University of Groningen - Faculty of Law

Groningen has been Top Rated for international law LLMs in the Netherlands for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019

Our one-year LLM programmes taught in English include:

Energy and Climate Law
Groningen is located in the ''Energy Valley'' of the Netherlands, and home to the largest natural gas fields in the EU. Our Energy and Climate Law LLM is taught by experts who both teach and work in the energy industry, making this programme an LLM-Guide Top LLM programme for Energy Law. We also offer a double degree option with George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. (USA), for applicants to this LLM programme.

European Law in a Global Context
The European Law in a Global Context LLM covers all aspects of European Union law and is overseen by lecturers who embrace a very personal approach towards mentoring the students. The Director of the programme, Professor Ramses Wessel, specialises in European law, with a focus on the interface between EU law and international and domestic law, EU External Relations Law, and the Law of International Organizations.

Global Criminal Law
The LLM programme in Global Criminal Law focuses on the application of criminal law – both substantive and procedural - in the context of global criminality, including organised,  transnational, and international criminality. Students are given a two-fold opportunity to study substantive and procedural criminal law from a comparative and international perspective, and specialize in organised and financial crimes, cybercrimes, or international crimes. This LLM was one of the 2018 Top Rated LLMs in Global Criminal Law in the Netherlands.

International Commercial Law
The one year LLM programme in International Commercial Law covers specialization in (international) commercial law, especially with regard to contracts and subjects of contracts, as well as the solving of (commercial) disputes when needed.

Public International Law
Our Public International Law  programme provides students with a strong foundation in most fields of public international law, and is designed to provide an optimal mix of teaching and mentorship. This LLM is currently one of the Top Rated LLMs in international law in The Netherlands and Top Rated for Public International Law by LLM-Guide.

International Human Rights Law
In this one year International Human Rights Law LLM programme, students are trained in human rights at the international level, but also in international humanitarian law and other related fields, learning about different human rights systems and how they are interpreted within these systems and within different countries. This LLM is currently one of the Top Rated LLMs in international law in the Netherlands.

Technology Law and Innovation
In our Technology Law and Innovation programme students will think creatively and learn from leading researchers in the field of technology law. Building on previous technology law knowledge this LLM offers an opportunity of in-depth reflection on innovation using a technology law 'lens'. The advanced level of each course together with a focus on critical thinking and problem solving provides graduates from this programme an advantage in the competitive technology law job market in legal field and technology industries.
 

Governance and Law in Digital Society (taught in Leeuwarden at Campus Fryslan)
The Governance and Law in Digital Society LLM discusses the need to protect the privacy of citizens online, but also looks at the risks of the dependency on the private sector in IT projects and describes online tools to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement. As this programme is a hybrid of both law and the social sciences, applicants must have an LLB or equivalent with a minor in Social Sciences or a BSc in Social Sciences with a minor in Law. For those with a relevant degree but are missing a required minor, we also offer a Pre-LLM programme. 

Other programmes:

The Faculty is also a member of the joint North Sea Energy Law Programme (NSELP). 

The University of Groningen Academy Building (Photo by Peter van der Sijde)

The University of Groningen is the second oldest university in the Netherlands and has been educating people to serve society ever since its establishment in 1614. All this knowledge and experience has stimulated the University to become what it is now: a modern, international university where work is being carried out at the frontiers of knowledge. It is a university with its own unique character, partly due to its geographical situation in the north of the Netherlands. The University of Groningen not only admitted the first-ever female student in the country but also produced the first Dutch astronaut: pioneering is a trait that is fundamental to this university.

The Faculty of Law is located in the Harmonie Complex (Photo by Michel de Groot)

The Faculty of Law at the University of Groningen is over 400 years old and has a long history of academic excellence and expertise within the Netherlands and internationally. Since it has the ambition to measure itself with the best law faculties in Europe, advanced systems of quality control have been implemented to continuously improve the Faculty's research and education. And although the Faculty has grown to become one of the largest law faculties in the country, it has kept its friendly and informal atmosphere which creates good relations amongst staff, students and alumni. The Faculty is home to over 4,000 students (650 international) and hosts 2 Bachelor (LLB) and 13 Master (LLM) programmes, taught by over 300 staff members.
 

Minimum requirements (subject to change):

• LLB or law degree from a recognised University (with min GPA equivalent to 7/10 on Dutch grading scale)
• English language proficiency
• One letter of reference, CV, and letter of motivation.

Current, detailed requirements for all LLM programmes can be found here.

• Online application, done first through Studielink and then OAS. Instructions provided here.
• Application deadline is May 1st (application must be started in Studielink before this date)
• The University of Groningen will help international students with their visa, residence permit and enrolment. After admission, students receive detailed information regarding the step-by-step procedure for beginning their studies.

Current tuition and fees can be found here.

Scholarships and funding opportunities (both Dutch government sponsored and international) can be found on the University of Groningen Grantfinder.  The Faculty of Law offers specific scholarships for top international students.

Groningen from above (Photo by Aerophoto Eelde)

Groningen is the capital of the most northern province in the Netherlands (called Groningen as well), and both the University and the city of Groningen enjoy a unique character largely due this northern location. Unlike the western part of the country with its densely populated urban areas, the province of Groningen is predominantly rural and quite unspoiled. In terms of industry, the province has the largest natural gas fields in the EU and has one of the Netherlands’ largest shipbuilding centres. It is also an international centre for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry. What will probably strike you most when entering the city of Groningen is its youthful population. Roughly a quarter of the city’s 200.000 inhabitants consists of students. The city itself is over 900 years old and the canals, ports and warehouses bring you back to Hanseatic times, when Groningen was a member of the alliance of trading guilds that established and maintained a trade monopoly over the Baltic Sea and most of Northern Europe.

No matter where one lives in Groningen, typical Dutch canals are usually not very far away.

Since there is no university-owned accommodation or central campus, students live in student houses or apartments all throughout the city of Groningen. Some even live in little cottages (called "schipperswoning"), or even houseboats. This website  provides an overview on housing and living in the city of Groningen and its neighborhoods. It also refers to some major providers of rooms in the city and some frequently used housing websites.

Eurosonic Music Festival (Photo by Niels de vries)

Groningen is a vibrant student city . Its population has the lowest average age in the Netherlands; one in four inhabitants is a student. Students can be seen everywhere: studying in the Noorderplantsoen park, enjoying nightlife, and working in various part-time jobs. Groningen is also a safe and green city to live in, with the quiet countryside only a short bike-ride away. You can find out what life is like in Groningen by following the University of Groningen on YouTube.

The Faculty of Law offers several Pre-LLM programmes for students who want to enter one of our LLM programmes, but have certain deficiencies in their academic background (ie. non-law degrees). Once candidates have successfully completed a Pre-LLM programme, they can apply directly to the corresponding LLM programme. More information can be found here.