Vrije University - Summer graduate programs
Summer Course in Introduction to International Anti-Money Laundering Law & ComplianceOnline Netherlands
DURATION
2 Weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
20 Jul 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 1,035 / per course *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Students, PhD candidates and employees of VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC or an Aurora Network Partner €545 Students and PhD candidates at partner universities of VU Amsterdam €705 Students and PhD candidates at non-partner universities of VU Amsterdam €
Key Summary
Introduction
This course caters to law students and legal professionals, offering a comprehensive understanding of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance. The curriculum covers legal principles and practical applications, examining AML from both regional and international perspectives and integrating viewpoints from progressive national legal systems. Beyond theoretical foundations, the course provides practical tips to ensure a strong grasp of this complex subject. Participants are equipped to fulfill professional obligations related to compliance.
Course Overview
- Course level: Bachelor's and Master's
- Course coordinator: Dr. Prosper Simbarashe Maguchu
- Lecturers: Professor Simon NM Young (The University of Hong Kong); Professor Abraham Hamman (University of the Western Cape); and Mr. Fausto Martin De Sanctis (Federal Appeals Judge, Brazil)
- Credits: 2 ECTS
- Contact hours: 25
- Self-study hours: 15
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Equal Access Scholarship
Application Procedure
Application for the Equal Access Scholarship will open in Febraury
Great that you are interested in applying for the Equal Access Scholarship. You can apply to the scholarship between 12 February and 1 April. Please be aware that it is only possible to select one course.
The results of the scholarship selection will be announced in May. Since we have a limited number of scholarships available for a large number of applicants, we suggest - if possible! - to complete your payment at the time of your course application to guarantee your place in the course. However, if you are not able to come without the scholarship, you can just wait until the announcement. If you would like to come, regardless of whether you will be granted the scholarship, it is best to secure your place in the course by completing your payment via our regular application form. If the scholarship is granted to you, the tuition and accommodation fees will be reimbursed.
Deadline to submit your Equal Access Scholarship application: 31 March (23:59 CET).
Requirements
When you apply via the Equal Access Scholarship application form you will be requested to upload the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae/Résumé (CV) stating your educational background.
- Professional Letter of Reference Including:
- His/her/their experience working with you (either in an academic, professional, or volunteer setting)
- His/her/their motivation for recommending you for the scholarship
- Complete contact information
- His/her/their experience working with you (either in an academic, professional, or volunteer setting)
- His/her/their motivation for recommending you for the scholarship
- Complete contact information
- When filling out the scholarship form, we will ask the following questions*:
- Why are you interested in joining VU Amsterdam Summer School?
- What’s your motivation for selecting this course?
- How you will use the information you learn to make a positive impact in the future for both you and your community?
- Why do you deserve this scholarship?
- Why are you interested in joining VU Amsterdam Summer School?
- What’s your motivation for selecting this course?
- How you will use the information you learn to make a positive impact in the future for both you and your community?
- Why do you deserve this scholarship?
Please stick to a maximum of 150 words per question.
Green Travel Grant
At VU Amsterdam Summer School we are also committed to VU's sustainability goals and we aim to reduce the environmental impact of mobility, and specifically, student travel. Therefore, we are thrilled to offer Green Travel Grants to encourage sustainable travel for students attending our summer school.
Where can I apply?
Once the courses have been confirmed to run in mid-May or June, we will send out a newsletter to our participants with a link where they can apply for either funding for train travel or funding for bus travel.
The application period will last two weeks, and we will select the winners via a lottery system. More information on the specific deadlines can be found in the newsletter we send out in May.
How does it work?
For students to receive the economic compensation they will need to submit their purchased travel tickets via email within two weeks after being selected as winners of the grant. Once the deadline to submit their tickets has passed, the students will receive the reimbursement.
Curriculum
The curriculum integrates viewpoints from progressive national legal systems for detailed examination. Beyond theoretical foundations, the course imparts practical tips to ensure a strong understanding of this complex subject. Participants are equipped to fulfill professional obligations related to compliance.
Compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations presents significant challenges for both regulators and reporting entities. With AML laws spanning various legal and regulatory areas, navigating them can be intricate. While designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs), including legal practitioners, may plead ignorance of the law, such lack of awareness does not serve as a valid excuse for non-compliance with AML laws.
Hence, this comprehensive course is designed for law students and legal practitioners, offering a nuanced exploration of the complex AML landscape. It emphasizes the multifaceted nature of AML compliance, specifically addressing its impact on DNFBPs, focusing exclusively on legal practitioners. The course actively bridges the knowledge gap by stressing the importance of AML regulation understanding, providing a detailed overview to ensure compliance. It establishes connections between AML regulations and the legal profession, delineating the potential roles of legal practitioners in money laundering scenarios and aiming to equip participants with essential knowledge and awareness. Additionally, the course reinforces professional ethics and responsibilities in combating money laundering, offers insights into the current legal framework, and touches on anticipated shifts in the legal and regulatory environment for legal professionals.
The course will incorporate international and regional perspectives, taught by subject matter experts from various regions who will engage participants in seminar-style sessions and working groups to discuss pertinent laws and compliance frameworks. Upon completion of the course, students will possess the requisite knowledge and tools essential for compliance with AML regulations, comprehending the pivotal role such compliance plays within the broader ethical framework of the legal profession. Furthermore, the course aims to prepare students for a career as Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officers, addressing the current shortage in this profession.
Excursions constitute an important component of this course, offering a unique academic experience. Presently, no international court exclusively addresses financial crimes; nevertheless, a discernible trend within international courts indicates a proclivity to integrate explicit mandates with global initiatives combatting money laundering. As part of this enriching program, we will coordinate visits to two prominent courts that have been at the forefront of mainstreaming AML issues: a morning session at the International Criminal Court, including a visit to the Office of the Prosecutor, and an afternoon discussion at the International Court of Justice focusing on the ongoing AML case, Equatorial Guinea v. France.
As an added highlight, one of the course instructors will launch a book on AML compliance in the legal profession, enhancing the scholarly depth of the course.
Program Outcome
By the end of this course students will be able to:
- Understand the structure and nature of international AML law;
- Distinguish different sources of the legal basis for AML compliance;
- Explain the role of legal practitioners in AML compliance;
- Identify the main AML compliance methods; and
- Design AML compliance programs