General Information
As a metropolitan university with an excellent reputation for research, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) offers students a stimulating academic environment in one of the social and cultural capitals of Europe.
The UvA enjoys a rich history, with roots tracing back to 1632 when its predecessor, the Athenaeum Illustre, was founded to train students in trade and philosophy. In 1877 it was renamed the University of Amsterdam and granted the right to confer the highest academic degrees. Today, the UvA seeks to offer an inspiring international academic environment in which students and staff can develop their talents optimally. One of Europe’s major research universities, the UvA, with some 30,000 students and 5,000 staff, currently offers around 300 study programmes, many of which are taught in English.
The Amsterdam Graduate School of Law is an integral part of the Amsterdam Law School (ALS). The ALS offers students a wide variety of specialised courses and has a strong international orientation, carrying both a global and a European focus. A long-standing tradition of offering LLM programmes taught in English has drawn students from around the world, bringing a truly international atmosphere to our brand-new campus 'Roeterseiland' in the centre of Amsterdam.
The Amsterdam Law School favours an interdisciplinary approach, collaborating with other law schools in the Netherlands and incorporating such fields as economics, psychology and sociology with the study of law. The faculty members are active in various research institutes, while maintaining strong ties with the corporate world. Many staff members are also legal practitioners, thus bringing current and practical insights and developments into their teaching. Social engagement is another characteristic of both staff and students, who frequently offer their services to various law clinics.
The LLM programmes are designed to qualify graduates for careers in European and international institutions, international business, law firms, and government and non-governmental organisations. They also provide a strong basis for PhD candidates in the fields of international or European (public or private) law.
