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Master
International Criminal Law - Joint Program with Columbia Law School (International Criminal Law)
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Eligibility quick scan

Do you want to know if you are eligible for the Master's programme International Criminal Law - Joint Program? Fill in our eligibility quick scan! By answering a few questions that takes approx. 1-2 minutes, you will receive an indication of your chances of being admitted.

Please note:

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.

Questions? Please take a look at our FAQ.

Because of the exchange with Columbia Law School, students who want to be admitted based on a prior US degree are not allowed to apply for this programme. 

  • 1. Check deadlines

    Start your application procedure on time

    You need to submit your enrolment request via Studielink, activate your UvAnetID, pay the application fee (if applicable) AND submit your complete application request via MyInfo before the deadline stated below. It may take several days to complete all these steps. We recommend you to register in Studielink at least one week before the deadline of your programme.

    Application deadline

    • Studielink (advisory deadline): 25 March 2024, 23.59 hrs CEST
    • MyInfo : 1 April 2024, 23.59 hrs CEST
    • Notification period: You will be notified about the decision by email before 15 May 2024

    If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, you will need to have submitted your LLM application (including all required documents) in MyInfo before 1 January 2024. The deadline for submitting the intake form for the scholarship and all scholarship related documents is 15 January 2024.

    Please note that applications received in MyInfo after the deadline will not be considered for admission.

  • 2. Check entry requirements

    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. In accordance with the agreement with Columbia Law School, a maximum of 8 students will be selected by the UvA to participate in the Joint Program. 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:

    • academic performance
    • motivation
    • demonstrable affinity with and/or relevant experience in the field of study of the relevant 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.
    • 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. 
    • A Bachelor’s degree in the law track of PPLE (Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics) from the University of Amsterdam. If you did not complete the law track, then you will need to have obtained at least 45 EC of law courses as part of your completed PPLE programme.
    • 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).

    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 Academic** (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. 
    • 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 on the day you submit your application in MyInfo. 

    * The TOEFL ITP test (Institutional Testing Program) and the TOEFL iBT home edition are NOT accepted.
    ** The IELTS Academic Online, IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator and IELTS UKVI 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.
  • 3. Submit enrolment request in Studielink
  • 4. Activate your UvAnetID

    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.

  • 5. Pay the application fee

    All students applying for a Master’s degree programme with an international diploma are required to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee. You can pay your €100 application fee by credit card (Master or Visacard) or iDEAL. Only after paying the fee, can you start your application in MyInfo. It is not possible to start an application without paying the application fee.

    You don't have to pay the application fee:

    • If you have of will obtain a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university;
    • If you have already applied and have paid the application fee for another master’s programme at the UvA for the academic year 2024-2025;
    • If you are applying through the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF);
  • 6. Submit your UvA application form

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

    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. 

    NB: The misuse of ChatGPT and other AI tools by the applicants may affect the outcome of the selection.

    • 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. Reference letters written by staff of the programme International Criminal Law will not be accepted.
    • 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.

  • 7. Wait for the admission decision

    Once we have received your application, it will be evaluated by our Admissions Board. Only those applicants who fulfil the entry requirements for the master's programme International Criminal Law Joint Programme, will be presented to the Selection Committee after the application deadline. The Selection Committee does not review applications on a rolling basis. You will be notified about the decision by email before 15 May.

  • 8. Accept/decline offer

    Accept

    If you meet all the entry requirements and the Admissions Office has approved your application, the university will send you a (conditional) 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 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). Please note that if you select 'I accept (with doubts)', you are still able to withdraw your enrolment request in Studielink until the 31st of August.

    Decline

    If you decline the offer in MyInfo, please do not forget to withdraw your enrolment request in Studielink.

  • 9. Submit certified documents

    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

  • 10. Pay the tuition fee

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

  • 11. Arrange your immigration and housing

    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.

  • 12. Request student ID card

    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. 

  • 13. 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.

  • 14. Plan your arrival

    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.

  • 15. Attend Introduction Day

    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.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is the application deadline for scholarships?

    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. Read more about scholarships.

  • How do I finalise my enrolment at the UvA?

    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.

  • My application has been closed because it was incomplete. Can I apply again?

    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.