Globalisation and Law is a one-year master program in English at Maastricht University.
Globalisation is impacting every area of economic, social and technological activity. It is having an enormous influence on international structures, governance and the legal systems of individual nations, posing challenges in all fields of the law. The globalisation of the law is producing a tremendous increase in international and regional regulation, global litigation and cross-border legal dialogue. Whether to serve multinational enterprises or indeed to control and regulate their activity, law firms, governments and international organisations alike are in growing need of lawyers who understand the complexities of globalisation and law.
The confluence of research interests at the Faculty of law creates a unique environment in which to approach the issues not only from the humanitarian perspective but also from the business point of view.
Among the programme's assets is its small group setting and its very active student body composed of participants from all parts of the world.
The programme offers three specializations: Corporate and Commercial Law, Human Rights and International Trade and Investment Law. As an alternative for picking one of the tracks students are also allowed to combine courses from the three tracks in a so-called 'free track'.
Human Rights
Students who choose for this specialization will have to do three compulsory courses(International Law and Globalization, Corporate Social Responsibility and International Human Rights law)
In addition, students will have to choose at least three of the following courses: International Criminal Law, International Dispute Settlement, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights of Women and International Development Law.
And choose between:
- following the two remaining courses of this specialization;
- participation in a moot court
- an internship
- courses covered by the GAL specialisations Corporate and Commercial Law or International Trade and Investment Law;
- courses covered by other Master's programme offered by the Faculty of Law or
- law courses offered at other Faculties or universities, provided these courses are in terms of substance sufficiently related to the specialization and the Director for Educational Affairs has given prior authorization.
Corporate and Commercial Law
Students who choose for this specialization will have to do three compulsory courses (International Law and Globalization, Corporate Social Responsibility and Comparative Company Law)
In addition, students will have to choose at least three of the following courses: International Arbitration and Economic Dispute Resolution, International Commercial Law, International Trade Law, European Competition Law and Comparative Corporate Governance.
And choose between:
- following the two remaining courses of this specialization;
- participation in a moot court
- an internship
- courses covered by the GAL specialisations Human Rights or International Trade and Investment Law;
- courses covered by other Master's programme offered by the Faculty of Law or
- law courses offered at other Faculties or universities, provided these courses are in terms of substance sufficiently related to the specialization and the Director for Educational Affairs has given prior authorization.
International Trade and Investment Law
Students who choose for this specialization will have to do three compulsory courses (International Law and Globalization, Corporate Social Responsibility and International Trade Law)
In addition, students will have to choose at least three of the following courses: Law & Economics, International Development Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Investment Law and Economic and Financial Regulation in Europe.
And choose between:
- following the two remaining courses of this specialization;
- participation in a moot court
- an internship
- courses covered by the GAL specialisations Human Rights or Corporate and Commercial Law;
- courses covered by other Master's programme offered by the Faculty of Law or
- law courses offered at other Faculties or universities, provided these courses are in terms of substance sufficiently related to the specialization and the Director for Educational Affairs has given prior authorization.
Free Track
Students who do not choose to follow one of the three specializations and opt for the "free track" will have to do two compulsory courses, choose a minimum of four courses covered by the curriculum of the GAL programme and can freely fill in the remaining 12 ECTS.
The compulsory courses are: International Law and Globalization and Corporate Social Responsibility
In addition, students will have to choose at least four of the following courses: International Criminal Law, International Dispute Settlement, International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights law, Human Rights of Women and International Development Law, International Arbitration and Economic Dispute Resolution, International Commercial Law, International Trade Law, European Competition Law and Comparative Corporate Governance, Law & Economics, International Development Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Investment Law and Economic and Financial Regulation in Europe.
The remaining 12 ECTS can be filled in by:
- participation in a moot court (6 ECTS);
- an internship (maximum of 12 ECTS);
- courses covered by other Master's programme offered by the Faculty of Law or
- law courses offered at other Faculties or universities, provided these courses are in terms of substance sufficiently related to the specialization and the Director for Educational Affairs has given prior authorization
Location: Maastricht; the Netherlands
Duration: 1 year
Admission requirements:
•a copy of your passport
•a letter of motivation
•a bachelor's degree in law from a non-Dutch university (these students will not be required to take an entrance exam); or a bachelor's degree in a field other than law (an entrance exam is required for these students); or a degree from a non-Dutch institute of higher vocational education (an entrance exam is required for these students).
a certified copy of your diploma (* diploma should be also send by post)
•a list of grades
•a letter of reference
•IELTS-6.5/TOEFL-90/Cambridge test result-CAE or CPE
•a passport photo that we need for your UM id card
Application deadlines
To start in September: 15 July
To start in February: 15 December
For more information, please click here.