1 April

The Master's programme in International and Transnational Criminal Law (LLM) is a selective, specialised programme open to a limited number of motivated, ambitious students.

A selection procedure applies whereby students with the most competitive applications will be admitted to the programme.

Admission to the Master’s programme is determined based on 2 aspects:

1. Academic background
2. English language proficiency

Academical legal background

• An academic degree comparable to a Dutch Bachelor of Laws.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences from any University College in the Netherlands, including at least 45 EC of law courses as part of this completed programme.
• A Dutch Bachelor's degree in European Studies or International Relations with a major in law provided that at least 45 ECTS of law courses were obtained within this completed programme.
• A Bachelor’s degree from a research university (Dutch: WO) in another discipline, provided that at least 60 EC of law courses were obtained within this completed programme.
• A Bachelor’s degree in the law track of PPLE (Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics), or comparable education at another research university.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Law from a university in applied sciences (Dutch: HBO-Rechten, CROHO code 39205) followed by the Dutch-language Pre-Master’s programme with ‘civiel effect’ at the Open University (Schakelzone Recht).

Information on schakelzone Recht

All applications will be evaluated on an individual basis.

English language proficiency

In an international environment, sufficient mastery of the English language is critical for academic success. International students must take an English-language proficiency test to demonstrate their ability. Students who received their prior education in the Netherlands are exempted from this test.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be selected on the basis of study results and motivation by a Selection Committee Board. The criteria that are employed by this committee are as follows:

• A motivation for the programme with demonstrable affinity with research and with the subject matter of the programme 
• Demonstrable experience in the field of the subject matter
• Level of analytic and writing skills
• Curiosity, creativity, and an independent mindset

Ask a question to Admissions Office of the Amsterdam Law School (UvA students)

Ask a question to Admissions Office of the Amsterdam Law School (non-UvA students)

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 in Studielink, the name of the Master's programme does not mention the track name. To register for this track in Studielink, first select  'International Criminal Law’ as your study programme. You will be asked to select the specific track during a following step.

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 that you 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'.

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

After enrolling in Studielink, you will within 24 hours receive an automated email with a link to your MyInfo UvA application form. To log in to MyInfo you need your UvAnetID. Please fill out the application form, upload the required documents and submit your MyInfo application form before the application deadline.

Online application

A complete online application consists of the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae written in English.
• A copy of university transcripts including grades (please note: if you have a non-legal Bachelor’s degree, please provide us with an overview of which courses on your transcript are law courses, including a document with course descriptions or syllabi of these courses. You can add these documents to your application after you have submitted your application form, by clicking on the paperclip sign next to your application in MyInfo to add additional documents).
• A 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).
• A motivation letter (max. 500 words) written in English.
• Contact details of two referees. The Admissions Office will contact your referees to provide us with their reference letters before 14 April. Please make sure that your referees are notified and available for contact via email. At least one of your referees should refer to your academic experiences, the other one may either be academic related or relevant work related.
• Reference letters and contact details of two referees. At least one of your referees should refer to your academic experiences, the other one may either be academic related or relevant work related. 

Please note that if you have applied last year, but you have decided to withdraw your application due to Covid-19, we advise you to upload a new updated motivation letter.

Have you suffered a study delay in your current Bachelor’s programme over the past year? Subject to strict conditions, you can submit a request for admission with study delay.

Requirements for students who are currently enrolled in the Bachelor's in Law and/or Tax Law at the University of Amsterdam

You are eligible to submit a request for admission with study delay when:

• you have a  study delay up to a maximum of 15 EC within your Bachelor’s programme provided the courses and exams and/or resits took place in academic year 2021-2022
• you have finished your Bachelor’s thesis

You can still complete the missing courses of your Bachelor's programme during the 1st year of the Master's programme. You will have the opportunity to do so throughout the academic year 2022-2023.

Submitting a request and re-enrolment

You can submit a request for admission with study delay (before 1 September 2022) in the following way:

• go to uva.nl/dssd-en and log in
• choose "I have a request or want to arrange something" and then "Diploma certificate (request)"
• explain on the form that you are eligible for admission with study delay and submit the form
• furthermore you need to submit a request for re-enrolment for the Bachelor’s programme via Studielink

You will receive the decision on your request for admission with study delay via e-mail. When you have obtained your results in due time, please contact the Education Desk immediately. Your diploma request will then be processed for that month. Please note: the timing of your request for your diploma certificate affects your graduation date. The date of graduation is always the last (working) day of the month in which you submit a diploma certificate request.

If you have any further questions requesting a diploma certificate, please contact the Education Desk.

Requirements for applicants from a Bachelor’s programme at a university located in the EU/EEA

You are eligible to submit a request for admission with study delay when:

• you have a study delay up to a maximum of 15 EC within your Bachelor’s programme provided the courses and exams and/or resits took place in academic year 2021-2022
• you have finished your Bachelor’s thesis (or a comparable final assignment)
• you have applied for the Master’s programme in Studielink and have submitted your application form before the application deadline

You need to complete the pending Bachelor’s courses during the academic year 2022-2023. Therefore, do not forget to re-enroll in your current Bachelor’s programme. Please take into consideration which consequences this might have for your study load. We will not be held responsible for any conflicting schedules between the two programmes.

Submit a request (before 1 September 2022)

You will need to submit a request for admission with study delay. Please make sure to submit your request before 1 September 2022.

When submitting the request, you will be requested to upload the following documents:

• a transcript

• a statement from your current university stating that your study delay of maximum 15 EC concerns courses/exams that were taking place in academic year 2021-2022 and that your Bachelor's thesis (or a comparable final assignment) has been finished (if the transcript doesn’t provide us with this information)

• a statement from your university confirming that the Bachelor’s programme can be completed remotely within the academic year 2022-2023 (for students from outside the Netherlands only).

Once we have received your completed application, it will be evaluated by our admissions committee. Only those applicants who fulfil the entry requirements and are therefore eligible to the Master's programme International and Transnational Criminal Law, will be presented to the Selection Committee after the application deadline. Qualified candidates may be invited for an interview with the members of the Committee. The Committee will then decide on admission. You will be notified about the decision by email before the 1st of June.

Accept

If you get selected for this programme, the university will send you a letter of acceptance by email. We request that you accept or decline within ten working days.

Defer

A deferral of your application is not possible. However, you can apply for a next start moment. In case you wish to do so, please withdraw your enrolment request in Studielink. In order to apply for next start moment, please keep in mind that you will need to resubmit both your enrolment in Studielink and your UvA application form before starting the programme. It also means that you have to go through the selection process again and a place in the programme is not guaranteed. 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 selected for our Master's programme we need to verify your prior academic credentials. You will need to send us certified copies of your transcripts and degree certificates. Note that you need to send us these documents by post before the deadline (see step 1). Photocopies or scans of the original certified documents are not accepted.

Your diploma and transcripts 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 do not need to send certified copies of degree certificates or transcripts.

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. Check your enrolment checklist at sis.uva.nl to see which matters of your enrolment possibly still need to be completed.

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 by the Amsterdam Law School you will be signed up for courses by the Amsterdam Law School for the first semester.

Please note: The Amsterdam Law Clinics have a different registration period prior to the course registration period. Check the clinics deadlines in the Course Catalogue.

For questions about course registration, please contact the 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.

Courses per semester

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

To help you get started, the Amsterdam Law School organizes a (mandatory) Introduction Day for all new Master’s students. You will receive information on the Introduction Day before you’ll start your studies in September.