Hello!

I have just been accepted into Leiden to Study the (basic)Masters in European Law. I have read countless posts regarding the PIL and tax courses at Leiden. I was wondering whether anyone else will be choosing an LLM in European Law there? Am I right in saying that this university's reputation is based predominately on its excellence in the field of PIL rather than EU law?

Thanks!

Hi :) I have been offered a plaace just today so I will start LLM European Law this Sept :)

Hi Scotslawyer,
that's probably right. if you're looking for a program with good reputation in EU-law, check the Europa-Institut at Saarland University or the College of Europe in Bruge.
Best regards,
Eric

In terms of European law, I think the College of Europe carries the most prestige. However, there is of course the bilingual requirement! Otherwise I don't think there's too much difference between the Dutch universities when it comes to European Law. I sometimes find this forum a case of the blind leading the blind....

You're right about Leiden's excellent rep for PIL. An Australian friend just finished his advanced masters there. I could forward you an email in which he describes his experience of the city/faculty etc?

I'm currently trying to decide between Amsterdam / Utrecht / VU and Leiden :(

A fellow Scot :)

Well, actually this blind here absolved the EU-Law master at the Europa-Institut in 2007/08 and really was/is convinced about the quality of the program... ;-)

Regards,
Eric

If you want some more advice from "the sighted", I highly recommend you take a look at Católica Lisbon's LL.M. Programme - Law in a European and Global Context: http://www.fd.lisboa.ucp.pt/site/custom/template/ucptplfac.asp?sspageID=3294&lang=2

I'm one of this year's candidates, so I thought I might share some of my experience with you guys. Classes started in September with a course on "The Constitutional Foundations of the EU", taught by four professors of the Total Law Team (coordinated by Joseph Weiler, which is one of the directors of the programme): Miguel Poiares Maduro (former Advocate General at the ECJ, and the other director of the LL.M.), Karine Caunes, José María de Areilza and Imola Streho. It was a great way to start the programme and have a feeling of how things would happen throughout the academic year: a lot of expectations is put on our shoulders, we have to do a lot of reading, we have to participate a lot in classes (aka socratic method). Forget about being spoon-fed with concepts and theories, they actually want you to think hard, intervene, and give as many wrong answers as you need to get to the right one by yourself. Like Weiler said, they "lecture through the students' mouths". What's great about this method is that you end up diving deeply into the subject and having a fascinating classroom experience!

But the best was yet to come! I don't want to bother you with a long post and a description of every subject, and I assume you are mostly interested in EU Law, so I'll just say some words about the course we are currently having on "The Law of the Internal Market". It started last week with Joseph Weiler, whose classes are an astonishing experience! If you like EU Law, you have certainly heard about him and you are impressed with his curriculum and so on... But you cannot imagine how privileged I (and the rest of my colleagues) felt for having him as a professor, especially in a small group of students, where everyone had the chance of intervening. He is simply brilliant and his classes are something you will not forget for a long time! Moreover, Católica organised a public lecture about Pluralism in Europe (more specifically about the Lautsi case) in which Weiler was keynote speaker (he argued the case at the ECHR on behalf of numerous Member States). A memorable week!
Next week we'll have Kieran Bradley and then it's time for Damian Chalmers and, again, Miguel Poiares Maduro!

Basically, I think that you won't have a chance anywhere in Europe (I even dare say in the World) of being taught by such an amazing group of scholars specialized in EU Law! Not to mention the rest of the Faculty, composed of names like Stephen Weatherill, Petros Mavroidis, Don Regan, Von Bogdandy, James Boyle, etc. etc.

Students come from all over the world to this Programme (I have Brazilian, German, American, Polish, Kosovar, Belgian colleagues...) and I think that Católica is really starting to build a strong reputation across borders when it comes to EU Law and International Law. Plus, Lisbon is an amazing city!

You should really take a look at the Programme and If you have any doubts or questions, I am happy to help you!