in the medieval city centre.

Accommodation

Please refer to the information provided by the University's Accommodation Office at:
www.unil.ch/bienvenue/page9044_en.html

Student Life

Lausanne, the second-largest city on Lake Geneva, combines a dynamic commercial town with the locality of a holiday resort. It is considered the most lifely student towm in the French part of Switzerland and has a very lively night life. The capital of the canton of Vaud is also a lively university and convention town. Sports and culture are given a high profile in the Olympic capital

Summer Program

Scope:

Since 2009 the LL.M Programme of the University of Lausanne has organised each summer a unique summer programme in International law.

It is an opportunity for our students to study a wide array of courses taught in English by professors from Lausanne and the United States together with students from the United States.

A mix of lectures on the beautiful campus and excursions to the Internatioal institutions in Geneva allows students to improve their understanding of current issues and to learn from each other in this unique environment.