FAQ master's students

• When can I start a master’s programme?
• Is there a numerus fixus (restricted number of places)?
• Can I follow a part-time master’s programme?
• Can I be conditionally accepted into a master’s programme if I have not yet completed my bachelor’s degree?
• How can I best prepare myself for the entrance exam?
• Can I do a transfer programme before I start a regular master’s programme?
• Can I do an internship while following a master’s programme?
• Where can I find/download the registration packet?
• What academic degree do I receive after completing a master’s programme at the Faculty of Law?
• As an international student, am I required to take a TOEFL test in order to start an English-language master’s programme?
• Where can I find language courses students?
• What is the civil effect and how do I apply for it?
• How do I become a lawyer?

  • To enter into the legal profession you must complete a Bachelor of Law and a Master of Law at a Dutch university (section 2, Act on Advocates – On the admission to the bar and swearing-in of advocates). When you begin working at a law firm, you must first complete a three-year internship. Although you are officially a lawyer, your title remains ‘trainee lawyer’. During the internship you practice under the supervision of an experienced lawyer. Three years may seem long, but there is an immense amount of knowledge and skill you must acquire throughout your internship. The internship offers an interaction between the academic programme and practical experience.

    
    As a trainee lawyer you may litigate on your own. In the first year you must follow the Professional Education Programme in addition to your work as a lawyer. This is followed by the Continued Education Programme for Trainees (Voortgezette Stagiaire Opleiding, VSO).
    
    With this mandatory programme you will acquire the knowledge and skills that will distinguish you from other practitioners in the legal profession. The programme focuses on knowledge of procedural law and the Code of Conduct, as well as mastering typical advocacy skills such as pleading in mitigation, taking witness statements, and drafting litigation documents. The courses start twice a year, in March and September. Most components of the Professional Education Programme are concluded with a written examination. You will receive your certificate after having passed all components with a satisfactory result. Pursuant to the Advocates Act, you must obtain this certificate within three years (when working full time).
    
    

    In the second and third year of the internship you must take the Continued Education Programme for Trainees (VSO). These courses expand on the knowledge already attained through practical experience. There are a wide range of courses to choose from. Most districts also have their own educational requirements, such as partaking in moot court competitions and attending lectures.

• How many contact hours do I have as a master’s student?
• Where can I find information on visa application?
• Is e-learning possible?