Faculty of Law
The Faculty of Law at Maastricht University is a top-quality provider of challenging and rewarding Dutch and European legal education at bachelor’s, master’s and PhD-level. A true pioneer in small-scale teaching and teaching of skills aimed at a broad range of future legal professionals.
The clear focus in research on European and international aspects of the law, Law and tech, and the empirical setting in which the law operates, provides an exceptionally stimulating environment for both students and staff. The Faculty greatly values its open, diverse and inclusive community that makes it a pleasant and rewarding place to work and study.
The UM Faculty of Law offers a wide range of bachelor's and master's programmes. Would you like to know more about our programmes? Download the brochure for more information on the courses, career perspectives and admission requirements of our programmes.
News
From Having a Seat to Having a Say: European Organisations of Persons With Disabilities in the International Monitoring of the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities
PhD thesis written by Hanxu Liu
This research aims to answer the main research question: whether and if so, how have European OPDs effectively participated in the UN human rights mechanisms, with a view to monitoring the national implementation of human rights in alignment with the CRPD?
The Values of the European Union as Legal Rules: Lessons from the Union’s Reaction to Constitutional Backsliding
PhD thesis written by Martina Coli
This thesis investigated the paths for transforming the founding values of the European Union enshrined in Article 2 TEU into legal obligations binding on the Member States.
Death in denial. A study into the Dutch system of postmortem investigation
PhD thesis written by Cécile Woudenberg-van den Broek
Recent reports on forensic medicine in the Netherlands highlight the need for significant improvements in postmortem investigations. This thesis questions the adequacy of the Dutch system, arguing that it may not meet the criteria set by the...
Research on illegal intercountry adoption awarded with Edmond Hustinxprijs
Intercountry adoption often appears to be the ultimate humanitarian deed. However, the reality is more complex. Dr. Elvira Loibl, assistant professor at the Department of Criminal Law at Maastricht University’s Law Faculty, uncovered significant weaknesses in the Dutch intercountry adoption system. ...
EmergEU: Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence
Professor Andrea Ott successfully applied for a a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Crises and Emergencies in EU Integration (EmergEU) in July 2024. In the upcoming three years, the centre will explore crises and emergencies in EU integration.
Faculty in Focus
A lot can happen in a year. Our Faculty in Focus series highlights some of the most surprising, inspiring and important activities in the field of education, research and events at our faculty from 2023.
The Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition team shares their story about winning this prestigious event, and why mooting competitions are so valuable for future lawyers. Next, we sat down with Andrea Parziale, whose research project aimed to make damages in Europe more equal. Also, a familiar face at our faculty, Fons Coomans, returned to his former workplace to talk about the importance of human rights for future generations.
Dive into the fascinating world of our faculty's research, education, and events!
Education
We aim at educating excellent jurists who are well prepared to take up the various roles they will fulfil in their future professional career. Maastricht is a special place to study law. The international classroom, focus on small-scale teaching, staff-student contact and skills are widely praised.
Research
Our research profile specialises in the role of law in a Europeanising and globalising society. It is implemented in one common faculty research programme and offers space for talented researchers. There is always a close link between teaching and research.
About Law
The faculty is based in a remarkable building in the centre of Maastricht. It has 3,500 students and 360 staff members.
Take the inside tour
Agenda / events
Blogs
A Great Divide in Legal History
Kaleidoscopic approaches to legal history can only be beneficial, serving as means to enhance collaboration and further disciplinary development. Advocates for a blended approach to legal history leave behind strict disciplinary boundaries and call for interdisciplinary efforts. They seek to find a...
Two Weeks, Countless Voices: Explaining the ICJ’s Unprecedented Hearings on Climate Obligations
This explainer provides essential context on the ICJ’s advisory opinion request on states’ climate obligations. The hearings, scheduled from 2 to 13 December 2024, will be live-streamed at the Law Café of the Faculty of Law, Maastricht University.
Dissecting Tort Liability for AI-Driven Technologies in Surgery
I had the pleasure discussing my research at the intersection of law, health, and technology at the M-EPLI Talk on 5 November organised by Professors Daniel On and Kate O’Reilly. In the talk, I focused on medical liability for the use of AI-driven technology in medicine. And now in my role as a M...
Making our curricula Michelin-worthy: skills taught by chefs
Years ago, when I still had a tv, one of my guilty pleasures was watching Hell’s Kitchen. You know, that show in which a certain foul-mouthed Scottish master chef tries to teach a bunch of unskilled wannabees how to prepare a decent meal, predominantly by yelling at them all the time? Quite an...
The Stories We Tell Ourselves about Law and Technology
On 30-31 October and 1 November 2024, Maastricht University Faculty of Law held the Narratives, Frontier Technologies & The Law (NFT-L) Conference. The goal of this conference was to examine the interplay between frontier technologies and the law, mainly how the stories we tell ourselves (our...
Interactive Campus Tour
Watch the interactive video and take a tour of our faculty. Our student Niklas will tell you all about the faculty's facilities, study areas, historical buildings and teaching spaces and more. Choose your own path and find out whether studying at Maastricht University is right for you.