Maastricht University, Faculty of Law
LLM in International and European Tax Law
Maastricht, Netherlands
LLM
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 May 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 21,500 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for non-EU/EEA | June 2026 for EU/EEA
** institutional fees | €2,695 - statutory fees
Key Summary
Do you have a global mindset? Are you interested in tax law, business and policy? Do you aspire to become a highly skilled tax expert who masters the international tax dimensions of an increasingly interconnected and digitalised world? Then choose the master’s programme International and European Tax Law at Maastricht University. The most international university in the Netherlands, in the heart of Europe.
Fast Facts
- 1-year full-time Master of Laws (LLM) programme, taught in English
- intensive education in small groups and in a personal atmosphere
- multidisciplinary approach: combines law, business, and policy
- highly experienced staff from academia and practice
- top 10 programme for international tax law according to LLM Guide
- an international classroom
- excellent career prospects
- starts in September
The master's programme International and European Tax Law provides you with future-oriented knowledge and understanding of the global dimensions of taxation.
It further allows you to specialise by choosing one of the following specialisations:
General Programme
Tailored to students who aim to excel in direct taxation. Combines in-depth knowledge of tax treaty law with global minimum taxation, transfer pricing, responsible tax planning and the impact of EU law on corporate taxation. Choose an elective like one on global tax policy.
Customs and International Supply Chain Taxation
Tailored to students who aim to excel in indirect taxation. Encompasses value-added tax, customs, environmental taxes, sustainable trade, and the central tenets of world trade law. Offers a comprehensive perspective on the taxation of supply chains. At the forefront of geopolitical developments.
Tax and Technology
Designed for future tax experts who are eager to embrace the importance of AI and similar technologies. Connects the fields of international taxation, data science and technology. Prepares students for the future of taxation and digitalisation.
Problem-based Learning
Adopting a student-centred approach, the programme uses problem-based learning where students collaborate in small groups to solve real-world tax cases, simulating practical challenges in international tax law.
With our Problem-Based Learning method, you:
- learn to think and work in a solution-focused way to solve practical problems.
- learn to conduct independent research and develop a critical mindset.
- learn to collaborate with others in a dynamic and international environment.
- get actively involved in small tutorial groups of a maximum of 19 students.
- acquire the knowledge and skills that will boost your future career.
- Are you passionate about tax law, business and policy?
- Do you have a global mindset?
- Do you aspire to become a highly skilled tax expert?
Compulsory Courses
- European Value Added Tax
- Fundamentals of International Taxation
- International Business Taxation
- European Corporate Tax
- Cross-border Taxation of Human Capital
- Transfer Pricing
- Responsible International Tax Planning, Compliance and Administration
Elective Courses
- Verdieping Strafprocesrecht
- Capita Selecta Criminologie
- Criminological Perspectives
- Evidence
- Advanced European Law
- International Dispute Settlement
- International Investment Law
- Public International Law
- International Commercial Dispute Resolution
- Gezondheidsrecht I
- The Foundations of European Institutionalisation
- Rechtshandeling en Overeenkomst
- Verdieping Relatie-, Vermogens- en Erfrecht
- Arbeidsrecht I
- Verdieping Staatsrecht
- Europese en Nederlandse Vennootschapsbelasting
- Bewijs in Strafzaken
- Psychology and Law
- Advanced Criminal Procedure
- International Trade Law
- European Competition Law
- International Human Rights Law
- European Fundamental Rights Law
- International Humanitarian Law
- Internal Market Law and Governance
- Intellectual Property Law
- Global Environmental Law
- Rechtspsychologie en Forensisch Bewijs
- Tussen publiek en privaat: een metajuridische analyse
- International Commercial Law
- Onrechtmatige Daad en Schadevergoeding
- Sociale Zekerheid I
- Omgevingsrecht
- Estate Planning: Bedrijfsopvolging
- Strafrechtelijke Sancties
- European Criminal Law
- Verdediging in Strafzaken
- Organisational Crime
- Criminalistiek en Forensisch DNA
- Criminalistics and Forensic DNA
- Human Rights and Human Development
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- European Environmental Law
- Comparative Company Law
- Goederenrecht (Master)
- Sociale Zekerheid II
- European Labour and Social Security Law
- Arbeidsrecht II
- European and National Constitutional Law
- Pensioen
- Computational Science of Taxation
- Customs Law
- Verdieping Materieel Strafrecht
- Forensische Accountancy
- International Criminal Law
- Transforensic Psychiatry
- European Migration and Asylum Law
- External Relations of the European Union
- State Aid and Public Procurement in the EU
- The Law of the Economic and Monetary Union
- Law of the Sea
- European Data Protection and Privacy Law
- Gezondheidsrecht II
- Law and Economics
- OM en Rechtshandhaving
- Global Law
- The Good Lawyer
- Advanced Property Law
- Insolventierecht
- Overheid en Privaatrecht
- Geschillen in de Onderneming
- Decentraal Bestuur
- Europeanisering Sociaal Recht
- Verdieping Formeel Belastingrecht
- Global Tax Policy and Sustainable Governance
- International Supply Chain Taxation
Internships
- Master Internship International and European Tax Law
Thesis
- Master thesis international and European tax law
Our master's programme, International and European Tax Law at Maastricht University, is recognised as one of the top 10 programmes for international tax law, according to the LLM Guide 2023.
- Become a consultant in international tax for law firms or accountants
- Build a career as a legal tax expert for businesses or public institutions
- Work in the Netherlands, Europe, or anywhere else in the world
The programme equips students with the expertise to excel in the global tax field, offering career opportunities in consultancy, multinational corporations, government agencies, and international organisations, both in Europe and globally.
You can pursue a career at a Ministry of Finance or become a tax inspector or a tax judge at a court if you meet national legal requirements. Sometimes tax lawyers join an international organisation such as the OECD, UN, EU or the World Bank. Last but not least, the master’s in IETL offers you the opportunity to join an educational institution and pursue an academic career in international taxation.
Maastricht, home to the historic Maastricht Treaty, offers the perfect setting for a truly international legal education. Located in the heart of Europe, Maastricht University attracts a diverse and global student community. For over 30 years, it has been at the forefront of research and teaching in European and comparative law. The master’s programme in International and European Tax Law has welcomed students for over 20 years and is consistently ranked among the top 10 LLM programmes in international taxation.
The programme’s truly international classroom, with students from over 70 countries in the past and around 30 nationalities every year, creates a uniquely enriching environment. You will discuss international tax problems through the lens of diverse domestic tax systems, gaining deeper insights, broader perspectives, and a stronger ability to tackle complex cross-border issues.
This master’s programme combines lectures, tutorials, and preparation time to give you a well-rounded academic experience. At the heart of our education is Problem-Based Learning (PBL). In our small tutorial groups with a maximum of 19 students, you will engage intensively with your peers by solving practical problems in an interactive setting. PBL challenges you to identify and analyse complex legal problems in the field of tax law through active discussion, collaboration, and critical thinking.
This approach not only deepens your theoretical understanding of tax law but also builds the practical skills essential for your future career. It requires you to be proactive in setting learning goals and encourages you to work with your fellow students on legal issues. Moreover, throughout the programme, you will learn how to carry out thorough legal research and communicate legal arguments clearly.