European Law School Bachelor FAQ
When does the academic year begin?
Is there a numerus fixus (restricted number of places)?
Which pre-university education is required to be directly admitted to a bachelor’s programme at the Faculty of Law?
Is it possible to start my bachelor’s programme in February?
How many PBL and contact hours are there per week?
Is it possible to follow the European Law School programmes part time?
Is it possible to switch studies after the first year?
How many ECTS credits will a student attain at the end of a three-year bachelor’s programme?
Is there a minimum number of ECTS I must obtain every year?
Where can I find language courses students?
Can I transfer my ECTS credits from another university to UM?
What are the requirements for attaining the civil effect? Which bachelor’s programmes does this apply to?
How do I become a lawyer in the Netherlands?
Where can I find information on visa application?
When does the academic year begin?
The academic year begins on Monday, 5 September 2022. The faculty Introduction will take place in the week before the start of the academic year. Two weeks before the start, the INKOM will take place.
Is there a numerus fixus (restricted number of places)?
No, there is no numerus fixus for the law bachelor programmes.
However, Maastricht University finds it important that you choose a study programme and learning environment which suits you well and in which you can be successful. To support you in your decision-making process we offer a matching procedure for all of our law bachelor programmes.
The matching procedure is a process during which you can evaluate whether or not your expectations and skills are in line with the programme’s content, the teaching philosophy and the skills needed to be successful.
Please visit the matching page for more information.
Which pre-university education is required to be directly admitted to a bachelor’s programme at the Faculty of Law?
You will be directly admitted to a bachelor’s programme at the Faculty of Law with a Dutch VWO diploma or a degree from a Dutch Institution of Higher Professional Education (HBO). There are no additional requirements pertaining to your study profile or grades.
If you have a foreign diploma equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma, you will also be directly admitted. On the European Law School admission page you can find the list of foreign diplomas considered equivalent to the Dutch VWO. If your diploma is not included in this list, it must be evaluated by UM first.
Is it possible to start my bachelor’s programme in February?
No, all bachelor’s programmes start in September.
How many PBL and contact hours are there per week?
There are approximately 8 contact hours per week, consisting of 2x2 hours of tutorial group meetings, 1x2 lecture hours, and 1x2 skills practical hours. We expect you to invest around 32 hours per week to self-study and preparation for class, for a total of 36–40 hours per week to be dedicated to your studies.
Your timetable will change every period. Classes are scheduled on weekdays between 8.30 and 20.00. The possibility of scheduling classes in the evening is not guaranteed and depends on several factors, including the number of students following a course and the availability of the teaching staff.
Is it possible to follow the European Law School programmes part time?
No, all programmes are only available full time.
Is it possible to switch studies after the first year?
While it is possible to switch between the Bachelor Dutch Law and Tax Law after the first year, it is not possible to simply switch from the European Law School to other bachelor’s programmes offered by the Faculty of Law. This is because the first year of the Bachelor Dutch Law and Tax Law is an orientation year, while the European Law School has a different structure.
How many ECTS credits will a student attain at the end of a three-year bachelor’s programme?
Each year you can earn 60 ECTS credits (for a total of 180 ECTS to complete the bachelor’s). You may earn more than 60 ECTS in one year by taking extra courses or doing an internship.
We suggest you consult the Faculty of Law study advisers to discuss your study plan if you wish to obtain more than 60 ECTS in one year.
Is there a minimum number of ECTS I must obtain every year?
This European Law School programme has a Binding Study Advice. This means that in your first year of the programme, you must obtain a minimum of 40 out of 60 ECTS. Students who fail to meet these criteria will receive a negative Binding Study Advice that leads to exclusion from the programme for a period of six years. All students who are at risk of receiving a negative Binding Study Advice will receive a warning after the first semester.
If it is already clear to you that you are (probably) unlikely to obtain the required ECTS credits in your first year, timely deregistration will be the best decision. If you deregister before 1 February, you will not receive a binding study advice. This means that you can restart your studies in another academic year without restrictions. You are allowed to avail yourself of the possibility to deregister early (before 1 February) and restart your studies in a subsequent academic year, without a binding study advice, only once.
Where can I find language courses students?
All language courses are offered by the UM Language Centre.
Can I transfer my ECTS credits from another university to UM?
This is possible in some cases. Exemption applications must always be submitted in writing to the Board of Examiners.
What are the requirements for attaining the civil effect? Which bachelor’s programmes does this apply to?
The European Law School bachelor is a non-qualifying law degree, which means that it does not provide automatic access to the professional training to become a lawyer, public prosecutor or judge. Qualifying to become a lawyer, public prosecutor or judge is subject to the requirements of the national jurisdiction in which qualification is sought. This will require additional academic and professional training in a national jurisdiction after you graduate from the European Law School bachelor programme.
Generally, access to the professional training phase for these professions requires detailed knowledge of the relevant national law in which qualification is sought. Essentially that means that once you graduate from the ELS bachelor, you'll have to follow "extra" classes/training /studies in a specific country in order to qualify to become a lawyer (or pass the bar exam in general).
The "rule of thumb" is that in order to qualify for legal practice, you need to study the law of a specific country, in that specific country, in the language of that specific country.
The reason why ELS does not offer you access to qualify legal practice right away is because the entire ELS LLB is taught in English and approaches the study of law from a European and comparative perspective.
More info on this topic >>
How do I become a lawyer in the Netherlands?
European Law School students can access professional qualifications in the Netherlands by enrolling in the bachelor Rechtsgeleerdheid at the end of their second year in the bachelor European Law School. You then have the possibility to graduate with two degrees: the bachelor European Law School and the bachelor Rechtsgeleerdheid. Successful completion of the bachelor Rechtsgeleerdheid together with the successful completion of a Master in Dutch Law will provide access to professional qualifications in the Netherlands. As the bachelor Rechtsgeleerdheid is taught entirely in Dutch, minimum language requirements apply.
When you begin working at a law firm after your studies, 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)
Where can I find information on visa application?
The admissions office will arrange this for you with the Visa Office of Maastricht University.