LLM Advanced Studies in Law and Digital Technologies
Leiden, Netherlands
LLM
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Apr 2027*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 22,900 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Apply by 1 April 2027 (non-EU/EEA students) or 15 May 2027 (EU/EEA students).
** Dutch, EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese students: EUR 22,900 per year (2027/2028).
Key Summary
About: Leiden University's LLM Advanced Studies in Law and Digital Technologies examines law and governance for the internet, IoT, AI and autonomous systems. It explores jurisdiction, privacy, cybercrime, accountability and regulatory responses across national, European, and international law, combining legal theory, techno-regulation, ethics and policy. You’ll study with international scholars in a multidisciplinary research environment that emphasizes depth and practical skills for lawyers and professionals seeking expertise in internet governance, data protection, AI regulation and technology law.
Career Outcomes: Graduates gain knowledge and skills for roles in international law firms, tech companies, judiciary, governmental institutions, NGOs, academic and research institutions.
Leiden University’s Master of Laws in Advanced Studies in Law and Digital Technologies explores the law and governance relating to the internet, computers, mobile devices, persuasive technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, etc. These digital technologies present unprecedented challenges to the law. They raise questions about their governance (e.g., in relation to the global reach and jurisdiction) and can both promote and threaten long-held fundamental values and rights, such as the right to privacy. Moreover, they can be effective tools for (cyber)crime, or impede government accountability if not used according to legitimate procedures. While the legal system is challenged by digital technologies, it is also the most powerful tool for regulating them. In this programme you will explore the multi-dimensional relationship between law and digital technologies with academic and professional experts in the field. Coursework focuses on regulatory theory (internet governance and techno-regulation) and national, European and international law (hard law, soft law and case law), but also on exploring broader ethical, societal challenges of digital technologies and gaining insight into the technology.
What you will learn
This programme will teach you about a range of legal, regulatory and ethical issues with respect to digital technologies.
More specifically, your coursework will help you develop a deeper understanding of:
- internet governance
- technology regulation
- international media law
- European telecommunications law
Your courses will also address the transnational sources of hard law, relevant case law and techno-law. Particular focus is given to the differences in addressing novel legal questions that arise from technological developments.
How you will learn
The Law and Digital Technologies Advanced Studies programme aims to cultivate diverse expertise on law and governance of the internet and digital technologies. Coursework will focus on regulatory theory (internet governance and techno-regulation) as well as national and international law (hard law, soft law and case law). You will take part in additional relevant projects, such as negotiating IT contracts and a cybercrime experiment. The programme is completed by writing a final thesis.
Career prospects
Becoming a graduate of Leiden’s Law and Digital Technologies Advanced Studies programme will provide you with many opportunities for positions in a wide range of national and international organisations.
Our alumni have gone on to careers at:
- international law firms
- tech companies
- the judiciary
- governmental institutions
- NGOs
- academic and research institutions
In this programme, you will learn about a range of legal, regulatory and ethical challenges related to digital technologies in the areas of, amongst others, privacy, data protection, cybercrime, internet governance, fundamental rights in the digital environment, law and artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems, platform regulation, etc. Your coursework will help you develop a deeper understanding of technology regulation and governance of digital infrastructures and applications. Your courses will address both the transnational sources of hard law, relevant case law, and techno-regulation. Special attention will be paid to differences in addressing new legal questions arising from technological developments. In addition, the program offers a practicum in different modules, to practice relevant professional activities for the field of Law and Digital Technologies.
We offer courses with different orientations: courses to develop a holistic perspective on regulation of digital technologies (e.g. the core course Regulating Digital Technologies, or Ethics and Digital Technologies), courses around specific types of digital technologies (e.g. the core course Internet Governance, or Electronic Communications Law and Law and Human-Machine Interaction), courses centred around a specific body of law (e.g. Internet Privacy and EU Data Protection), and courses around specific themes in Law and Digital Technologies (such as Fundamental Rights and Digital Technologies, Cybercrime and Cybersecurity, Digital Children’s Rights, Platforms and Law). Throughout these courses, you will develop a variety of academic and practical skills through the use of different teaching and assessment methods. You will be introduced to a wide variety of perspectives through the diversity of teachers and guest lecturers, and through working together in a highly international group of students who bring different experiences and perspectives to the classroom.
Courses
For detailed information on the courses and curricula, see the Prospectus. Please note that this guide refers to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may differ slightly. We re-evaluate the curriculum on a regular basis to follow the trends in our rapidly developing field and the most current active expertise of our staff.
TechTrends Workshops and other extra-curricular activities
We organise a series of workshops – TechTrends Workshops – for you to get acquainted with the latest trends in the industry. We also sometimes conduct extracurricular workshops. Moreover, we organise other extracurricular activities. Such activities include a trip to Brussels for the Computer Privacy & Data Protection Conference (CPDP) and other study trips.
This programme will provide you with cutting-edge knowledge and professional skills to navigate the complex and changeable world of digital technologies. Becoming a graduate of Leiden’s Law and Digital Technologies Advanced Studies programme will provide you with many opportunities for positions in a wide range of national and international organisations.
Our alumni have gone on to careers at:
- international law firms
- tech companies
- the judiciary
- governmental institutions
- NGOs
- academic and research institutions
Is Law and Digital Technologies the right programme for you?
Are you interested in learning more about complex legal and regulatory issues related to the development and convergence of digital technologies? Law and Digital Technologies is a focused and demanding postgraduate programme that will foster your knowledge of this ever-growing field. It is aimed at both legal professionals and top graduates who wish to acquire in-depth knowledge of law and digital technologies from an international and multidisciplinary perspective.