Erasmus University Rotterdam

The University

Erasmus University Rotterdam is an international knowledge workshop for critical thinking and academic training, driven by a strong focus on current social issues. The university concentrates its expertise on issues of management, organisation and policy in the public and private sectors on the one hand, as well as on the field of sickness and health care. Erasmus University Rotterdam has bundled its education and research in three domains (link) in which the university has a national and international reputation to maintain:

- Economics and Management;
- Medicine and Health Sciences;
- Law, Culture and Society.

The university counts as its core tasks: to generate knowledge from research, to share knowledge in education and to transfer knowledge to the community. Its driving forces are academic curiosity, critical reflection and social engagement.

The Law School

One of the striking characteristics of the Erasmus School of Law is its interdisciplinary emphasis and its business and international orientation. The aim is to make students aware of the way in which the law functions within a socio-economic context.

Erasmus School of Law offers five Master programmes in English: LL.M. in Commercial Law (Specialisation within Bedrijfsrecht/Commercial and Company Law), LL.M. in International and European Public Law (specialisation within Rechtsgeleerdheid/Master of Laws), Research Master in Justice and Safety & Security, LL.M. in Business, Corporate and Maritime Law, and European Master of Law and Economics.

The Program

Master's in Commercial Law

The Master's degree in Commercial Law aims at providing further academic legal education in the field of business law. Graduates will find employment in the legal profession, the judiciary and all sectors of industry and commerce in which issues surrounding the business world, trade and commerce play an important role.

Master's in International and European Public Law

The LL.M. in International and European Public Law focuses on the public law aspects of international and European law and on how these bodies of law impact national legal orders. More in particular, it focuses on the role of international and European law in fostering the protection of human rights, the rule of law and the accountability of international and European institutions. The Programme enables participants to work with international and European law in a globalising world in which legal systems are undergoing constant substantive and systemic change. Students are trained in the critical analysis of current legal developments and deepen their insights into the theory and practice of international and European law in an interdisciplinary context. Students from all over the world participate in this programme, which makes the classroom a small scale model of the world in which contemporary lawyers work and thus the perfect practicing ground for a successful career in international, European and national government institutions, public advocacy, the legal professions, the business sector and academia.

Research Master in Justice and Saftey & Security (2 years)

The substantive focus of the programme is on one of the core themes that today face society: how to maintain standards of justice, both substantively and institutionally, under circumstances where demands are increasingly being made to curtail human rights in order to maintain safety and security. In order to enable students to conduct meaningful research in the area of justice and safety & security students will be trained in the methodologies of law and the relevant social sciences as well as in the relevant fi elds of law. All courses in the programme have a research component. And an important part of the programme consists of the four research projects to be completed during the course of the Research Master. A maximum of 25 students will be admitted annually.

Master's in Business, Corporate and Maritime Law

Globalisation and the increasing integration of world markets places new demands and challenges on law practitioners. Lawyers have to interact between national and international regulatory environments and negotiate and structure business transactions across countries. If you are a lawyer who is interested in this dynamic international world, you can pursue your ambitions with an LL.M. in Business, Corporate and Maritime Law.

European Master of Law and Economics

The European Master of Law and Economics is a joint programme organised by the Erasmus Mundus EMLE Consortium, of wich seven European universities and one non-European university are full-members. For this programme a separate brochure and application form is available. The European Master of Law and Economics is a joint programme organised by the Erasmus Mundus EMLE Consortium, of wich seven European universities and one non-European university are full-members.

The Faculty

The teaching staff consists of professors with a strong international orientation. Due to their professional and educational experiences around the world, the teaching staff at Erasmus School of Law has first hand knowledge on their area of expertise.

Entry Requirements

For Commercial Law and International and European Public Law:
- law degree and TOEFL 575/IELTS 6,5
- letter of motivation and letters of recommendation

For the Research Master:
- law or criminology degree (criminology with a minimum of 20% law courses), TOEFL
575/IELTS 6.5
- average grade A
- letter of motivation
- proposed individual study path and essay related to this (1000 words)
- interview

For Business, Corporate and Maritime Law:
- law degree that gives access to the judicial profession
- TOEFL 575/IELTS 6.5
- letters of motivation and recommendation

For EMLE:
please see: www.emle.org

Application Procedure

The deadline for application is 1 May of the year of enrollment. N.B. If you are applying for an NFP scholarship, the deadline for application is 1 February of the year of enrolment. Applications submitted after the indicated deadline will only be reviewed after approval of the relevant programme director. After admission, you will have to go through a number of administrative formalities. The LL.M. Office has to collect all required documents to apply for your visa and arrange suitable accommodation. Therefore, applicants are advised to apply as early as possible.

Application forms must be returned to :

Erasmus University Rotterdam
LL.M. Office, Room L5-006
PO Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam
the Netherlands.

In principle, the LL.M. Office only accepts original (web)forms and documents (or original certified copies), unless the LL.M. Office clearly states otherwise.

Some sections of the application form may not be relevant to all applicants. However, it is requested that candidates complete the form as fully as possible and attach any additional information they feel may be appropriate. Please note that all relevant documents should be attached. You can find a checklist at the end of the application form. We would like all documents to be A4 size (297 x 210 mm). Applications that are not properly completed might have to be returned to the candidates. Please use typescript or block capitals when completing the form.

Along with a completed application form you´ll need to send us copies of various documents.

(1) motivation letter.
(2) copy of passport,
(3) three passport photographs (3.5 x 4.5 cm)
(4) curriculum vitae (resume)
(5) copy of health insurance policy (only if you currently have such insurance).
(6) evidence of English proficiency for non-native speakers (TOEFL/IELTS or a statement from the institution of first or second degree that education was given in English).
(7) original certified (translated) copies of degree(s) and transcript(s), including a list of grades and an official description of the grades.
(8) two letters of recommendation.
(9) financial statement (the content of your financial statement will depend on your financial situation, as mentioned above)

Application forms can be found on our website www.llm-erasmus.org

Tuition and Fees

Annual tution fee

Commercial Law, International and European Public Law, Research Master:
EU/EEA students: EUR 1565
non EU/EEA students: EUR 9950

Business, Corporate and Maritime Law:
All: EUR 10950

European Master in Law and Economics:
EU/EEA: EUR 4500
Third Country: EUR 8500

Financial Aid

There are several scholarship programmes for students who are not able to (fully) finance the Erasmus LL.M. Programmes from private resources. The European Commission awards special Erasmus Mundus Scholarships to students for the EMLE programme.

For information about scholarships offered in your country, please visit the website www.grantfinder.nl or www.emle.org.

Location

The city offers a wide selection of cafés and restaurants with an international cuisine. As a university city, there are a number of cafés especially for students. Students from all continents come together in these cafés to converse and drink beer. Art lovers know Rotterdam for its museums, like Boymans van Beuningen and de Kunsthal. For those who love modern architecture, Rotterdam has everything to offer. -- including the striking cube houses, the Weena area - with the modern headquarters of an international insurance company - and the Rotterdam library.

Given its unique, central location, Rotterdam has developed into the largest commercial port in the world. It is a centre for trade, industry and services. Many international companies like Shell and Unilever have their headquarters and their branches in Rotterdam. Among them are several of the most prestigious law firms in the world. Rotterdam is an international city par excellence.

With ample public transport, Amsterdam, The Hague and Antwerp are less than an hour away. If you want to see more of Europe - London, Brussels, Berlin and Paris are within a few hours reach. Europe is yours!

Accommodation

Erasmus University Rotterdam will most likely have on-site student housing available starting August 2008 (100 rooms). Next to this, the ESSC (Erasmus Student Service Centre) has accommodation at its disposal, both purpose-built accommodation and private accommodation. The accommodation officer of the ESSC will assist students in finding rooms within the Rotterdam area or immediate vicinity.

In addition to the rental fees, many landlords will require a security deposit of one to two months' rent to cover costs of damage by the tenant to the accommodation premises of furnishings, or unpaid rent. The deposit will be returned less any costs incurred at the end of the tenancy.

Student Life

The Erasmus International Office of the School of Law acts as a link between the academic staff, the university’s administrative services and the LL.M. students. You can expect to receive help on anything from information about courses and grades, to getting advice about medical care, visa and housing.

Once you receive your letter of admission to the School of Law, you will be given access to our Admitted Students’ site, which contains practical information to help you prepare for your stay in the Netherlands and your participation on the Programme. On arrival in the Netherlands, we will do all we can to help you settle in to life in Rotterdam and the Erasmus University Rotterdam. You could say that the Erasmus International Office is your home base in the Netherlands.

The Erasmus Programmes begins with a one-week orientation introducing you to the campus, faculty, staff and each other. So it won’t take you long to feel right at home at the start of your Rotterdam experience! During your participation in the Programme, you can meet fellow students and lecturers at the social events organised by the Erasmus International Office.

During the Programme, the Erasmus International Office organises a study trip, which will take you to the major European institutions. As well as consisting of highly interesting and educational visits, this trip is also an amazing experience to share with your fellow students