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master s programmes in law 2010 · european law school · globalisation and law · intellectual property law and knowledge management · international and european economic law · international laws · tax law international and european tax law specialisation · law honours programme master s research track · international partnership programmes

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maastricht university leading in learning historic yet forward-thinking and contemporary typically dutch yet multicultural and vibrant maastricht is a city of contrasts not only is maastricht the birthplace of the modern european union it also continues to establish itself internationally thanks to maastricht university s position as a leading academic centre in europe beyond boundaries with over half of its master s students and a third of its academic staff coming from outside the netherlands maastricht university has a reputation for quality and for its international orientation and dynamic interdisciplinary environment most of our master s programmes are taught in english and international themes are deeply rooted in the curricula at maastricht university you will be encouraged to look across traditional boundaries for answers looking to other departments disciplines institutes universities and international scholars to provide better insight into your own education and research new perspectives as a master s student you are a contributing member of our academic community using the problem-based learning methodology you work in small groups alongside students from all over the world in close cooperation with the academic staff you and your fellow students seek solutions to real-world problems you exchange knowledge and experiences learn to see things from new perspectives and develop skills that will last a lifetime research research at maastricht university focuses on gaining insights into current issues in today s society and we recognise the value of bright young researchers in contributing to the development of fresh and innovative ideas that is why research plays an integral role in the majority of our master s programmes and why we offer a number of research master s focused solely on the training of future researchers career further specialising in your field by earning a master s degree at maastricht university will greatly enhance your career prospects the effectiveness of our approach to education and research is demonstrated by the performance of our graduates they are self-assured independent and assertive professionals who are able to make a smooth transition from university to the job market because they focus on more than just theory they also learn the skills they need to have a successful career.

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contents welcome law at maastricht university european law school globalisation and law intellectual property law and knowledge management international and european economic law international laws tax law international and european tax law specialisation law honours programme master s research track international partnership programmes you ll never forget maastricht what you also need to know 3 4 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 welcome as dean of the maastricht university faculty of law i am proud of our course offer which boasts a large number of dutch and englishlanguage master s programmes innovative and interdisciplinary with a distinct european and international flavour the content of these programmes is unique and characteristic of maastricht university itself perfectly tailored in other words to the needs of jurists of the future these programmes also benefit from typically maastrichtstyle teaching methods small-scale challenging innovative and focused on knowledge and skills the problem-based learning system has served the university well maastricht always rates highly in higher education rankings and assessments our staff and students too are highly diverse and international the faculty is bilingual in dutch and english and there are many opportunities on offer for international exchange as well as national and international internships we are also active and doing well in various moot court competitions thus giving our students the chance to measure up to their peers internationally with success this is often the result of direct interaction between research and teaching our master s programme lecturers are encouraged to take on students as teaching or research assistants alongside this maastricht is also a wonderful city for students located at the centre of a euregion on the banks of the maas river it has a friendly international feeling the faculty of law is housed in a monumental building in the city centre within easy reach of countless bars and restaurants as well as student accommodation in short maastricht will do justice to your talents and open new doors for you i very much look forward to welcoming you to maastricht university as one of our new master s students in law professor dr aalt willem heringa dean faculty of law maastricht university the netherlands follow the day-to-day life of aalt willem heringa and other law students and lecturers via www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/law all programmes in this brochure are accredited by the accreditation organisation of the netherlands and flanders nvao for more information on nvao please visit www.nvao.nl maastricht university is a signatory of the code of conduct more information about this code of conduct is available at www.internationalstudy.nl with respect to international students in dutch higher education 3

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law at maastricht university your legal gateway to the world studying law means studying an up-to-minute programme and the european angle highlighted in maastricht makes it even more exciting maastricht university focuses on european law and the similarities between various legal systems operating within the european union this is clearly reflected in both the research and the teaching for instance a programme follows the development of a european judicial system and takes a close look at the interaction between domestic and international law and the teaching model cannot fail to inspire you problem based learning pbl is designed to encourage easy contact with students and lecturers from across the world research in the maastricht faculty of law also has an outward focus and close ties have been forged with prominent international networks of law faculties that focus on the same central issues you will encounter various schools of thought some of which may seem strange to you this broadens your horizon both figuratively and literally your time in this international environment enhanced by a teaching model and facilities that revolve around your individual talents and study process will stay with you forever the master s programmes are updated and modified on a regular basis it is worth defending or rejecting active learning helps you retain what you have learned and acquire new skills such as presenting your point of view debating leading a discussion and arguing a case you will train the very skills you need as a jurist for example much time is spent acquiring written legal skills which you will be able to put to good use when writing your final master s thesis the tutorial group group processes play a major part pbl revolves around exchanging information give and take you and your fellow students are all aiming for the same goal i.e solving the problem in question this teaches you to work together and sometimes results in lifelong friendships pbl is based on the principle that everyone takes an active part in the research and the discussions in this way you contribute to your own learning process and that of your fellow students if this idea appeals to you the interaction should inspire you to work hard and the results will speak for themselves the professors the professors actively participate in the tutorial group thereby allowing easy-going informal contact you get the maximum benefit of their knowledge without being administered readymade chunks of information they guide the group process and ask critical substantive questions but leave the decisions to you problem-based learning do you want to take the leading role in your own study process carry out your own research in your own time have lively discussions with fellow students learning and acquiring essential skills along the way experience excellent personal supervision from lecturers who know who you are find your own balance between study and social contact these are the very aspects you will find at maastricht university expert in the area of problem-based learning pbl the professional pbl is highly effective as can be seen from our graduates achievements they are all articulate independent assertive professionals to whom analysing specific problems structuring information working as part of an international team conducting and leading discussions and presenting ideas is second nature professionals who can move easily from education to a career because their training has provided them with the qualities and knowledge essential to their field discussions pbl works on the basis of tutorial groups together with your fellow students you search for solutions to existing real-life problems the process starts with a group discussion in which everyone can put forward their current knowledge and skills on the topic concerned the diversity of backgrounds and cultures ensures that discussions are lively and inspires students to explore the subject more deeply you and your group set learning targets that you can study individually or in small groups you then examine your combined results and continue the discussions until you reach one or more joint conclusions moot court competitions the maastricht faculty of law has built up a considerable reputation on the international moot court competitions circuit by winning first prize in the european law moot court competition several years in a row maastricht university has also successfully taken part in various other moot court competitions in the netherlands and abroad such as the rené cassin moot court competition the world trade organisation moot court competition and the philip jessup international law moot court competition in these competitions maastricht regularly does better than such universities as harvard new york and paris the european law school bachelor s programme includes mock court training to prepare for the moot court competitions you are trained to negotiate and plead as a prosecutor or defence attorney skills pbl involves more than simply acquiring knowledge together with your group you will actively explore the topics you are studying you will learn to apply new insights immediately as it will be up to you to examine the knowledge you encounter and decide whether 4 master s programmes in law 2010

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facilities thirty years experience of problem-based learning has enabled maastricht university to tailor its facilities to suit this system of education the university library and it services have been organised to revolve around the students you will be provided with everything you need to further your academic development and add depth to your studies maastricht university has a modern university library with an extensive collection of books and magazines it also houses the learning and resource centres which are unique documentation facilities designed to support the system of pbl each learning and resource centre offers an extensive selection of material compiled to suit the curricula of the various faculties including books video tapes and computers providing access to specific data programmes and faculty files the learning and resource centres are part of a network of study rooms where individuals and groups can study in peace or use the computer video or other multimedia facilities to hold discussions or meetings desktop anywhere allows you to consult university library facilities such as catalogues information files and magazines from your own pc at home um s electronic learning environment eleum also makes it easy to work together with fellow students or consult lecturers or other experts from home maastricht university forces you to broaden your horizons in my field of european public affairs i work in an international environment that evolves around the institutions of the european union and the european decision-making procedures this job requires a thorough knowledge of european law and i can safely say that the european law school programme at maastricht university has given me this grounding a profound knowledge of european institutions policy and procedures enables me to help my clients mainly international businesses but also a few ngos understand and anticipate european legislation however pure theoretical knowledge of european law is not suffice in an environment where i am often the only dutch person in the room i have to be able to communicate with people of other nationalities the fact that part of my programme at maastricht was taught in english certainly gave me an advantage when i started my job as a european public affairs consultant in brussels however language is not the most important part of getting your message across people working in this international environment must always be aware that their own way of thinking might be typically dutch spanish or polish and this is the very essence of um s comparative law programme it teaches you that while domestic law of your own country can serve as a frame of reference it is also important to understand how similar problems are dealt with in other legal systems it therefore forces you to broaden your horizons i chose maastricht university because of the international character and european approach the proximity to brussels was an added bonus as the short and cheap train to brussels allowed me a glimpse behind the scenes of the eu i have since realised that maastricht is not only physically close to brussels the true european approach to law at maastricht university also shortens the theoretical distance from brussels irene g.c janssen llm ma i on europe public affairs brussels 5

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how is an academic year organised an academic year at maastricht university is divided into two semesters the teaching is organised according to the principle of the problem-based learning model instead of subjects that last all year you follow a number of themed course periods per semester usually two at a time each period revolves around a certain subject or field which you study in depth you will sometimes be expected to study independently but mainly with fellow students from within and outside your tutorial group the composition of the tutorial groups changes per period alongside tutorials you will also be expected to attend a number of lectures designed to support the learning process by providing background and structure to the teaching material the skills training associated with the various subjects will teach you to put the knowledge you have acquired into practice every period finishes with an assessment to check the level of your knowledge this might be a written exam an assignment a project a presentation or a skills test your participation in tutorials and skills training can also be taken into account in an end-of-course assessment the following pages show models of the various master s programmes however master s programmes are updated and modified on a regular basis the exact content of the programmes and descriptions of the www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/law various courses that go to make up the programmes are available on master s programme in law at um the maastricht faculty of law offers a varied package of six master s programmes and specialisations in law taught entirely in english all of the programmes have a strong international leaning a period spent studying abroad or an internship in another country is also part of the programme in turn many international students opt to follow a master s programme inmaastricht the result is an international study environment in which you constantly meet people from other cultures 6 master s programmes in law 2010

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english-taught master s programmes in law at maastricht university european law school globalisation and law dutch corporate law influenced by europe intellectual property law and knowledge management international and european economic law international laws tax law international and european tax law specialisation law honours programme master s research track um career services maastricht university aims to prepare students for a successful career in the netherlands europe and beyond a good future begins with good education the university can also provide excellent career guidance what are your strong points and your capabilities what are your dreams and ambitions and what do you need to achieve them um career services will help you explore your options and then make the right decisions do you want to work after obtaining your master s degree or do you want to take a graduate programme six months abroad or an internship in the netherlands do you want to work for someone else or start your own business um career services can supply information personal advice training courses and workshops providing a unique combination of knowledge from internal faculties alumni student associations and external parties businesses organisations and institutions our graduates have little trouble finding their way after they graduate one of the subjects examined in the master s programme in law at maastricht university is `dutch law how dutch is our legal system these days the numerous european guidelines and directives have `europeanised much of our own domestic law this will become patently obvious during the tutorial groups the heart of our problem-based learning the voice of europe can be heard clearly in the countless european legal sources that are used and the increasing numbers of students from various european member states in the tutorial groups but outside influences do not only come from within europe the effects of anglo-american opinions are also visible at the level of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility so europeanisation and internationalisation are characteristic features of the maastricht faculty of law the focus of the student population and staff is by no means netherlands oriented thanks to our many international contacts combined in the two research schools ius commune and human rights the faculty offers a highly inspiring learning and research environment based on individual attention and accessibility the focus is on european and international law explored from the angle of domestic law dr jos hamers the netherlands associate professor of corporate law follow the day-to-day life of a law student lecturer or the dean of the maastricht faculty of law via www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/law 7

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european law school the process of european unification has had a significant impact on the legal profession to be successful in an integrating europe lawyers require a profound knowledge of european law as well as an understanding of the national legal systems of the major european countries in most areas of the law lawyers can no longer afford to be educated solely in their national law the european law school programme of maastricht university meets the demand of legal practitioners for a greater integration of european and comparative law into law curricula with a clear international orientation and an established record of excellence in this field of law there is nowhere better to study european and comparative law than in maastricht the european law school master s programme is ambitious providing an in-depth study of both european and comparative law with a focus on the legal systems of france germany england and the netherlands and with the option of a comparative consideration of us law example of a european law school programme 1 2 3 period courses advanced european law european competition law european property law masterthesis eu trade law and governance european migration and citizenship european company law european human rights masterthesis the academic staff with a highly specialised and experienced academic staff from all over europe the european law school programme can offer a unique insight into living and working in an integrated europe staff members include former officials of the european institutions and of international organisations such as the world trade organization they have worked at research institutes associated with the european commission at think-tanks and ngos as well as extensively in private practice maastricht university s problem-based learning pbl system is perfectly suited to the broad-based and comparative nature of the european law school programme the low student-staff ratio that the method demands ensures that you develop not only a sound knowledge of the law but the practical approach of tutorials and the collaborative nature of pbl require you to develop both the legal and social skills needed for future practice 4 5 6 external relations of the eu career opportunities as a graduate of the european law school you are trained as a specialist in the area of european law and are equipped with the essential legal and linguistic skills to thrive both in an institutional setting and in the world of private practice this combined with a broad comparative background instils in you a creative approach to issues of national law and european regulation the european law school programme trains you to grasp transnational and european legal issues quickly and to anticipate and handle legal problems of a transnational or european nature with ease the international makeup of the student body in combination with a strong focus on comparative law equips graduates of this programme with the necessary skills to understand methods and content of legal argumentation from other legal systems and thus to communicate effectively with foreign colleagues from across europe you will thus be able to excel in today s internationalised legal world european law school graduates possess a thorough knowledge of european law and the principles and rules of the major national european legal systems by successfully completing this demanding programme you will have demonstrated your willingness to work hard and excel at whatever you undertake a european law school graduate is eminently suitable for positions in the international business world at international and european institutions as well as being very well prepared for a successful national legal career the programme the master s programme of the european law school is a one-year programme providing an in-depth study of european and comparative law with traditional legal subjects considered from a european and comparative perspective the programme promotes maximum flexibility with just one compulsory course thus allowing students to develop their own profile specific to their needs and future career plans the programme culminates in an independent piece of research the master s thesis on which you work under the close supervision of a supervisor 8 master s programmes in law 2010

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globalisation and law maastricht university with its international orientation and longstanding focus on the effects of the phenomena of internationalisation and globalisation on law and on the study of law has developed an innovative and challenging one-year programme the first of its kind the phenomenon of globalisation has impacted every area of economic social and technological activity and is having an enormous influence on international structures governance and the legal systems of individual nations posing challenges in all fields of law with the growing convergence of law across international borders it has never been more important to understand the effect of globalisation on law indeed to study the globalisation of law itself the master s programme in globalisation and law addresses the increasing need for legal graduates with a unique expertise in the effects of globalisation on law it is a specially designed programme approaching issues not only from the perspective of public international law but also from the perspectives of criminal constitutional and civil law it takes the phenomenon of globalisation as a starting point rather than beginning with the more typical approach of a study of positive law the concept of globalisation from all its angles is at the heart of this programme the confluence of research interests at the faculty of law allows a unique environment in which to approach the issues not only from the business/trade point of view but also from the humanitarian perspective both the `globalist and the `anti-globalist assumptions are critically examined as a result you are able to make up your own mind to think ahead and to respond quickly to evolving situations the programme the master s programme in globalisation and law is a oneyear programme providing an in-depth study of the effects of globalisation on criminal public and civil law you obtain a firm grasp of international law whilst having the maximum flexibility to define and refine your interests by way of a self-designed programme one course can be replaced by participation in an international moot court competition the programme culminates in an independent piece of research the master s thesis on which you work under the close supervision of a supervisor example of a globalisation and law programme 1 2 3 period courses advanced international law international dispute settlement intellectual property law masterthesis international trade law international criminal and humanitarian law 4 5 6 european company law comparative administrative law civil litigation in europe masterthesis the academic staff the high level of expertise in the fields of international and european and comparative law and the many years of experience in key positions in the international community from courts to institutions and international ngos from the wto to amnesty international give the staff members at the maastricht faculty of law a special edge in teaching a programme focused on globalisation and law their strong international perspective and understanding of the needs of the legal training of the future have resulted in a programme that approaches the subject of globalisation from an entirely new perspective the problem-based learning pbl system of maastricht university is perfectly suited to the broad range of the globalisation and law programme the low student-staff ratio that the method demands ensures that you develop not only a sound knowledge of the law but the practical approach of tutorials and the collaborative nature of pbl require you to develop both the legal and social skills needed for a rapidly changing work environment this method enables you to excel instilling a healthy sense of competition while stimulating cooperation and teamwork among peers career opportunities as a graduate of the globalisation and law programme you are equipped with the knowledge to interpret cope effectively with and anticipate trends and changes in international law within the context of globalisation you are trained to function optimally in today s internationalised legal world you will quickly be able to grasp transnational and international legal issues and commanding a detailed understanding of supranational and transnational organisations as well as the impact of globalisation on national legal systems you will be well placed to deal with the most urgent contemporary problems you will be equipped with a unique knowledge of the changing world of international law in your successful completion of a demanding programme you will have demonstrated your willingness to work hard and excel at whatever it is that you undertake you are thus eminently suitable for positions in a large range of sectors from the traditional legal professions and major law firms to positions in the international business world at international organisations as well as with governmental bodies and ngos with an eye on the future you will be able to compete successfully in the dynamic world of international law 9

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intellectual property law and knowledge management llm/msc maastricht university faculty of law offers two complementary one-year master s programmes in intellectual property law and knowledge management · the llm degree is primarily aimed at lawyers and technology transfer officers wishing to advance their career in legal services and knowledge management involving all fields of intellectual and industrial property law · the msc degree is aimed at graduates with a science or technical qualification e.g biology chemistry electronics engineering pharmacology or physics etc wishing to become experts in the field of intellectual and industrial property law including the preparation of eligible candidates for the european qualifying exam for european patent agent the programmes are taught entirely in english and are offered in two varieties first as a one-year full time master s of 60 ects second as a two-year half speed master s that permits a combination of study and work the programme both programmes will consist of three terms each the first term will run from september to december the second from january to may and a third and final term from june to august during which the students will also work on their master s thesis llm and msc students will each follow their individual tracks with each having their individual focus the llm and msc students will furthermore spend a considerable amount of time together during the common core of the two master s programmes throughout the first term students will be exposed to the fundamentals of valorisation of knowledge and of the international protection of intellectual property law as well as the functioning of international organisations such as the world intellectual property organisation the world trade organization european patent office furthermore they will be offered an in-depth exposé of the european union and us systems of intellectual property protection and more particular skills training moot court and litigation training for llm students and patent claims construction drafting and procedures before the boards of appeals of the epo for msc students during the second term this structure will be maintained but increasingly students will be free to incorporate more elective elements in their individual programme during the third and final term students will work on their llm or msc thesis for half-speed students and individual track spanning two years will be offered the academic staff specialist resident and non-resident staff from academia practice the judiciary patent agents international and european organisations and industry will teach the common core courses as well as the specially designed llm or msc modules training for diverse careers such as legal practitioner manager of knowledge technology transfer officer or patent agent affiliation with the ohim universities network furthermore ensures practical academic education at the highest level our non resident staff members include patent attorneys · ir j hoekstra · dr c mulder · ir t sterken epo practice academia · prof j brinkhof · mr g casucci · prof m de cock buning · mr m dolmans · prof a firth · prof d van engelen · prof w grosheide · dr klaus haft · dr t heide · mr y skulikaris wipo · mr m geuze ip management · mr a smits · dr m pugatch career opportunities graduates are trained for work in innovative cultural and knowledge-intensive industries the llm in legal services and technology transfer the msc for graduates in science or technology as researcher-inventor or patent examiner including the onward preparation of eligible candidates for the qualifying exam for european patent agent affiliation with the ohim universities network and teaching by non-resident staff from academia practice patent agents and international and european organisations ensures practical academic education at the highest level and good employment prospects · prof w hoyng · prof a kamperman sanders · prof s maniatis · prof c osterrieth · prof a strowel · mr g tritton · prof a quaedvlieg · prof d townend 10 master s programmes in law 2010

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international and european economic law maastricht university offers a prestigious one-year graduate programme the master of international and european economic law in these times of global trade and investment this programme meets the labour market s increasing demand for lawyers specialised in international and european economic law the international and european economic law programme is a fully accredited programme and the successor to the renowned magister iuris communis the programme attracts ambitious and demanding students from both inside and outside the european union this mix of nationalities adds to the programme s distinct international flavour the programme is open to students who upon successful completion of their legal education at master s level wish to gain the specialised knowledge and skills needed to pursue a european or international career in economic law in either the private or the public sector director of studies prof dr peter l.h van den bossche member of the appellate body of the world trade organization and professor of international economic law maastricht university curriculum the international and european economic law curriculum focuses on economic law at the international and european level and includes courses on international trade law international investment law international development law international and european intellectual property law international and european economic dispute settlement european institutional law european internal market law and european competition law many of the courses explicitly address the environmental public health cultural and human rights dimension of international trade and investment field trips to international and european institutions in geneva brussels strasbourg luxembourg frankfurt and the hague a series of international and european economic law distinguished guest lectures by senior government officials and private lawyers and a european parliament simulation programme developed by the maastricht-based european institute for public administration eipa are an integral part of the international and european economic law programme international and european economic law students are strongly encouraged to participate in the elsa moot court competition on wto law as well as the european law moot court competition high-quality learning experience in an enjoyable setting teaching methods at maastricht university are strongly student-oriented students get to analyse and solve real-life problems in small groups in the process they perfect their professional skills in research legal reasoning oral presentation and writing the faculty of law of maastricht university is situated in the beautiful historical centre of the city of maastricht which has very convenient and fast train connections to brussels paris amsterdam and london more information on the international and european economic law programme is available at www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/law academic staff the international and european economic law programme is taught by internationally renowned specialists in the field of international and european economic law among the staff are current and former officials of european institutions and international organisations as well as academics with extensive work experience at research institutes associated with the european commission think-tanks ngos and law firms 11

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international laws the phenomena of globalisation and european integration mean that the legal profession is internationalising at an astonishing rate creating an increasing demand for graduates with a strong academic background fluent in a number of languages confident in an international environment and able to flourish in the challenges that globalisation and european integration bring to prepare you for the challenges of the legal profession in the early 21st century maastricht university is offering a unique opportunity to broaden your knowledge of different legal systems and international law while simultaneously improving your language skills carefully selected partner universities abroad in canada the united states china europe etc the programme offers a truly comparative experience and the freedom to compile a tailormade curriculum from our specialisation tracks in banking ec jurisprudence and procedure or commercial law etc for a full list of maastricht university s partner universities please visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/law examples of an international laws programme year 1 period courses 1 advanced european law the academic staff the maastricht faculty of law has a unique expertise in the field of international european and comparative law many of the faculty s academic staff have held or hold prestigious positions in the legal profession working for key international and european institutions such as amnesty international the european court of justice the united nations and the world trade organization as well as a whole variety of policy and research institutes ngos and private practice the international professional background of the staff members along with their strong standing in the academic world makes them ideally placed to offer a programme such as international laws maastricht university s problem-based learning pbl system is perfectly suited to the master s in international laws the low student-staff ratio that the method demands ensures that you develop not only a sound knowledge of the law but the practical approach of tutorials and the collaborative nature of pbl require you to develop both the legal and social skills needed for a rapidly changing work environment the strong international nature of the student population of maastricht university ensures that you get the best from a programme international in its scope and focus stimulating learning and fostering a deeper understanding of transnational similarities and differences across cultural legal and economic fields 2 3 international dispute settlement comparative constitutional law language course international criminal and humanitarian law 4 5 international and european environment law international trade law international development law european human rights year 2 period courses 1 2 3 international dispute settlement european competition law language course international human rights law european company law advanced european law 4 5 european labour and social security law international and comparative commercial external relations of the european union career opportunities as a graduate of the master s in international laws you are equipped with a thorough understanding of the changing world of international european and national law combined with an easy fluency in at least one foreign language in addition to english by successfully completing this demanding programme you have demonstrated a willingness to work hard an ability to learn quickly and to excel at whatever you undertake the programme trains you to grasp quickly transnational international and european legal issues to contextualise them within a framework of globalisation and european integration and to command an excellent understanding of the impact of these dynamic forces on national legal systems as a result you are uniquely placed to thrive in today s internationalised legal world excellent career prospects in international law firms in the international business world in international and european organisations in national governmental bodies and non-governmental organisations await the programme the master s programme in international laws is a two-year programme combining study of the effects of globalisation and european integration on international european and national law with intensive language training in either french spanish or mandarin tailor made to your individual needs you take a mixture of compulsory and elective courses in each of the four main teaching periods of the programme one elective can be replaced by participation in one of the international moot court competitions in which maastricht participates during the second year of the programme you work on your master s thesis an independent piece of research carried out under the close supervision of a member of faculty in the remainder of the second year you are send abroad to broaden your outlook with a period of study at one or more of the faculty of law s 12 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tax law international and european tax law specialisation maastricht university offers a unique possibility to participate in a master s specialisation in international and european tax law its multidisciplinary approach combining tax law european law business politics and economics proves to be of great value for its students the maastricht tax law programme was one of the first to put a particular and substantive focus on european issues for students of tax law in the netherlands the programme the master s specialisation in international and european tax law provides an in-depth study of international and european tax issues with a comparative focus as nearly all business and financial decisions have important tax consequences the course explores such practical problems by focussing on tax legislation treaties and underlying fiscal policy considerations further the programme examines alternative approaches to taxation and issues of tax planning transfer pricing social security and value added taxation in a comparative context the programme consists mainly of compulsory courses and culminates in an independent piece of research the master s thesis on which you will work under close supervision of your supervisor an elective is possible for instance in the field of international trade law or european company law extra-curricular activities maastricht university stimulates you to participate in lectures offered by visiting professionals and academics from around the world it is also possible to combine the programme with an internship so that you acquire more practical knowledge upon invitation you may participate in the international and european tax moot court competition maastricht university has a reputation for its international success in various annual moot court competitions these extra-curricular activities provide you the opportunity to hone the skills and knowledge acquired in the master s courses in a dynamic and interactive environment the problem-based learning pbl method employed at maastricht university is a hands-on approach to tax law in which small student groups led by an experienced tutor discuss and solve real-life tax problems and cases traditional lecturing is in the background of the pbl system because maastricht university believes in learning-by-doing you analyse problems and cases with your fellow students instead of being told what the problems are and how they are to be resolved the master s programme in international and european tax law is suited for law students as well as persons with a background in for instance accountancy or business administration and basic knowledge of their home country s tax law the different countries of origin of the students contribute to lively discussions during the programme combine the best of law business and politics and consider studying tax law in the heart of europe maastricht university will provide a challenging environment for ambitious students who appreciate close relationships with both their fellow students and the academic staff example of an international and european tax law programme year 1 period courses 1 comparative corporate taxation 2 3 european value added tax international and european tax law tax policy in the european union master s thesis 4 5 6 cross-border taxation of human capital international trade law international taxation of business income master s thesis international tax planning and transfer pricing 13

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apart from our international and european tax law specialisation we also offer specialisations mainly in dutch that focus on dutch taxation and indirect taxation all specialisations are part of our accredited ll.m in tax law career opportunities on completion of the master s programme in international and european tax law you are equipped with the right mix of theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for dealing with international and european tax law issues the exposure to current issues and future trends and developments has provided you with an instinctive ability to tackle all manners of tax related problems in an international context as a graduate of the master s programme in international and european tax law you are able to pursue successful careers in a wide variety of sectors you are particularly well suited to jobs in international bodies and corporations as well as international law firms but the growing influence of international and european law in domestic settings ensures that you will also excel within your national legal systems in government or in private practice international student body you will study together with students from europe the americas and asia we require students to have taken some courses in the domestic tax law of their country of origin or country of previous studies so that they may contribute to our lively discussion groups from different perspectives 14 master s programmes in law 2010

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law honours programme the maastricht law faculty offers a law honours programme research track for its ambitious master students the programme allows students to conduct academic research in addition to their regular studies in the areas of european comparative law and human rights the programme is embedded in the metro graduate school of law the first semester comprises courses on foundations of the common law of europe challenges in human rights research the multidisciplinary study of law as well as practical research writing and presentation skills during the second semester students have the opportunity to specialise in comparative private law public law or human rights and write an extended master s thesis on the topic of their choice students following the two-year international laws master can spend their third semester abroad following courses relevant to their research programme one-year master s programme 1 period courses foundations of ius commune challenges of human rights academic writing in english presentation skills multidisciplinary study of law certificate an honours student s extended master s thesis is defended in public and may be considered the first chapter of a future phd thesis students who successfully complete the honours programme will receive a law honours programme research track certificate together with their master s degree they may be considered for fulltime phd research positions at the faculty 2 3 4 5 6 public defence of the extended master s thesis admission you can apply to be admitted to the law honours programme research track by submitting a letter of motivation an academic transcript and an example of your legal writing for instance a paper or thesis written at the bachelor stage for further information please visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/mastersadmissions international laws year 1 period courses 1 2 3 4 5 6 foundations of ius commune challenges of human rights multidisciplinary study of law work on research proposal optional master courses work on research proposal optional master courses work on research proposal optional master courses year 2 period courses 1 2 3 4 5 6 courses at a university abroad courses at a university abroad courses at a university abroad work on extended master s thesis academic writing course work on extended master s thesis presentation skills public defence of the extended master s thesis 15

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