Application and admission

Deadlines September enrolment

• Non-EEA students: please submit your online application before 1 April and send the required documents before 1 May.
• EEA students: please submit your online application before 1 May and send the required documents before 1 June.

If you would like to be considered for an AES or Mr. Julia Henriëtte Jaarsma-Adolfs scholarship, the application deadline is 15 January. The application deadline for all other scholarships is 1 April.

Please note that the Master’s programme International Trade and Investment Law does not have a February start.

Academic legal background

Admission to the Master's programme is determined based on your academic background, which must include:

1. An academic degree comparable to a Dutch Bachelor of Laws.

• Students with a liberal arts and sciences degree with a law emphasis from any University College in the Netherlands are eligible to apply for admission to the 4 tracks of the LLM in International and European Law provided they have acquired at least 45 ECTS for law courses taken during (and as part of) the successfully completed, corresponding programme. Their applications will be evaluated on an individual basis.
• Students with a non-Dutch university Bachelor's degree comparable to a Dutch Bachelor's degree in European Studies or International Relations are eligible to apply for admission to the 4 tracks of the LLM in International and European Law provided they have acquired at least 45 ECTS for law courses taken during (and as part of) the successfully completed, corresponding programme. Their applications will be evaluated on an individual basis.
• Students with a non-Dutch university Bachelor's degree in another discipline are eligible to apply for admission to the 4 tracks of the LLM in International and European Law provided they have acquired at least 60 ECTS for law courses taken during (and as part of) the successfully completed, corresponding programme. Their applications will be evaluated on an individual basis.
• Students with a BSc degree in PPLE with a major in Law are eligible to be admitted directly to the 4 tracks of the LLM in International and European Law.
• Students with a Dutch bachelor's degree in European Studies or International Relations with a major in law are eligible to apply for admission to the 4 tracks of the LLM in International and European Law provided they have acquired at least 45 ECTS for law courses taken during (and as part of) the successfully completed, corresponding programme.

2. Basic knowledge of Public International Law is required for the following tracks:

• Public International Law
• International Trade and Investment Law

The Amsterdam Law School offers a self-study course in Public International Law before the Master’s programme starts, followed by an examination in September. This course is compulsory for those students who have a deficiency in Public International Law. The course does not count for the 60 ECTS of the Master’s programme.

 3. Basic knowledge of European Law is required for the following tracks:

• European Union Law
• European Competition Law and Regulation

The Amsterdam Law School offers a self-study course in European Law before the Master’s programme starts, followed by an examination in September. This course is compulsory for those students who have a deficiency in European Law. The course does not count for the 60 ECTS of the Master’s programme.

English language proficiency

In an international environment, sufficient mastery of the English language is critical for academic success. Students must take an English-language proficiency test to demonstrate their ability. The Amsterdam Law School accepts the following tests and test results:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - The minimum required TOEFL score is 100 iBT, with a minimum score of 25 for reading and listening skills and 24 for speaking and writing skills. TOEFL ITP-scores are not accepted.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) - The minimum required overall IELTS score is 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.0 for each individual component.
• Cambridge English Language Assessment - A Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) certificate (minimum grade C) or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) certificate.
  
  Please note:
• The Amsterdam Law School only accepts English language proficiency test results that are no more than two years old at the time of your start of the programme. 
• Chinese applicants need to submit an IELTS or TOEFL iBT test and request a Nuffic certificate.
• The UvA offers a free IELTS test for full-time UvA students, but demand is high and the maximum number of participants is limited - apply early!

The following students are exempted from the above-mentioned test requirements:

• Students who have received their prior education in one of the following English-speaking countries: Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States.
• Students who have completed an English-language study programme (at the Bachelor’s level or higher).
• Students in possession of an international or European Baccalaureate diploma (with English as the language of instruction).
• Students who have received sufficient marks (6 or higher) for English on their Dutch vwo diploma or who possess a vwo certificate in English.

Before you can apply to the UvA, you will need to submit an enrolment application in Studielink. Studielink is the national online system for students who would like to pursue a degree programme at a Dutch university.

Please note that the Master’s programme International Trade and Investment Law does not have a February start.

Check your DigiD (before starting in Studielink)

A DigiD (Digital Identification) is an online ID (username and password) that provides access to government administration websites.

• Students who do not live in the Netherlands can use Studielink without a DigiD.
• Students who currently live in the Netherlands will need their DigiD to use Studielink. We strongly recommend you to apply for your DigiD at least three weeks before registering in Studielink.

Read the step-by-step guide to Studielink

Before starting your enrolment application in Studielink, read the 'Step-by-step guide to Studielink'. 

Submit enrolment application in Studielink

After submitting your enrolment application in Studielink, you will receive an email with your UvAnetID. Follow the instructions in this email to activate your ID; you will need it to complete your UvA application.

Once you have registered in Studielink, you will also receive an email (within a few days) from Studielink with a link to the UvA online application system, which is where you submit your application to the University of Amsterdam.

You should receive the instruction email within 2 working days after registering in Studielink. This email includes a link to our online application form. If for some reason you have not received the link, use the form below.

Application fee

Applicants with a non-EEA nationality are charged an administrative fee of € 100 to be paid before the application deadline. The fee is reimbursed to students who subsequently enrol successfully at the Amsterdam Law School.

Applications will not be reviewed until the application fee has been paid and processed. 

Online application

A complete online application consists of the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Certified copy of university transcripts including marks
• Certified copy of university diploma (if it has already been obtained)
• Proof of a passing mark on an English Language proficiency test (if the test has already been taken)

Once we have received your completed application (and required application fee for non-EEA students), it will be evaluated by an admissions committee. You will be notified of their decision by email. The entire admissions procedure can take up to 4 weeks for students with a non-Dutch degree, 3 weeks for students with a Dutch degree.

Accept

If you meet all the entry requirements and the Admissions Office has approved your application, the university will send you a letter of acceptance by email. We request that you accept or decline within ten working days.

Defer

You are allowed to defer the start of your studies for up to one year. Your letter of acceptance is however valid for only one year, meaning that you will need to re-apply if you wish to enrol after that time.  Please also keep in mind that when you defer the start of your studies, for administrative reasons you will need to resubmit both your enrolment in Studielink and your UvA application form before starting the programme. In that case, instead of sending the required documents, please upload your letter of acceptance. The admissions decision will be based on the entry requirements that apply for the academic year in which you wish to enrol.

Decline

If you decline acceptance, please do not forget to de-enrol from the Master’s programme in Studielink.

Certified documents

If you have been conditionally admitted to the Master's programme, this means that we need to verify your prior academic credentials. You will need to send certified copies of your transcripts and degree certificates. Note that you need to send these documents by post before the deadline (see step 1). Photocopies or scans of original, certified documents are not accepted.

All documents need to be officially certified (i.e., must bear the original stamp or signature of your university or a notary), and sent with the printed version of the completed online application form to the following address:

Amsterdam Law School - Admissions Office (room A6.01a)
P.O. Box 1030
1000 BA Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Or, if sent by registered post:

Amsterdam Law School – Admissions Office (room A6.01a)
Valckenierstraat 59
1018 XE Amsterdam
The Netherlands

If you have completed a legal Bachelor’s programme in the Netherlands, we can verify your prior academic credentials based on the records provided by DUO. If that is the case, you will not need to send certified copies of degree certificates or transcripts.

English test results

If you have not yet sent your English test results yet, please make sure you do so before the deadline.

TOEFL: When sending TOEFL results, please use our institutional code: 9011. If you do not, we cannot verify your results online and you will need to send us the original test results.

IELTS: Once you have taken the test, you will receive a test report number. Please make sure to send us this number so we can verify your results online.

Cambridge English Language Assessment: Once you have taken the test, you will receive a confirmation of entry. The confirmation includes a ‘Candidate ID number’ and a ‘Candidate’s secret number’. Please make sure to send us both so we can verify your results online.

You will need to pay the tuition fee in order to complete your enrolment in a degree programme at the UvA. Find out more about how to pay tuition fees.

If you are an international student, you will need to arrange a variety of practical matters before starting your studies. This includes your visa or residence permit, insurance and housing. You will receive an email with more information once you have been admitted.

A student ID card is a personal document which serves as proof of identity for examinations and library privileges. You will receive instructions explaining how to request your student ID card. 

Course registration

After you have been (conditionally) admitted to the LLM programme at the Amsterdam Law School, you will need to sign up for courses during the registration periods indicated on the academic calendar.

For questions on course registration, please contact our Education Desk.

Academic calendar

The academic year is divided into two semesters, each lasting 20 weeks. Semester 1 classes begin in the first week of September. Semester 2 classes begin in the first week of February. At the Amsterdam Law School, the semesters are further divided into two teaching periods. These begin in week 1 and week 9 of each semester.

Courses per semester

You will find a course overview per semester (with course descriptions) in the online course catalogue.

Moving to another city, while exciting, can also be overwhelming. UvA Student Services organises Start Appointments each year (free of charge) to help with the practical issues you may encounter during your transition to Amsterdam, such as registering with the municipality or opening a Dutch bank account. You will receive an invitation for a Start Appointment once you have submitted your immigration application. There are two levels of Start Appointment: all-inclusive and regular.

To help you get started, the Amsterdam Law School organizes a (mandatory) Introduction Day for all new Master’s students. You will find information on the Introduction Day on the student website.