Hello, I am a native Chinese, who's applying a LL.M programme in Europe. I submitted my LL.M application to K.U.Leuven, but have just got response from the Centre for Advanced Legal Studies (C.A.L.S) at the Faculty of Law of the K.U.Leuven. As I can get limited information through the internet, I am a little bit hesitating whether I should attend the programme. Does there anybody know well about this programme, as well as the Law Faculty and K.U.Leuven? If so, could you plz tell me some details about the programme? And what about the reputation of K.U.Leuven and the student life at the K.U.Leuven?

BTW, does the programme cost very much? How much is the living expenses of this one year of study for a single student? (I have found some figures as of 2001, but they must be out of date.)

Thank you.

Dear Lovesunny,

I assume you are admitted to the program which is not clear from you message. I can assure you that it is worth participating in the program. Leuven is one of the oldest universities of Europe. Its foundation dates from 1425 and it was for a long time the only university in the area. It is also a typical student city: it hosts about 30 000 students. Student life is also very amusing. Leuven offers you also a lot of career prospects. I can assure for 100% that all the world leading (law) firms a degree from Leuven. I had the occassion to follow at my university a course on competition given by one of leuven s professors. He is the belgian authority on the subject. He also teaches in the LLM program next to other important scholars. You will get for example your EU institutions course from a sitting judge of the European Court of Justice located at Luxembourg. Believe me it is worth!!!
Concerning the fee: it is 5000 euro + 1000 deposit.
For any further questions just ask

Regards

Roeland.

Dear Lovesunny :
My name is Santiago Lopez, I am from the country of Colombia and I have also been accepted by K.U Leuven, for the L.L.M program; Unfortunately they are not very clear with the information, and it is a bit problematic to know how to act.; for example they advise me a few weeks ago that I have been accepted and it was to late for me because I have all ready applied to Heidelberg university.

In my opinion the best person and the most helpful is Gema Rodriguez Valls, she is very kind and open to help the students. But for further information about the city and the cost, there is a web page in the university web page and I think it is very complete.

I also have a friend living there, and he told me that the cit is very nice, a lot of fun and cultural live, but of course a good university and a lot of study.

Best luck with your search.

Hello, Roeland and Santiago

Thank you very much for your helpful introduction.

Actually, I have not received an official admission from K.U.Leuven yet, but the coordinator(Ms. Gema Rodriguez Valls, who was mentioned in Santiago's post) just sent me an email last week. She asked me to fax my last year transcript and a document stating that I had received my diploma so that I could get a final decision.

As it's a little bit late to get such information and I did email Ms. Valls, but no reply yet. Thus, I was somewhat hesitant whether to continue my application. However, after reading your posts, I am convinced that the LL.M programme in K.U.Leuven is worth participating.

Today I faxed the documents that they required. Hope I can succeed to be admitted to the prestigious university.

Also, I am very happy to know you guys. Show my great appreciation to you.

Kind regards,
Lovesunny

Dear "Lovesunny", Roeland and Santiago,

I have just read your comments.

I am convinced of the extremely good quality of the LL.M.programme that we offer. The professors teaching in the programme, the services of the KULeuven, and the student life in general are outstanding (check with previous students).

But the reason of my reply is informing you that ALL information on the LL.M.programme can be found at our website:
http://www.law.kuleuven.ac.be/cals/llm

As you can understand it is impossible to admit a candidate to the LL.M.programme without having received all the required documents. If some of them are sent rather late (for exemple July) , the obvious consequence is that our answer on their admission (or refusal) is 'late' too.

In any case we inform the candidates via e-mail of the status of their application or answer them as soon as we can when they contact us. (Should we ever not have been so efficient, hereby our apologies).

For any further questions, do not hesitate to contact my colleague Mrs. Werrebrouck or me:
majo.werrebrouck@law.kuleuven.be
gema.rodriguezvalls@law.kuleuven.be

With best regards,
Majo & Gema