University of Kent - Brussels School of International Studies (BSIS)

Kent Law School currently offers two LLM degrees in Brussels. An LLM in Human Rights Law and an LLM in International Law.

The LLM in Human Rights Law examines the theory and practice of Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law, Humanitarian Law, Transitional Justice, Migration Law and other fields in the context of different policy areas and various academic disciplines. It is particularly suited to those who currently work in, or hope to work in international organisations, non-governmental organisations, international law firms and foreign affairs departments.

The LLM in International Law provides a programme of study that responds to increasing complexity in the international legal order; where international law evolves through transformations such as global counter-terrorism, global value chains, and foreign investment arbitration. Our academic staff are at the forefront of teaching, research and practice in the International Law, and our LLM modules encompass subfields that range from European Union Law, Public International Law, the Law of the Sea, and the Law of Armed Conflict, to Trade and Investment Law.

These LLMs can be taken as a standalone degree, or you can study International Law or Human Rights Law in the context of another subject offered at the School, such as migration, conflict or political economy. This is done via the modules you choose and allows you to obtain a secondary specialisation within your degree.

As a graduate student at University of Kent's Brussels School of International Studies, you will have a daily gateway to the 'real world' of International Relations, policy-making, and International Law. We are within easy reach of the international law courts in The Hague and the European Court of Human Rights in Luxembourg.

Our taught Masters programmes are offered in both a standard 90 ECTS credit format (which comprises six taught modules from your chosen programmes pathway plus a dissertation over 12 months full-time) and an extended 120 ECTS credit format (which comprises nine taught modules plus a dissertation over 18 months full-time). The extended version of the degree allows students to study their chosen subject in more detail, or combine it with another subject area. It also permits students to spend time in Canterbury at our main campus.

The Brussels School of International Studies (BSIS) is a multidisciplinary postgraduate School of the University of Kent bringing together the disciplines of politics, international relations, law and economics. Students on our programmes benefit from a stimulating and truly interdisciplinary approach to their studies.

Kent Law School has been offering degree programmes at BSIS since 1998, and alongside the School of Politics and International Relations was one of the founding schools in Brussels.

All applicants for the MA and LLM programmes at BSIS must possess a Bachelor's degree or equivalent. The Bachelor's degree should normally be at least equivalent to an upper second class honours degree (at least a 3.0 GPA under the American system). Students from other countries can find details of the equivalent entry requirements online Entry Requirements. If you country is not listed, or you are following a different education system, please contact the School at ukbapplications@kent.ac.uk.

Applicants are not required to hold a law degree and we welcome students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. Suitable first degrees include: Anthropology, Economics, History, International Relations, Law, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology (among others).

We do not require the LNAT, GRE or GMAT for admission.

The University of Kent requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. This usually requires the IELTS test to be taken before enrolling at the School. For LLM degrees, we require a minimum score of 7.0 overall.

For the academic year 2017/18:

Standard 90 ECTS LLM full-time degree 17,350 EUROS
Extended 120 ECTS LLM full-time degree 24,700 EUROS

These fees are the total cost of tuition for the degrees. Payments can be split in one or three installments.

Each year, BSIS awards more than 130,000 EUROS worth of scholarships to its postgraduate taught (MA/LLM) and research (PhD) students. In each case, the Scholarship Board is looking for the very best and brightest students, but also those who show the greatest potential.

Other funding opportunities are detailed online.

The University has its own purpose-designed School close to the centre of Brussels. Facilities include academic offices, a student common room, a range of seminar rooms and lecture spaces, as well as access to IT facilities, reference books and a journals collection. We offer students 24-hour secure access to the site and dedicated private work spaces.

The premises are located close to the campuses of our partner universities, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). BSIS students have access to all the facilities on these campuses, including libraries, public computers, bars, cafés and sports facilities.

We are also located within close proximity to the European Parliament, European Commission and other organisations. This allows students excellent opportunities for taking up an internship, or participating in a vast array of conferences, seminars or guest lectures.

Brussels offers many options for students looking to secure low-cost accommodation and is one of the most affordable capitals in Western Europe. One element that makes the search for housing easier is the flexibility of the Brussels housing market. As there are many students and people working as stagiaires at the European Parliament, NATO and other institutions, there are usually people leaving their apartments who are looking for others to take over their leases.

The prices tend to be reasonable due to this large availability. Studio apartments with all charges included (water, electricity, gas, tenant charges) can be found for around ?550-750 per month, and a one-bedroom all-included for around ?650-850 per month.

Notices of available apartments, many of which are being vacated by outgoing BSIS students, are also sent through the list-serve, or online via the secure Facebook group, which is set up each year for incoming students (see opposite page), or via our housing blog, which includes a long list of options with trusted landlords.

https://www.kent.ac.uk/summerschools/brussels/

Over a period of two weeks, students participate in a series of guest lectures, seminars and debates delivered by academics, policy-makers, diplomats and European civil servants. The summer school allows students to discover how the European Union functions with a particular focus on how it acts as a global organisation and the challenges it faces in today’s world.