Utrecht University School of Law

The University

Utrecht University is firmly founded on tradition. In over 350 years it has developed into one of the largest and most prominent institutions of science and education in Europe, ranking first in the Netherlands and seventh on Shanghai’s list of top European universities.

The university is active in almost all fields of science and its various disciplines work together in close cooperation. The university offers its students and staff an inspirational environment for study and work, ranging from a beautiful city campus housed in historical buildings to rich cultural programmes, extensive sport facilities and botanical gardens.

The Law School

Utrecht University School of Law is one of the largest and oldest law school in the Netherlands and proud of its many alumni in leading positions both within the Netherlands and abroad.

In a peer ranking carried out in 2006, Utrecht's LL B and LL M programmes ranked first on the list of Dutch law schools.

The school of law has 80 PhD students and 800 LL M students and an academic staff of 280 professors and associate professors. The faculty hosts renown research institutes such as the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights, Willem Pompe Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology, Centre for Intellectual Property Law, Centre for Environmental Law and Policy.

The Program

Annually drawing over 220 students from all corners of the world, Utrecht University School of Law offers genuinely international classes.

All law programmes are taught by acclaimed academics with a strong international reputation. Among the faculty are a number of prominent lawyers who combine their academic work with a career in corporate, criminal and international law. They are more than happy to introduce promising students into their networks.

Lectures are combined with small scale seminars, encouraging lively participation. The programmes are intellectually demanding and invest strongly in developing legal skills such as conducting legal research and participating in legal discourse during moot courts.

Tuition and Fees

Our LL M programmes offer excellent value. Tuition fees are affordable and living in the Netherlands on a student budget is very well possible. Our programmes offer students the opportunity to take an LL M degree without necessarily having obtained a JD degree.

Location

The Netherlands is known as a liberal minded and tolerant country, traditionally a safe haven for scholars who were persecuted for their ideas in their country of origin. Utrecht is located close to The Hague, justly dubbed as the judicial capital of the world. The Hague hosts the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunals and a large number of judicial organisations.

You are only a few hours drive away from capitals like London, Paris and Brussels providing you easy access to European organisations such as the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Utrecht is a lively city and home to many students. The city is small enough to reach every destination within a 20 minute bike ride and large enough to offer a vibrant cultural programme and a multitude of cafes, restaurants and shops. Its central location and excellent accessibility by rail has earned Utrecht the epithet the “Heart of the Netherlands”. It is home to many corporations, national and international.

Accommodation

The School of Law’s International Office will assist you with finding furnished accommodation, either within the campus of Utrecht University or outside it.

Student Life

Utrecht is a lively city and home to many students. The city is small enough to reach every destination within a 20 minute bike ride and large enough to offer a vibrant cultural programme and a multitude of cafes, restaurants and shops. Its central location and excellent accessibility by rail has earned Utrecht the epithet the “Heart of the Netherlands”. It is home to many corporations, national and international. Cities like Paris, London and Brussels are just a few hours drive away.