Education
Law education at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Law is unique and distinctive.
The small-scale setup of the Faculty of Law’s courses (where first-year tutorials consist of no more than 14 students) makes its education intensive and individually based. The education method, Problem-Based Learning (PBL) – which Maastricht University was the first to bring to continental Europe – aims at helping students acquire knowledge through problem solving. PBL enhances your applicable knowledge and, in particular, your ability to deal with new problems, rules, complex situations and the administration of justice – all important qualities for lawyers.
Skills are central to this process. The small tutorial groups are, naturally, supervised by a member of the teaching staff, but chaired by a student. Another student takes notes of the tutorial, while a third gives a presentation. You can also use the university’s electronic learning environment. In other words, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding goes hand in hand with the learning of all the necessary skills. This is not only the best way to learn, but also highly valued in professional practice and follow-up training.
The small scale of the education allows for individual attention for all students, providing each student with customised education. A great deal of attention is paid to supervision in writing papers and theses and giving presentations. Moot court training is provided in the faculty’s mock court, where court cases are simulated in detail.
Moreover, the faculty is very active – and highly successful – in numerous national and international moot court competitions. Imagine, after several years of study, pleading before the European Court of Justice in a moot court with participants from all over Europe and the US. Each year, this becomes reality for dozens of Maastricht University students.
Education at the law faculty has an international outlook: all bachelor’s and master’s programmes devote ample attention to European and international law as well as comparative law. The composition of the staff is equally international, and each year you will meet international visiting professors and students in the numerous electives offered in English. Further, the faculty maintains many contacts with faculties and law schools at foreign universities, which provides for ample study opportunities abroad.
The faculty also offers plenty of opportunities to students to work as student-assistants in either education or research – an ideal chance to gain hand-on experience and earn some pocket money.
The faculty is housed in a striking building, centrally located in the city centre with a bus stop directly in front of it. The building is home to all manner of facilities (classrooms with electronic equipment, staff and computer rooms, etc.). You can find a large variety of cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating as well as several other faculties nearby: a true inner-city campus.
