Hi, guys! I really need some help here!

I got admitted unconditionally by Tilburg University, for their LL.M in International Business Law. They even provided me with the nomination letter for the HSP scholarship programme, which I would definetly need to be able to go there. I like their curriculum very much, but I am concerned about living in Tilburg, as it is a very little town. I want to get a job in the Netherlands, after my graduation. Do you think I would get real chances to get it?

Also, I applied to the LL.M in International Business Law offered by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. They nominated me as well to the same scholarship programme, but I got a conditional admission. 

The thing is, I need to decide which programme I am going to choose as soon as possible, to be able to apply on time to Nuffic (the scholarship). Their deadline is February 1.......

I would love to live in Amsterdam, but I am concerned about the reputation the Vrije University Amsterdam has, compared to Tilburg. I like both curriculums, but I tend to think that Asmterdam would give me more options to get a job after the LL.M. The costs of living are for sure more expensive in Amsterdam, but I think I would manage with the Nuffic monthly allowance. (I am pretty optimistic about getting the scholarship...)

Can you give me some advices here, please? Which programme should I choose? Thanks a lot!

Hello there!

I have nearly the same dilemma as you do. I also got accepted to Tilburg LLM in International Business Law and to VU University Amsterdam LLM in International Business Law. However, only Tilburg University nominated me for the HSP Huygens scholarship. Nevertheless, I would like to go to Amsterdam as well, if I am lucky enough to receive VU Fellowship which covers only a part of all the expenses.

Personally, I think that Tilburg is a better university, but I am also worried about the job prospects and that is why I would like to be in Amsterdam. Supposedly, VU University Amsterdam has good connections with big law firms in Amsterdam. Maybe I'm wrong, so please, can someone who has more info share it with us.

Btw, why did the VU University Amsterdam accepted you conditionally? And where are you from, if you would like to share it with me?

Not at all. I think the reasonable thing to do is to wait for their nomination letter until next week. The thing is, I can not wait too much, due to the close deadline to apply for the scholarship. If they don't send the documents on time, I think I need to choose Tilburg. I would be happy about choosing any of them, but as I told you, I would prefer to live in Amsterdam.... Anyway, where are you from?

I am from Croatia. I don't think it would matter much to be in Amsterdam particularly since the Netherlands is a really small country and maybe it's better to do the LLM in a more renown university and then get a job anywhere in the Netherlands. Where are you working now?

I am working for a law firm in my country. My field of expertise is commercial and securities market law.

The thing is, I am not used to live in small towns..... Amsterdam is not than big, though, but I would prefer to live in a vibrant city.

Have you decided yet?

I too would prefer to be in a big city. That is why I cannot really decide. It depends on how much scholarship I receive from each one of them. Even if I don't receive Huygens, Tilburg University is more generous in their scholarships program. But, I also got accepted to the University of Westminster in London and I don't know what to do. I would like to live in London, but University of Westminster is poorly ranked and I think that it would be very difficult to find a job afterwards in London, especially being a non-EU citizen. And the thing is, I will probably have to quit my job to do the LLM, thus the job prospects are really important to me. I will decide when I see the outcome of the scholarships.

Remember, even if you live in a small town in the Netherlands, everything is near. If you would be living in Tilburg, Belgium and Germany are close, not to mention Amsterdam, so on weekends you can visit other sites in Europe. I know this cannot compare to real life in Amsterdam, but maybe it's not that bad as it sounds. I know it's a tough choice - better university or a more exciting city?

You are right about the Netherlands. Everything is so close.... But some colombian girls who have studied in Tilburg told me that at 6pm there's not too much to do there......Well, probably study, but...

I am going to think about it two more weeks. I need to get more information to decide.

University of Westminster is not that good. I used to live in London, and as you said, is very poorly ranked. It lacks of prestige. Though, if you can afford London, I strongly advise you to go there, but try with another better one. The colleges of the University of London are very nice. LSE (of course), King's College, Queen Mary. Between Tilburg/VU Amsterdam and Westminster, I would definetley choose the Dutch ones.

Who are you currently working for?

Aguacata, I've sent you a private message.

Hello, I applied for IBL at Tilburg and they told me that they are not doing rolling admissions, that they will tell me their decision in April, when did you send your documents?

Also, how long did it take you to hear from VU Amsterdam, did you apply for other universities in the Neatherlands? Ultrech, Groningen?

Hello canica!

When I applied at Tilburg, they also told me that they will inform me in spring about my acceptance to the program. But after a few weeks they informed me that they decided to already admit me to the program IBL. I've sent my documents in October.

As for the VU Amsterdam, it took them some time to answer, about 6 weeks after I've sent my documents. Tilburg Uni was much faster.

I haven't applied to other universities in the Netherlands. Where else did you apply?

Hi, canica.

My admission to VU Amsterdam is still conditional, and it took between 3 - 4 weeks to get an answer. It is condicional because I've applied through the online system, and they need some of my documents to be original, like the TOEFL score, for example.

I've applied to Duisenberg School of Finance as well, to their new LLM in Finance and Law, but I haven't heard from them yet....

Best University is Leiden. Tilburg is no way better school than Leiden and Rotterdam.Leiden Law is specific course and for the best courses you dont even have chance to apply for scholarship. Universities to apply you for scholarships in one reason...for international students they get the money for them..money provided by the government is going to dutch students..extra profit from interbational students goes directly to University..Thats why are we so popular. I will personally enroll to Leiden advance Law..but if you dont have already graduate degree or really good experience maybe program is not for you.Please note also that at least first level of dutch is a must.and i dont know who posted the thesis about connections with law firms he is very very right.we all studied somewhere before so you all know.I am also from croatia and will tell you something that my law experience means shit in another country. law is specific field and i am going for taxation after researching 2 years and talking to the people. tax is uniqu almost everywhere..all other thinghs are much more different.although that can be learned.please also note that people speak dutch in the country!!! forget about all the stories etc..go there..one year visa after gradation will be given but 5 years visa after is easy to get only and only if you haev good job..good job you will get if we speak durch..i started to learn dutch last year though adn will apply to 2011 for law degree. i am peronally want to move but dont want to leave anything unexplained...i am still thinking about LSE too cause its in english but visa stuff for england is harder then in holland...also i am doing now the course in english for lawers too and doing speach academy too..you DO need to haev excellent english skills if you wanna get excellent job..basicall you need to be better than any english candidate which is difficult...for dutch lanaguage i dont wanna even say...holland sounds liberal on the surface but inside there are very closed people. not like colombians :-) have many friends there..so in Nederlands apply really for the best Uni cause for us foreigners thats the only ticket to a good job and maybe..repeating maybe staying there..you dont want to leave your country and then do the same job or maybe even worse in holland or england..another reason..which i did before ...was to live somewhere except not in croatia...then you can enroll to Tilburg but thats then completely another story..hope guys i helped..davor

Sorry forgot something for scholarships..Fullbright and World Bank ones are excellent and will provide you scholarship for really best courses. Also specific country scholarships will be provided for some countries...depends on relations...let say for croatians is only one good..Balokovic which can take you to Harvard. Or mexicans go to Sweden..braslians to france...

I am sending documents to Utrecht this week, I am applying to VU Amsterdam and already applied to Tilburg.

Any coments on this programs?