Hello! I am looking into LLM programs in intellectual property law in Belgium (or perhaps France or Switzerland). If anyone has done the K.U. Leuven or Liege LLM program in IP law, I would love to hear from you. Which is a better program in IP, Leuven or Liege? Although U of Liege is a relatively new program, seems to me that the curriculum (or classes offered) is far more appealing than K.U. Leuven's. Anyhow, any info and/or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Anyone?

Albeit relatively new, in my opinion, the Liege LLM programme is far more attractive and dynamic, loads of events around the LLM (conferences in Brussels) + opportunities for publication.

On top of that, the board of Professors counts prominent practitioners and academics. Leuven is business as usual + far more expensive if my recollections are correct. I hope this helps.

Thank you for your input, stud57. The more research I do, the more convinced I am that Liege is a better option for me.

Hi there,

I can't speak for the LLM at Leuven, but the LLM at Liège is a very good one. The teaching staff is really made of competent practicioners in European law. I am lucky enough to work with higly motivated teachers, in a friendly-but-serious atmosphere.

I can only recommend you this LLM !

Hi there,

I can't speak for the LLM at Leuven, but the LLM at Liège is a very good one. The teaching staff is really made of competent practicioners in European law. I am lucky enough to work with higly motivated teachers, in a friendly-but-serious atmosphere.

I can only recommend you this LLM !

Sure. But see it as a challenge to improve your current skills in french.
If you can put on your CV that you are a native dutch speaker, and that you have followed an LLM in both English AND French, you will have more professional opportunities !

Sure. But see it as a challenge to improve your current skills in french.
If you can put on your CV that you are a native dutch speaker, and that you have followed an LLM in both English AND French, you will have more professional opportunities !

but French is needed

Ok, but it is obvious, except for some people, that french is more useful in the world, especially the world of lawyers.
So if one has to invest time in learning a language, I guess it would be more useful to learn a language spoken by a lot of people, and by the way french is also one of the working languages of a lot international and European institutions (CJEU, OHMI, etc), while dutch is not.

Anyway, it is a good challenge.

but French is needed

Agreed. You have a point. But you should not worry about that.

This year, a Chinese student attended the program and had a limited knowledge of french, this was no problem at all.

For example, he could get some course material in advance to practice and there was always somebody among the students to help him understand something.

This is not Victor Hugo's speech level, this is working french that is required, as a working level in english is required.

In addition, you can really manage to learn french fast enough, you will be among french speaking students too.

Agreed. You have a point. But you should not worry about that.

This year, a Chinese student attended the program and had a limited knowledge of french, this was no problem at all.

For example, he could get some course material in advance to practice and there was always somebody among the students to help him understand something.

This is not Victor Hugo's speech level, this is working french that is required, as a working level in english is required.

In addition, you can really manage to learn french fast enough, you will be among french speaking students too.

Albeit relatively new, in my opinion, the Liege LLM programme is far more attractive and dynamic, loads of events around the LLM (conferences in Brussels) + opportunities for publication.

On top of that, the board of Professors counts prominent practitioners and academics. Leuven is business as usual + far more expensive if my recollections are correct. I hope this helps.

Well, I don't know. Look closely at the new progamme (on www.ieje.net). I think IP law and competition law and very well balanced.

Well, I don't know. Look closely at the new progamme (on www.ieje.net). I think IP law and competition law and very well balanced.

Indeed, it is definitely EU oriented !