Université de Cergy-Pontoise

The University

Since its creation in 1967, the department of Val-d’Oise has become a dynamic center of economic development. Its privileged geographical situation allows it to benefit from Paris and its western employment zones. Major national and international companies play a dominant role in the local economy (3M, Rover, Clarins, Dassault, Siemens…).

The University of Cergy-Pontoise (UCP) was created in 1991 within this dynamic framework. Ideally located west of Paris in the department of Val d’Oise, it is within a short distance from Paris, 30 minutes from The Arc de Triomphe and The Avenue of the Champs-Elysées.
UCP is a public Institution and a leading center of teaching and research that welcomes over 1,500 international students from 54 different countries out of a total student body of 19,500. With over 1,000 academic staff, the University offers all levels of undergraduate and post-graduate studies.

144 Degrees are available in all disciplines (except medical studies). The University is divided into 5 departments created all in 1996: Law, Economy and Management, Languages, Literature and Social Sciences, Science and Technology. Exchanges have been developed all over the world with over 135 foreign universities. The University also takes part in the European exchange program and has adopted the ECTS system (European Credit Transfer System) which allows European students to obtain credits in their university for courses taken abroad. UCP has been pointed out as a “Model University” several times by the French government.

The Law School

The Law School welcomes over 2,500 students and offers “Licence”, Master and Doctorate Degrees. It is a dynamic and prestigious school ranked 3rd in France by the French Ministry of Education and 1st in Paris and suburbs by “l’Etudiant”, the leading student magazine in France. The Law School has developed and multiplied international partnerships and exchanges with foreign universities in Europe, the United States and Australia. At the same time it has also developed bilingual degrees in Anglo-American, Spanish and German law. Recently the Law Faculty has put into place associated and combined degrees :

- An intensive detailed Master degree in Contracts and Business Law with the major and outstanding business school : ESSEC. This ambitious degree offers students a real specialization and a solid preparation to those who wish to take the Bar Exam or work in major companies.

- A Master degree of combined French and German Law with the University of Düsseldorf. This degree is followed alternatively in both Universities. At the end of the fourth year of their studies students are granted the Baccalaureus/Baccalaurea Legum of the University of Düsseldorf and the Bachelor’s degree in Law delivered by UCP.

- A joint Master 2 Legal Advisor (DJCE) UCP/ LL.M. in Business VLS (Vermont Law School USA). Each year 4 selected students graduating from DJCE spend a year at VLS in the LL.M. programme. Each year, 4 selected students holding a JD delivered by VLS spend 2 years in the Master programme at UCP. Each student is awarded two qualifications: An LL.M. from VLS and a DJCE Master from UCP. Students can sit for the Bar exams in France and New York.

- A dual Master 2/LL.M. in Business Law with the University of Dundee (Scotland). Students joining a Master 2 at UCP's Law School spend one semester at UCP and one semester at Dundee. At the end of a year program they obtain a Master 2 from UCP and an LL.M. from Dundee. Students joining an LL.M. at Dundee spend on semester at Dundee and one semester at UCP. At the end of a year program they obtain an LL.M. from Dundee and an LL.M. from UCP.

- A dual LL.M./LL.M. with the University of Dundee (Scotland). Students joining an LL.M. at UCP spend on semester at UCP and one semester at UoD. At the end of a year program they obtain an LL.M. from UCP and an LL.M. from UoD.

In keeping with its efforts to welcome foreign students and to develop international links, the Law School has created three LL.M. programmes taught in English offering foreign students and professionals who do not speak French the opportunity to acquire an advanced knowledge of French and European Union Law. The seminars of these unique university degrees are taught by both academics and professionals.

The Program

www.u-cergy.fr/rubrique1454.html

FULL PROGRAM IN FRANCE :

Three University Degrees are offered :
LL.M. in Business & Taxation Law : France, Europe, International
LL.M. in Law & Business Ethics : France, Europe, International
LL.M. in French & European Union Law

Applicants may undertake the two distinct semesters over a period of two different academic years. In addition, students who enroll and succeed in only the first semester will receive a University Certificate.

The seminars are taught by university professors and by practising lawyers or other professionals. The advantage of such an association is to offer students real contacts both inside the Law School and among the legal community. Some seminars are taught by and within international firms based in Paris

To ensure quality, the Degree is selective and designed for law students who have a high level of legal studies and a very good level of the English language.

DUAL LL.M. PROGRAM FRANCE-UK :

The dual LL.M. programme is an exciting new venture which brings together two dynamic and highly rated law schools : University of Cergy-Pontoise (Paris-France) and University of Dundee (Scotland-UK). Students will be taught through English by acknowledged experts and will gain an in depth knowledge of a wide range of contemporary commercial law subjects from both a common law and civil law perspective.

The programme is unique and offers two qualifications delivered in two semesters. It is aimed at graduates from non French jurisdictions and foreign professionals settled in France or doing business with French partners eager to acquire a strong background in common law and civil law.

Students enrolled on the dual qualifying LL.M. will graduate with an LL.M. in International Commercial Law from UOD and an LL.M. in Business & Taxation Law or Law & Business Ethics from UCP.

For more information on the list of classes : www.u-cergy.fr/rubrique1454.html

Visit of :

The court of Justice (Paris + Val d'Oise)
The Market Room Société Générale
The European Court of Justice (partly financed by the LLM programme)

The Faculty

Associate professionals :

Ernst & Young
Société Générale
Institute of Business Ethics
L'Oréal
Goinard & Associés

Entry Requirements

The LL.M programs are aimed at graduates from non French jurisdictions and foreign professionals settled in France or doing business with French partners eager to acquire a strong background in French and European Union Law.

To ensure quality, the Degree is selective and designed for law students who have a high level of legal studies (ratings, scores, grades, distinctions...) and a very good level of the English language.

The selection is competitive and based on an examination of the application form. Entry to the LL.M. is restricted to applicants with the requisite level of honours or equivalent grades. The level of English and the applicant’s motivations are important criterions.

Consequently, the student who presents a strong application early in the review process has a better chance of admission. Students are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

Applicants whose native language is not English must provide original test scores for one of the following standardized English proficiency tests :
TOEFL : minimum score of 550 paper-based or 213 computer-based
IELTS : minimum score of 6.5
Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) : Grades A, B
Certificate in Advanced English : Grades A, B

Application Procedure

Applicants must enclose all the documents listed in the application form. Incomplete application files will not be examined.

Applicants may download the application form on UCP’s Website or withdraw the form at the Secretary Office of the LL.M. programs.

Application forms can be downloaded from January 1st and are required to be returned to the Secretary Office by June 15th of the same year (unless extensions decided by the Law School).

The application files are examined on a rolling basis. The application Committee strives to make a decision within two to six weeks after a completed application is received. Consequently, the student who presents a strong application early in the review process has a better chance of admission. Students are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

Selected students will receive an admission letter by electronic message and fax or post. Upon reception of the electronic admission message, they must confirm their application and pay 600 euros within 30 days of the admission letter. This amount will be deduced from the total amount of the tuition fees. Unless confirmation and payment are received during this period, applicants will be considered as withdrawing from the programme.
The remainder of the tuition fees must be paid before or on the day of registration at UCP.

For more information : www.u-cergy.fr/rubrique1454.html

Tuition and Fees

1/ FULL LL.M. programs (taught in English at UCP):

1 Semester :

European Students : 3500 euros
Non-European Students : 4000 euros

2 Semesters :

European Students : 5500 euros
Non-European Students : 6000 euros

2/ DUAL LL.M. program (taught entirely in English at UCP and UoD):

European Students : 7000 euros
Non-European Students : 7500 euros

Financial Aid

In exceptional cases, students enrolling for two semesters may make instalment payments by sending a formal request with the application file.

Instalments will be due according to the following plan only :
- 600 euros 30 days after the date of the admission letter
- 1/4th of the remaining amount by August 15th
-1/4th of the remaining amount by September 15th
-1/4th of the remaining amount by October 15th
-remainder by November 15th

Instalments must be respected.

The UCP offers scholarships for international students pursuing a PhD.
Interested students must apply early and add an additional request to their application file. They must also indicate if they will maintain their applicaiton if the scolarship is refused.

Location

Ideally located west of Paris in the department of Val d’Oise and beside the River Oise, UCP is within a short distance from Paris, 30 minutes from The Arc de Triomphe and The Avenue of Champs-Elysées.

Students can live in Paris or in the Val d'Oise department outside Paris. Sweeping forests, tended by the département in cooperation with the State, offer vast areas of natural beauty far from the bustle of city life, while quality leisure facilities have been installed on hillsides in Cormeilles-en-Parisis and Sannois . The Montmorency valley boasts any number of parks and gardens, a rigorous zoning protects farmland in the western part of the Plaine de France. Development in the Vexin, which lies in the western part of the département, takes place within the framework of a Regional Nature Park , with space reserved for high-technology businesses, laboratories and small business parks compatible with environmental priorities.

The Vexin is the "impressionists" site. As you leave Paris, this time in the direction of Auvers-sur-Oise, the landscapes that spread out before you form a succession of paintings. When you get to the village, at the entry to the Vexin region, you enter the world of Impressionism, an exploration of memorable places and the artists who made them famous : VAN GOGH, CEZANNE... You can visit the châteaux and museums dedicated to the impressionists, go through the Van Gogh or Cezanne's paths and enter their famous paintings.

For more information on the department :
www.ceevo95.fr/heading/heading3937.html
www.informationfrance.com/disp_dept.php?dept_id=95…

Accommodation

For all information :

Law School’s Website www.u-cergy.fr
Sections : Etablissement, UFR Droit, International, Studying law at the UCP.

UCP’s Website www.u-cergy.fr
Sections : English version, Accomodation

Students cas also apply individually and directly to the Cité internationale of Paris.The Cité internationale is located on a wooded park of 34 hectares in the south of the French capital and represents the largest concentration of residence halls in Paris and the Ile-de-France region: 5 600 beds in 38 residences. It offers, in addition to quality housing, a whole range of facilities and services related to everyday life.

For all informaiton : www.ciup.fr/cite_internationale.htm

Pre-LLM Course

Students applying for the LLM programmes (Full and Dual) must have a solid knowledge of the following subjects in their home countries :
- contracts law
- torts law
- business law

Students applying to Business and Taxation Law classes must have a knowledge of Taxation Law in their home country