Programme
The Honours programme comprises courses related to methodological aspects of legal research and research skills, as well as methodological guidance in writing the master’s thesis.
In 2023-2024, the first courses (block period 3) are Essentials of Legal Research, which is an introductory course that provides students with the basic concepts and techniques necessary to conduct a research project and a course on Academic Writing in English. In period 4 and 5, the basic knowledge acquired during Essentials of Legal Research will be further deepened in two specialized courses on research methods: Legal Research Methods (period 4) and Empirical Legal Research Methods (period 5).
Legal Research Methods focusses on legal research methods with a particular view to the methods that are needed for three ‘typical’ approaches in legal research: doctrinal, normative and comparative; Empirical Legal Research Methods focusses on empirical methods that are a more recent addition to the methodological toolkit of legal scholars. In period 6, Honours students’ practical research skills are further developed by courses on writing a research proposal, presentation skills and on acquiring research funding.
The writing of the Master’s thesis will be guided by consultations with our methodologists and the preliminary results will be presented during the defence day.
Meetings for the Honours programme usually take place every Wednesday 16.00 - 18.00, starting in Period 3.
The defence day, which takes place at the end of August, concludes the Master's Honours Research Track.
Programme for 2023-2024
| Period | Course | Master's Thesis |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Selection procedure | |
| 3 |
Essentials of Legal Reseach (3 ECTS) |
Select topic and supervisor |
| 4 |
Legal Research Methods |
Production of the Master's thesis introduction chapter with a focus on the methodology |
| 5 |
Empirical Legal Research Methods (6 ECTS) |
|
| 6 |
Writing Research Proposals (no ECTS) |
|
| Aug. 2024 | Master's Thesis Defence |