Master of Laws in International and European Law: International Business Law

The LLM in International Business Law is a flagship programme for students seeking to specialise in the international legal aspects of business practice in our globalising world. While allowing a degree of personal choice, it steers students towards the key legal building blocks of international business law, guaranteeing an advanced degree with real added value in a business-oriented career.

About the programme

What

The International Business Law specialization allows students to gain in-depth knowledge about various practice areas and is aimed at future or already experienced lawyers and in-house counsels dealing with commercial, corporate, securities and banking legal issues, as well as international economic law.

Built around the renowned Financial Law Institute, the programme combines the expertise of its professors with that of experienced practitioners in areas like M&A, Intellectual Property and Commercial Arbitration, in order to give students hands-on experience.

All courses in the LLM focus either on EU-wide regulation or use a comparative law approach. The programme is ideally suited for students from outside the EU who need a thorough background in EU regulation and for those from within the EU who want to escape the provincial study of national law.

Structure

Students need to obtain 60 credits, over a period of two semesters. There is great flexibility in shaping one’s own curriculum. Sixteen credits cover courses specializing in company and corporate governance law, commercial arbitration and capital markets law. Ten more credits are dedicated to the compulsory supporting courses dealing mainly with various legal and political developments in order to broaden the horizons of legal professionals. Students are also required to write a fifteen-credits’ worth LLM Paper in connection with one of the courses on the curriculum.

The remaining credits are filled with elective courses on a variety of topics from the following fields: Economic and Social Law, European Law, Transport Law etc. Students can choose from approximately twenty five different courses, all of which are exclusively taught in English. Teaching is generally done interactively, requiring advanced reading and class participation. The programme typically hosts several internationally reputed guest professors with a rotation on a yearly basis. Students can also choose to participate in one of the various moot courts or legal clinic as an official part of their curricula.

Organised social activities are an important part of the LLM-experience, and not all are extracurricular. Curricular activities include guided visits to important EU and international institutions and participation in several colloquia.

Master's dissertation

The master's dissertation is a requirement for every candidate to obtain a master’s degree. The master's dissertation is an original piece of research work. It aims to develop and strengthen the research capacity skills of the students. The student selects a topic and is given guidance by a promoter or supervisor throughout the academic year.

Study programme quality

Strengths

1. Intake guidance is essential. The LLM-programmes invest substantially in reaching out to the appropriate candidates and in guiding them towards application and admission. The guidance continues after the start of the academic year. Incoming students participate in an extensive Orientation programme.
2. Curriculum flexibility: Ghent law school offers three different LLM programmes that reflect varying career aspirations. Within the framework of your personal position and ambitions, you are able to design the curriculum that best fits your needs.
3. Active learning: the LLM-programmes attach great importance to teaching methods that ensure students are not passive absorbers of knowledge. Instead they are encouraged to do independent research and to think critically through class preparation assignments, small papers throughout the semester, essay questions and the like.
4. International outlook: the programmes reflect their European and international outreach beyond the subject matters offered. The body of professors and lecturers consists of experts with wide international exposure and experience.
5. Stakeholder engagement: a key strength of the study programmes is the strong link and interaction with the professional world and the broad institutional reality of EU and international law, providing students with information about the actual operations and common practices on the ground and preparing them for a professional career.

Testimonials

Hans Merket

"The LLM Programme allowed me to get in touch with a bunch of interesting, ambitious and wonderful people. Exchanging knowledge and experiences in such a setting was truly inspiring and thought-provoking."

Kai Bethke

"A most memorable year filled with lots of knowledge, lots of fun and most importantly lots of friends!"

Novak Blecic

"The Ghent University LLM programme was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. We had a very pleasant group of students from different parts of the world. I have had the opportunity to meet some of the brightest and prestigious lecturers from the University of Ghent. I love Ghent; it is like a big museum. Its architecture is fascinating, and I felt like in the 14th century. The program is a once in a lifetime experience, so I warmly recommend it to everyone!"

Emma Wood

"The most fantastic academic experience in my life. On top of the academic benefits, I also enjoyed living in such a stunning city."

Admission Requirements

To have a law degree, i.e. the degree that - in its country of origin - is required for the exercise of the legal professions. Students who are graduating may apply and can be conditionally admitted, subject to the successful completion of their degree.

After an examination of their curriculum and in view of their acquired competences, candidates may be admitted who have a university degree other than law. In such case, the admission may be made subject to limitations with respect to the courses to be followed.

To present proof of sufficient English proficiency at C1-level.

To have sufficient financial support, either through personal financial means or via financial aid.

To apply for admission to the LLM-programme before the deadline, with the completed application form and all required documents.

Information on admission requirements and the administrative procedure for admission on the basis of a diploma obtained abroad, can be found on the following page: https://www.ugent.be/prospect/en/administration/enrolment-or-registration.

Off to a good start

Application deadline (for international degree students)

For both Belgian and international students:

The application for this advanced master's program is to be started via Oasis.

The application form and the accompanying documents, in electronic version, should reach the International Admissions Desk in the spring of the year preceding the academic year for which you are applying. Please refer to the different application deadlines mentioned below for EU/EEA citizen students, non EU/EEA citizen students, and students holding a Belgian diploma.

Early applications are recommended (certainly for students in need of a visa) and will be decided upon between February and June/early July.

Applications received after June will be considered if the number of students admitted previously permits.

Tuition Fee

6678 euro