Application deadline: 31 March 23:59 CEST (register in Studielink before 30 March, see step 3)

If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, you will need to have submitted your LLM application (including all required documents) before 1 January. The deadline for submitting the intake form for the scholarship and all scholarship related documents is 15 January.

Please note that it may take several days to complete all steps of the application procedure, so make sure to start your application well in time. We recommend that you carefully read all steps below and review all criteria well in advance so that you have sufficient time to gather the required documents. Importantly, you should fill out your enrolment request via Studielink and your application file via MyInfo before the deadline. After enrolling in Studielink, it will take up to 24 hours before you receive an email with a link to your MyInfo UvA application form, therefore we advise to register in Studielink a few days before the mentioned deadline.

The Master's programme in International Criminal Law - Joint Program is a selective, specialized 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. Because of the exchange with Columbia Law School, students with a prior US degree are not allowed to apply for this programme. 

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

1. Academic background
2. English language proficiency

1. Academic 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 Bachelor’s degree comparable to a Dutch Bachelor’s degree in European Studies or International Relations, including at least 45 EC of law courses as part of this completed programme. (Please note: this means that the 45 EC in law courses should be part of your bachelor’s curriculum. Extracurricular courses cannot be taken into account).
• A Bachelor’s degree from a research university (Dutch: WO) in another discipline, provided that at least 60 EC of law courses were obtained as part of this completed programme. (Please note: this means that the 60 EC in law courses should be part of your bachelor’s curriculum. Extracurricular courses cannot be taken into account).
• 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 Pre-Master programmes at the Open University ('Schakelzone Recht', in Dutch)

All applications will be evaluated on an individual basis.

2. 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 24 for subscores reading and writing, a minimum of 22 for subscore listening and a minimum of 25 for subscore speaking. Please make sure to mention our institutional code: 9011 when signing up for the TOEFL test, so we can verify your scores online.
• IELTS** (International English Language Testing System) - The minimum required overall IELTS score is 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.5 for each individual component. Please provide us with a scan of your test report.
• Cambridge English Language Assessment: minimum grade C1 Advanced with a minimum score of 190. Please make sure to ‘share’ your test results with us so we can verify your scores online.

Please note: The Amsterdam Law School only accepts English language proficiency test results that are no more than 2 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 TOEFL ITP test (Institutional Testing Program) and the TOEFL iBT special home edition are NOT accepted.
** The IELTS Academic Online, IELTS General Training and IELTS Indicator are NOT accepted.

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, the United Kingdom or the United States.
• Students who possess an international or European baccalaureate diploma (with English as the only language of instruction).
• Students who have completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme taught entirely in English (note: this does not include exchange, summer school or other non-degree programmes).
• Students who possess a Bachelor’s diploma from a Dutch research university.
• Students who have completed the specific pre-Master’s programme for this LLM programme.

Selection criteria

Applicants will be selected on the basis of study results and motivation by a Selection Committee. 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

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. In Studielink you can only register for one track of the LLM programme. If you are interested in applying for both tracks, you can do so in the application form (step 5).

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 request 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 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.

Application fee

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

Online application

Only a complete online application will be processed. A complete online application consists of the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) written in English, which includes the grades received for courses relevant to ICL. Your CV should be attached to your motivational letter (see below) in a singular Word/PDF document.
• A motivation letter written by yourself in English (maximum 400 words) which states:
  1. Your relevant background and reasons for choosing to study international criminal law (maximum 200 words), and:
  2. Your reasons to apply for LLM International (and/or Transnational) Criminal Law at the University of Amsterdam (maximum 200 words).

Note: Your CV and motivation letter should be together in one Word/PDF document. This same document can be uploaded for both the CV and motivational letter. 

• A reference letter in English and contact details of this referee. The reference letter should be addressed to and written specifically for your application to the ICL LLM at UvA. A general reference letter will not be considered sufficient.
• 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 an English Language proficiency test with sufficient scores. (Please note you cannot submit your English language proficiency test after submitting your application form).

In case any of the above mentioned documents is missing, your application will be considered as incomplete and we cannot continue with your application.

Once we have received your application (and the required application fee for non-EU/EEA students), it will be evaluated by our admissions committee. Only those applicants who fulfil the entry requirements and are therefore eligible to the masters programme International Criminal Law Joint Programme, 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 via Zoom. The Committee will then decide on admission. You will be notified about the decision by email before the 1st of June.

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. After you have accepted your offer, your application will be further processed. Please make sure to accept your (conditional) offer in MyInfo (application system) within 2 weeks. If you are not sure yet if you will be attending the LLM programme, you can choose the option ‘I accept, but I have doubts’. This will not have any consequences for your admission. If you do not respond to your offer within 2 weeks, we cannot continue with your admission process (and visa request if applicable).

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 the offer in MyInfo (application system), please do not forget to also de-enrol from the Master’s programme in Studielink.

Certified documents

If you have been conditionally admitted to the Master's programme, it means that we need to verify your prior academic credentials.

You will not need to send in documentation if you have completed a legal Bachelor’s programme in the Netherlands or will have done so before the 1st of September; 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 your degree certificate or transcript. This exception applies to the following degree programmes:

• Bachelor Rechtsgeleerdheid (croho 50700)
• Bachelor Fiscaal Recht (croho 56827)
• Bachelor Notarieel Recht (croho 56828)

The same exception applies if you have completed a pre-Master's programme at the UvA or if you are applying based on the following diplomas granted by the UvA:

• PPLE, with a major in Law
• Liberal Arts & Sciences, with at least 45 ECTS credits in law courses
• European Studies, with at least 45 ECTS credits in law courses
• International Relations, with at least 45 ECTS credits in law courses

If you are required to submit documentation, there are two ways in which you can provide us with your diploma/statement of graduation and transcript. You can ask your university to email these documents to us directly at admissions-law@uva.nl. Please note that we will not accept emails forwarded by students, but only emails directly sent to us by the issuing university. Please make sure that your name, your UvA ID (student number) and your study programme are mentioned in the email.

If your university does not provide this service, you can send us certified hardcopies of these documents by post to the address below.

What is a certified hardcopy?

A certified copy is a photocopy of the original document with a wet ink stamp and signature from your school/university or from an authorised notary. Uncertified photocopies or scanned copies of original documents will not be accepted. Do not send us the original documents - we cannot be held responsible for any documents that get lost in the process.

Translations

Documents that are not written in Dutch, English, German or French, must be accompanied by an official translation to English made by a sworn translator or a notary.

Please send your certified documents by regular post to the following address:

Admissions Office of the Amsterdam Law School (room A6.01a)
Post Office Box 1030
1000 BA Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Please note: In case of registered post:
Admissions Office of the Amsterdam Law School (room A6.01a)
Valckenierstraat 59
1018 XE Amsterdam
The Netherlands

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.

If you are an international student, you will need to arrange a variety of practical matters before starting your studies.

Visa, residence permit, insurance

The first step is to determine whether you will need a visa and/or residence permit. Then you need to arrange your insurance.

Housing

The UvA does not offer student housing on our campuses. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the housing market in the Netherlands before you choose your study programme.  It can be difficult to find available housing in Amsterdam, so you will need to start looking for yourself as soon as possible via Dutch student housing websites. For international students, the UvA has limited number of rooms available throughout Amsterdam, which you can apply for via UvA Housing. Please note there are not enough rooms available via UvA Housing to accommodate all international students. As placement for UvA Housing is not guaranteed, we advise you to start your orientation for housing options early and to always explore the private housing market as well.

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.

For international students moving to another country, while exciting, can also be overwhelming. Plan your arrival date and find out what you need to do once you arrive in the Netherlands.

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

If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, you will need to have submitted your LLM application (including all required documents) on 1 January. The deadline for submitting the intake form for the scholarship and all scholarship related documents is 15 January. Please be aware that it is not possible to apply for any scholarships if you are starting in February. Read more about scholarships.

Once you have been (conditionally) admitted to a Master’s programme at the Amsterdam Law School, you will receive information by email from the Central Student Service Desk on how to complete your registration and, if applicable, how to apply for a visa or residence permit.

When you submit an incomplete application file, we will remind you to provide us with the missing document(s). In case you do not provide us with the missing document(s) before the indicated deadline, we will close your application file. You are welcome to apply again with a complete file as long as you submit your application file before the application deadline that applies to you.

Accommodation is particularly crucial for non-EU students, as registering an address with the municipality is a requirement to maintain their residence permit. Due to Dutch regulations, Dutch universities are prohibited from owning housing facilities, which means the UvA cannot arrange housing for all incoming international students. Ultimately, students are responsible for finding their own accommodation. For tips & tricks visit uva.nl/housing and uva.nl/findingaccommodation.