LLM in Human Rights or PIL, which one to pick?


Hello!

I am a 30 years old italian lawyer who wants to apply for a LLM in human rights or PIL.

I was actually looking only for those that are starting in January/February, since I don't want to wait until the beginning of the next academic year to enroll.

After a wide research on the internet and on this website as well, I was thinking to apply for these programmes:

- LLM in PIL at the University of Amsterdam
- LLM in Globalisation and Law at the University of Maastricht
- LLM in Constitutional Justice And Human Rights at the Univeristy of Bologna
- LLM in International Law and Global Governance at the University of Tilburg
- LLM in Human Rights and Migration at the Radboud University of Nijmegen

My goal is to spend a year specializing on this topic and then looking for a job in NGOs, international organizations or in international law firms.

I know that Dutch unversities are becoming the more and more prestigious in the field of human rights and PIL. The Univeristy of Bologna has an excellent reputation in general but I have no idea about this programme. I would actually prefer to move abroad (that is considered to be a "plus" on a CV) and the Netherlands attracts me also in terms of quality of life.

I think I will apply for all of these courses but I would be glad to get some tips or suggestions about the programmes. Which ones would you reccomend me?

Thank you guys :)

Hello!

I am a 30 years old italian lawyer who wants to apply for a LLM in human rights or PIL.

I was actually looking only for those that are starting in January/February, since I don't want to wait until the beginning of the next academic year to enroll.

After a wide research on the internet and on this website as well, I was thinking to apply for these programmes:

- LLM in PIL at the University of Amsterdam
- LLM in Globalisation and Law at the University of Maastricht
- LLM in Constitutional Justice And Human Rights at the Univeristy of Bologna
- LLM in International Law and Global Governance at the University of Tilburg
- LLM in Human Rights and Migration at the Radboud University of Nijmegen

My goal is to spend a year specializing on this topic and then looking for a job in NGOs, international organizations or in international law firms.

I know that Dutch unversities are becoming the more and more prestigious in the field of human rights and PIL. The Univeristy of Bologna has an excellent reputation in general but I have no idea about this programme. I would actually prefer to move abroad (that is considered to be a "plus" on a CV) and the Netherlands attracts me also in terms of quality of life.

I think I will apply for all of these courses but I would be glad to get some tips or suggestions about the programmes. Which ones would you reccomend me?

Thank you guys :)
quote
trinityza

Hey, they are all excellent programmes. I have applied to the PIL programmes at Amsterdam and Tilburg. I just want to warn you however, that it is better if you apply to Fall next year and not Spring. I was initially planning to apply to Spring, but upon mailing Leiden Law School, I received the following reply:

"We urge students to start the programme is September and not in February, since the Sept entry is the actual start of the programme. Students starting in February start half-way and will attend the Sept-Dec term with the introductory courses as their second term. We are obligated to offer this second entry moment , but we have experienced that many students who start in February struggle with the programme."

[Edited by trinityza on Nov 06, 2018]

Hey, they are all excellent programmes. I have applied to the PIL programmes at Amsterdam and Tilburg. I just want to warn you however, that it is better if you apply to Fall next year and not Spring. I was initially planning to apply to Spring, but upon mailing Leiden Law School, I received the following reply:

"We urge students to start the programme is September and not in February, since the Sept entry is the actual start of the programme. Students starting in February start half-way and will attend the Sept-Dec term with the introductory courses as their second term. We are obligated to offer this second entry moment , but we have experienced that many students who start in February struggle with the programme."

quote

Hey, they are all excellent programmes. I have applied to the PIL programmes at Amsterdam and Tilburg. I just want to warn you however, that it is better if you apply to Fall next year and not Spring. I was initially planning to apply to Spring, but upon mailing Leiden Law School, I received the following reply:

"We urge students to start the programme is September and not in February, since the Sept entry is the actual start of the programme. Students starting in February start half-way and will attend the Sept-Dec term with the introductory courses as their second term. We are obligated to offer this second entry moment , but we have experienced that many students who start in February struggle with the programme."



Hello trinityza!

Also the University of Amsterdam suggests to start in September but I can't wait 10 months longer. Meanwhile I would search for a job and then forget about the LLM.

Which programme were you applying for in Leiden? Is there any which starts in February?

[quote]Hey, they are all excellent programmes. I have applied to the PIL programmes at Amsterdam and Tilburg. I just want to warn you however, that it is better if you apply to Fall next year and not Spring. I was initially planning to apply to Spring, but upon mailing Leiden Law School, I received the following reply:

"We urge students to start the programme is September and not in February, since the Sept entry is the actual start of the programme. Students starting in February start half-way and will attend the Sept-Dec term with the introductory courses as their second term. We are obligated to offer this second entry moment , but we have experienced that many students who start in February struggle with the programme."

[/quote]

Hello trinityza!

Also the University of Amsterdam suggests to start in September but I can't wait 10 months longer. Meanwhile I would search for a job and then forget about the LLM.

Which programme were you applying for in Leiden? Is there any which starts in February?
quote
trinityza

Hey.

Yeah, it makes sense for you to apply to Spring sem then.

I applied to the Public International Law LLM (Regular) Programme. Yes, it does start in February. You can check the deadlines on their official website.

Hey.

Yeah, it makes sense for you to apply to Spring sem then.

I applied to the Public International Law LLM (Regular) Programme. Yes, it does start in February. You can check the deadlines on their official website.
quote

Thanks again trinityza,

I have been just conditionally accepted at the UvA

But there's a problem: they asked me to send a language certificate in english no older than 2 years within one week. My Cambridge CAE is only 4 months older and the only way to meet their requirements is to take a new language test. Unfortunately there is no chance to do so in such a short time. I hope there are some alternative ways to attest language skills :/

Thanks again trinityza,

I have been just conditionally accepted at the UvA

But there's a problem: they asked me to send a language certificate in english no older than 2 years within one week. My Cambridge CAE is only 4 months older and the only way to meet their requirements is to take a new language test. Unfortunately there is no chance to do so in such a short time. I hope there are some alternative ways to attest language skills :/
quote
chicken so...

Wow, that's a quick turnaround request. Can you ask them for an extension?

Wow, that's a quick turnaround request. Can you ask them for an extension?
quote

Wow, that's a quick turnaround request. Can you ask them for an extension?


They just replied that the only way to be accepted is to take a test within the end of November. I just checked the closest one that will take place on December 1st (IELTS).
Let's see whether they would be flexible with this option or not. I really hope so. Admission at the UvA is too precious to be wasted just for an English Certificate 4 months older than they require.

[quote]Wow, that's a quick turnaround request. Can you ask them for an extension?[/quote]

They just replied that the only way to be accepted is to take a test within the end of November. I just checked the closest one that will take place on December 1st (IELTS).
Let's see whether they would be flexible with this option or not. I really hope so. Admission at the UvA is too precious to be wasted just for an English Certificate 4 months older than they require.
quote
chicken so...

Well, that's something. Good luck!

Well, that's something. Good luck!
quote

They accepted my request: within the 15th of December I have to send them a language certificate in english. So, I am about to literally dive into IELTS text books, as the closest test is on 1st of December. Otherwise I can defer the start to September 2019.

Let's see what happen. I'll keep you posted ;)

They accepted my request: within the 15th of December I have to send them a language certificate in english. So, I am about to literally dive into IELTS text books, as the closest test is on 1st of December. Otherwise I can defer the start to September 2019.

Let's see what happen. I'll keep you posted ;)
quote
JohnK002

I'm just curious why you chose PIL over one of the Human Rights LLM programs you were considering?

I'm in roughly a similar situation and can't decide whether to do my LLM in Human Rights or PIL.

I'm just curious why you chose PIL over one of the Human Rights LLM programs you were considering?

I'm in roughly a similar situation and can't decide whether to do my LLM in Human Rights or PIL.
quote

I'm just curious why you chose PIL over one of the Human Rights LLM programs you were considering?

I'm in roughly a similar situation and can't decide whether to do my LLM in Human Rights or PIL.


Well, actually there is more than one reason

The first one is that in the PIL program also human rights classes are provided.

Secondly, I would like to get a broader knowledge on other different subjects such as transitional justice in post-conflict areas or minority rights and I think that PIL course could be more appropriate in this prospect.

Thirdly, but still very important, UvA has a very good reputation and also the city itself attracts me in terms of quality of life, multicultural environment etc.

Did you already apply for February intake or are you waiting for September?

[quote]I'm just curious why you chose PIL over one of the Human Rights LLM programs you were considering?

I'm in roughly a similar situation and can't decide whether to do my LLM in Human Rights or PIL.[/quote]

Well, actually there is more than one reason

The first one is that in the PIL program also human rights classes are provided.

Secondly, I would like to get a broader knowledge on other different subjects such as transitional justice in post-conflict areas or minority rights and I think that PIL course could be more appropriate in this prospect.

Thirdly, but still very important, UvA has a very good reputation and also the city itself attracts me in terms of quality of life, multicultural environment etc.

Did you already apply for February intake or are you waiting for September?
quote

Even though I achieved an IELTS 7.5 certificate just in time for the february intake, in the end I decided to postopone the start to the next September. I realized that starting in the middle of the academic year wouldn't have been the best option in terms of programme-structure, housing and organizing all the other things for moving to Amsterdam.

I'll keep you posted

Even though I achieved an IELTS 7.5 certificate just in time for the february intake, in the end I decided to postopone the start to the next September. I realized that starting in the middle of the academic year wouldn't have been the best option in terms of programme-structure, housing and organizing all the other things for moving to Amsterdam.

I'll keep you posted
quote
JohnK002

Did you already apply for February intake or are you waiting for September?

I decided to hold off on applying until next year - I have my sights set on Columbia.

Good luck to you!

[quote]Did you already apply for February intake or are you waiting for September? [/quote]
I decided to hold off on applying until next year - I have my sights set on Columbia.

Good luck to you!
quote

Reply to Post

Related Law Schools

Amsterdam, Netherlands 394 Followers 199 Discussions
Maastricht, Netherlands 277 Followers 228 Discussions
Bologna, Italy 25 Followers 9 Discussions
Tilburg, Netherlands 264 Followers 186 Discussions
Nijmegen, Netherlands 44 Followers 26 Discussions

Other Related Content

A Dive Into Public International Law LL.M.s

Article Aug 30, 2017

We take a closer look at the current LL.M. landscape for public international law and how to pick the best program.

Top 10 LL.M. Programs for Human Rights Law

Top List

It’s no wonder that an increasing number of students are aiming to pursue an LL.M. in Human Rights Law: With so much happening in the world today, from wars and forced exile to environmental disasters, it’s essential to understand the overlapping legal frameworks and laws that affect human rights of people everywhere.

Hot Discussions