Tilburg University

The University

Specialised in Social Sciences and Humanities, Tilburg University enjoys the reputation as Europe’s best in Law. It provides high quality education and research in a compact campus with excellent facilities.

Tilburg University, founded in 1927, is a fully accredited government-financed university with about 12,000 students. Its mission is to inspire and challenge students, faculty, staff and alumni by providing high quality, innovative and internationally oriented education and research.

The University has six faculties: Economics and Business Administration, Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Humanities, Theology, TiasNimbas Business School. In addition to these faculties, it has a number of well-established research institutes and graduate schools.
Tilburg University hosts more than 750 international students from more than 60 countries. With a network of more than 100 partner universities around the world, it sends more than 350 students abroad every year.

The Law School

The Faculty is young – it was founded in 1963 – and has quickly earned its place amongst the leading Law Faculties in the Netherlands and Europe. It has a consistently high ranking in national reviews on legal education and in peer reviews (students and staff), and are particularly commended for the quality of staff, the structure, variety, and depth of programmes, the informal classroom setting (small groups with attention for each individual student), and the quality of support facilities (ICT, counselling, university campus).

On the international level, the Faculty ranks first in Europe in the Social Science Research Network, and is increasingly successful in obtaining European research grants. Some of the leading Law Faculties in Europe and the US belong to the Faculty’s international network. Its partners include Georgetown, Sorbonne, Science Po, Bocconi, Heidelberg, and Queen Mary and Westfield.

The Faculty aims to strengthen its international position, and in order to do so, it is constantly on the lookout for students who share this ambition of being the best. Students who are willing to go the extra mile to achieve their goals, not only by aiming high in their academic pursuits, but also by being active and open-minded members of the student population of our institution.

The Program

The Faculty of Law offers five master’s programmes and one advanced master’s programme:

LLM International Business Law
(One-year programme, 60 ECTS)

The programme aims to provide students with a better knowledge and understanding of key subjects such as business law, commercial law, competition law and economic regulation. The emphasis lies on an integrated knowledge of the various fields of law and levels of jurisdiction, together with neighbouring academic disciplines, especially economics.
Furthermore, it provides students with the opportunity to sharpen their skills in research, argumentation, communication, analysis, and teamwork. It also takes the student forward, developing the practical application of academic knowledge in the real world, where they are expected to be aware of the broader social and economic context, to take a critical distance from the law, and to assume responsibility.

LLM International and European Public Law
(One-year programme, 60 ECTS)

International and European law are exerting an increasing influence on the contents of national legal systems in substantive as well as procedural matters.

The programme offers two specialisations:
- International and Human Rights Law
- European Union Law

The International and Human Rights Law specialisation focuses on the contemporaneous core issues in the field of international and human rights law. The programme includes ample attention for development within international organisations such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe and within such legal supervisory bodies as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

The European Union, with its supranational powers, interacts directly with the legal systems of its Member States. In addition, the EU plays an increasing role at international level leasing to obligations for its Member States. In this sense, the European Union Law specialisation offers an appealing study of not only the functioning of the EU and its decision-making process, but of its implications at both national and international level as well. Students will thus have the chance to analyse the European integration process from a broad perspective, looking beyond its purely legal aspects.

LLM International and European Labour Law
(One-year programme, 60 ECTS)

Due to the globalisation of the economy and the worldwide importance of human resources decisions and social and labour policies, the programme is focused on international and comparative law as well as the law of the European Union. The central subjects in this programme relate to the individual employment contract, managerial prerogative, working conditions and labour protection, employment discrimination, collective labour relations and industrial action, social dialogue and collective bargaining, the restructuring of enterprises, private pensions and incentive schemes, public social security and social policy.
The programme is designed to provide a strong foundation of knowledge and academic skills in the fields of labour law and social security law, in order to allow students to develop careers in human resources management, consultancy, government, trade unions, employers’ organisations, European and international politics or academic scholarship.

LLM Law and Technology
(One-year programme, 60 ECTS)

Emerging new technologies are pervasively transforming society. European Union leaders have repeatedly stated that Europe must become a dynamic, knowledge-based economy. Various national governments have put forward their visions for future knowledge and information management. Also in respect of biotechnology and nanotechnology national as well as international (non) governmental organizations have published policy documents, opinions and statements regarding the regulation of these technologies and the way in which society should deal with the influence these technologies have upon our day to day life. These initiatives are driven by the development and application of (new) technologies. They are witness to the need for a careful assessment of the mutual shaping of technology and society. Research and development, as well as the introduction of new technologies into the market and into society as a whole, evoke all kinds of social and legal questions. The master’s programme of Law and Technology provides the cutting-edge, multidisciplinary knowledge on technology, law, and society needed for answering these questions.

MPhil Research Master in Law
(One-year programme (60 ECTS) or two-year programme (120 ECTS))

The Research Master in Law is a coproduction of Tilburg University and Leuven University (Belgium). The programme is aimed at talented and motivated students wishing to become proficient in legal research by following a top-quality degree programme. For students who have a Bachelor's degree or an undergraduate degree, the programme lasts two years. In addition to obtaining a deep and comprehensive understanding of legal methods, students will also have the opportunity to specialise in one or more legal areas.
Besides the regular two-year Research Master's programme, there is an abridged one-year programme. This programme is intended for students with a Master's degree or a graduate degree. This programme focuses primarily on acquiring research skills. The Research Master's programme is not only challenging but also very intensive. Every year, a maximum of 24 talented and motivated students with strong analytical skills and good academic record are admitted to the programme.

LLM Advanced Master in European and International Taxation
(One-year programme, 60 ECTS)

The Tax Institutes of Tilburg University and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) have jointly established the European Tax College. The College provides a Master’s programme on the basis of intensive teaching on European, international and comparative taxation, plus a general introduction to the five major tax systems in Europe and the USA, three special subject courses, court exercise and a Master’s thesis paper. The educational concept is based on our experience that the best way for students with a basic theoretical background to learn is trough debating practical problems with peers and professors, and trying to elaborate solutions in short papers. The learning process therefore takes place in discussions and writing in small groups of not more than ten students under the direction of a course leader.

All Master's programmes of the Tilburg University Law Faculty are statutorily recognised under Dutch law and are accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council and registered by CROHO (Central Register of Higher Education Study Programmes).

Entry Requirements

Each application is assessed individually by the programme coordinator and the admission committee of the Faculty.
In assessing the applications, the following considerations are decisive:
- Candidates must have a university-level degree in law (exceptions are possible; see the individual programme’s website).
- Non-native English speakers need a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or a minimum TOEFL score of 575 (paper based), 230 (computer based) or 90 (internet based).

Application Procedure

Students must complete the online application form. This form can be found on the website of the Master’s programme.

Students can apply for admission at any time. If they apply before the dates mentioned below, they will be in time to start their studies in August.
- 15 April for all non-EEA applicants requiring a visa*
- 1 July for non-EEA applicants not requiring a visa*
- 1 July for EEA applicants

Tuition and Fees

EEA citizens € 1,565 (for one year)
Non-EEA citizens € 9,918 (for one year)
Advanced Master in International and European Taxation € 8,750 (for one year)

Financial Aid

Tilburg University:

For the year 2008 - 2009 Tilburg University has a maximum of 50 scholarships available for excellent international students who are admitted to a Master’s programme at Tilburg University.

Tilburg University Scholarships include:
- A partial tuition waiver of € 7,706 for non-EEA students. Students pay only the low undergraduate fee of € 2,212 instead of the high graduate fee of € 9,918. EEA students pay the same fee as Dutch students, which is € 1,565.
- € 5,000 for the covering of living expenses for one academic year, both for EEA and non-EEA students.

Grantfinder (Nuffic):

The Netherlands Student Grantfinder is an online search engine for those who want to study in the Netherlands and are looking for financial aid. The Grantfinder contains information on a range of Dutch scholarships for foreign students. For more information see: www.grantfinder.nl/content/index.asp

Accommodation

International students are guaranteed accommodation, provided that certain conditions are met.

Most of the student residences are conveniently situated near the University or the city centre. The rooms are on average between 12 and 20 square meters.

Student Life

Tilburg University has a rich student life with over 40 student organisations, excellent sport facilities and a large number of pubs and bars. On a cultural level, Tilburg has cinemas, museums and concert halls.

Combined with the numerous events organized by and within the (student) community such as festivals, exhibitions, conferences etc ensures that Tilburg has something to offer for every student!