Master of Laws (LLM)
Leuven, Belgium
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Jun 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 7,771 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for non-EEA; July 1st for EEA | for the most recent – and only official – information on application deadlines, please check the KU Leuven webpage
** for the most recent – and only official – information on tuition fees, please check the KU Leuven webpage
Key Summary
Introduction
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The Master of Laws is a world-renowned programme that provides legal professionals with an advanced education to further specialize in the field of international and European law. It is taught by top specialists in their fields and consists of two distinct specialisations, Business Law and Public Law. Students are exposed to an innovative legal curriculum through a broad range of elective courses. Through our rigorous academic programme, the LL.M. provides graduates with a well-rounded foundation to pursue an exciting global career.
The advanced master's programme is aimed at students who’ve already graduated in law and are law professionals. In most cases, you must have completed your (initial) master's degree to meet the LL.M
About the programme
The advanced Master of Law (LL.M.) programme at KU Leuven has a marked international dimension with European law being an important focus, given KU Leuven's proximity to the central EU institutions in Brussels. The programme taps into the knowledge and expertise of a large network of legal professionals who have close links to European institutions.
The advanced LL.M. programme includes visits to: the Court of Justice of Justice in Luxembourg and the European Institutions in Strasbourg (attending hearings at the European Court of Human Rights and the European Parliament).
This 1-year programme offers many networking opportunities, as it is an entirely in-person programme (not online or hybrid). All classes are scheduled during weekdays, so there are no evening or weekend classes. It is not recommended to combine the programme with a full-time job.
Areas of specialisation and master classes
You can select an area of specialisation of your choice:
- International and European Business Law
- International and European Public Law
For students in both specialisations, it is possible to enrol in additional courses from the alternative specialization within your choice as elective courses. Each specialisation includes eight master classes led by distinguished legal and business practitioners. These exclusive masterclasses illustrate the 'law in action' and allow you to engage with prominent legal experts. Students will also be required to write and defend a master's dissertation.
Strengths
- Rigorous academic tradition, a world-leading position in legal scholarship and courses taught by top specialists and distinguished professionals.
- Close links with legal practice and EU institutions.
- The ideal location of the campus allows visits to European and international institutions. The historic student city of Leuven is only 20 minutes by train from the EU Capital Brussels.
- Free participation in our Summer School, which takes place the week preceding the start of the academic year. This has proven to be an excellent introduction to the Faculty of Law and Criminology, the expertise of the LL.M. professor and to get to know your fellow LL.M. classmates.
- A small and selective academic programme where you can connect and exchange with excellent students from across the globe. Become a member of the LL.M. network.
- Affordability: in comparison to the rest of the world, Belgium offers affordable higher education fees.
Curriculum
The LL.M. programme offers the opportunity to study both at KU Leuven and at McGill University in Montreal (Canada). This is a two-year double degree programme, in which you will start your first year in the LL.M. in Leuven. Afterwards, you study a second year at MCGill, ending in August. Upon completion of the programme, you will receive two academic law degrees, legally recognised in both Belgium and Canada, clearly adding value to your future professional career in law.
Ideal Students
As the main prerequisite, you must possess a law degree which allows you to practice law in your country of origin and should also have a good knowledge of European Institutional Law. For students wishing to strengthen this knowledge, self-study reading materials are available from the beginning of the academic year.
Ideally, you should have:
- already obtained a master's degree (or equivalent) in law;
- received training in legal principles;
- the ability to think critically about the nature and purpose of rules;
- the analytical skills needed to assess factual situations;
- have a general understanding of the operation of law in society.
Admissions
Program delivery
The courses are taught in English.
Program Outcome
- Credits: 60 ECTS
- Degree Type: Advanced Master's
Program Tuition Fee
Why study at KU Leuven
What sets us apart as a university?
A highly ranked university
KU Leuven is among the best 100 universities in the world according to both Times Higher Education World Rankings and QS World University Rankings. All of KU Leuven’s disciplines proudly belong to the top 100 of their field. Furthermore, KU Leuven was ranked by Reuters as the most innovative university in Europe in 2016.
Research-based education
Education at KU Leuven is research-based, which means students will learn from the same professors who are performing the ground-breaking research you read about in the press. New insights are instantly integrated into classes and students are encouraged to perform their own research. In our FabLab, students can use a number of high-tech machines to create whatever they want – all free of charge.
Affordable tuition fees
Higher education is highly valued in Belgium and therefore subsidised by the government. This allows KU Leuven to keep tuition fees relatively low, which gives you a price/quality ratio very few top-100 universities can match. We take pride in keeping our programmes as accessible as possible to allow the brightest students from around the globe to join our courses.
International student life with respect for diversity
According to Times Higher Education, KU Leuven is in the top 50 of most international universities worldwide with staff and students from over 150 different nationalities. For all our international students, the Pangaea student centre is their home away from home. Our university also strives for diversity and inclusion and wants to work together on a pact for more respect.
Faculty
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the university website for more information.
Info Sessions
KU Leuven organizes regular online info sessions. Please consult the webpage to check them out!
Rankings
KU Leuven is among the best 100 universities in the world according to both Times Higher Education World Rankings and QS World University Rankings. All of KU Leuven’s disciplines proudly belong to the top 100 of their field.
Accreditations
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Given its philosophy grounded in European law, its highly skilled teaching staff and its openness to the study and practice of various types of law, this in combination with its close proximity to Brussels, the KU Leuven LLM adds significant value for students seeking legal careers in Europe.