Meet our students

Lydia Koraki, Master’s student European Union Law

'I chose this Master's programme because in the course of my LLB in another EU member state, I realised how much EU law influences legal procedures and policy making at domestic level and I wanted to expand my knowledge on this by taking another perspective in a country and a university that have a good reputation for engaging with EU law.

This LLM clearly met my expectations by inspiring me to delve into many aspects of EU law. Apart from the theoretical knowledge you have the chance to engage with the practical applications of the law through moot courts and negotiations simulations. I enjoyed the fact that you can customise your Master’s to suit your particular interests either academic or professional through elective courses, internships and individual research projects. Apart from the compulsory courses, I think that my individual research project is what helped me the most academically as it gave me space to intensively research a more specialised field of EU law.' 

Samuel van Galen, Master's student European Union Law

'This Master’s programme has given me both a broad academic view of EU law and the opportunity to develop practical legal skills. What I particularly appreciate is how the curriculum combines in-depth theoretical and legal teaching with hands-on experiences, such as moot courts and experiencing negotiation processes. 

Currently, I am doing a six-month internship at the Raad van State in The Hague, where I work in the administrative court section, specifically in the department specialised in EU law. Here, I’ve had the chance to apply EU law in a national context and to see how it functions in real-life administrative procedures. I also gained insight into the Council’s advisory division, which plays an important role in reviewing and advising on draft legislation. The academic and practical background I gained during my studies has been essential in contributing to this process and to my internship in general. 

Overall, the programme has helped me to better understand the interaction between EU and national law, and to develop a clearer view of my professional interests.'

Felix Reimann (Austria), Master’s student European Union Law 

'This Master has allowed me to foster as well as deepen my knowledge in European Union Law, which is exactly what I aimed for after completing my law degree in Austria. Even though I already took classes of EU Law during my first degree, that also included an Erasmus stay, the LLM provided a comprehensive and up-to-date insight into the field. 

Besides gaining classical EU Law related skills like the handling of case law, I especially enjoyed the interactive parts of the programme that were built into the courses, like the tutorials and law practises. These were a welcome change to the more traditional textbook-related study systems I knew, like in Austria or Germany. 

The LLM ultimately adds a valuable additional focus in my legal education, which is an asset for potential employers given the practical relevance of EU law.'

Lisanne Rohde, Master’s student European Union Law 

'Choosing the master European Union Law was the best choice I could’ve made! I chose this programme initially for the courses where you gain practical experience with the law, such as the Amsterdam Law Clinics and the Individual Research Project. This master’s is taught by inspiring professors who are the lead academics in their respective fields, who encourage us to really think about the law.

I learned so much through their academic experience and knowledge. Especially the practical courses where there is room for individual growth has helped me a great deal. My fellow students are from all around the globe, which gave me great insights into different cultures and legal systems. Through this programme I have found out in which direction I would like to go after my studies and I have gained a great insight in the policies of the EU.'

Meet our staff

Dr. Thomas Vandamme

Programme Director European Masters

‘Yearly, the Master's programme in European Union  Law at the University of Amsterdam attracts around 35-40 students from a variety of different countries. In this international environment, students are offered a broad range of courses dealing with many aspects of EU law and policy. ’The fact that the classes are so international often yields different views and insights on certain legal or political issues apparent from debating certain issues or current developments in the different courses. Many students appreciate the ALP elements (negotiating in a simulation; pleading in a moot court) as it challenges them on a different level altogether (combining knowledge with practical skills).'