1. Study and understand the implications of law in the international arena

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1 International Business Law Master VU University Amsterdam The Netherlands See also our website: Become a world-class business lawyer International commercial transactions Cross-border sales Transfer of technology Mergers and acquisitions of companies Investment in complex construction projects abroad International registration of trademarks These are just few examples with which lawyers managing their international clients portfolio are faced in their everyday practice. The increasing level of globalization requires a flexible and open approach to the legal problems which accompany the international exchange of products and services. Predominantly, it entails the knowledge of legal rules (both national and international) which apply to such transactions. 1. Study and understand the implications of law in the international arena The IBL Master s programme was launched in Since then, it offers a comprehensive graduate course of study to students who aim at a career in the field of international commercial law and trade. The IBL Master s programme is designed to cover a wide range of legal aspects relating to international commercial transactions. The courses are structured and coordinated to complement each other in order to give a student the broadest possible view of issues that appear in international legal practice. Because the courses are taught by academics who are often also practicing lawyers, the students learn how to anticipate the problems with which they will be confronted in their future work. The curriculum of the IBL Master s programme includes the following courses: 1

2 Competition Law (6 EC) EU Internal Market Law (6 EC) International Business and Internet Law: Privacy, Security and Contracting (6 EC) International Arbitration (6 EC) International Company Law (6 EC) - mandatory International Contract Law (12 EC) - mandatory International Intellectual Property Law (6 EC) International Tax Law (6 EC) International Trade and Investment Law (6 EC) Private International Law (6 EC) Research Seminar (6 EC) - mandatory Besides, all students must write a Master thesis (12 EC) Language of instruction: Engels Duration: 1 year Tuition fee: See website VU University Amsterdam Application deadline: 1 April for students from non-eu/eea countries. 1 June for Dutch students and EU students. Start date: 1 September Study type: Full time Field of Interest: Law Specializations: Regulatory or Transactions 2. Study programme The International Business Law (IBL) Master's programme focuses on rules and practices that are relevant for international business transactions and relations. The student will study the main legal areas and the interaction between the actors involved in business transactions. In addition, the student will develop skills to anticipate, analyze and address legal problems that may arise in practice. The student will write several papers and prepare oral presentations during the academic year. The IBL Master's programme includes a mandatory Research Seminar and a mandatory Master thesis which the student must defend in June (see below). 3. The IBL Master programme 2

3 The IBL Master s programme is a full-time, one-year graduate programme in law (LLM). It is taught in English and consists of several compulsory courses and optional courses that explore different fields of international business law (for instance International Contract Law, International Tax Law, International Company Law and International Intellectual Property Law). In addition, it includes a compulsory Master thesis. International students participating in student exchange programmes are also admitted to some of these courses. The IBL Master s programme consists of: Three mandatory courses (24 EC) One profile to be chosen between (24 EC): - Regulatory - Transactions Master thesis (12 EC) Two weeks after the start of the IBL Master s programme (i.e. mid-september), the students choose one of the profiles Regulatory or Transactions. The Transactions profile focuses on the relations between companies. The courses relate to private international law, international intellectual property law, international tax law and international arbitration as a way to solve disputes between contracting parties. The Regulatory profile, on the other hand, focuses on the interactions between (inter)governmental institutions and international business. Students will explore national and international legislation and the way governments and institutions regulate and supervise companies. The courses relate to international trade and investment law, EU internal market law, competition law and internet law. The optional course (outside the chosen profile) must be selected from the courses of the other profile. Between April and mid-june, the student will work on his/her Master thesis under the supervision of a professor. The courses are taught by both legal practitioners and academics. Many lecturers of the Faculty of Law of VU University Amsterdam are also working in practice as lawyers or as business counsels. The curriculum is structured to form a comprehensive programme. The initial mandatory courses provide the students with a general legal foundation, and the following courses develop their knowledge in more specific areas of law. Master in Law (LLM) The degree of Master in Law (LLM) is conferred upon students who satisfactorily achieve a minimum of 60 European Credits (EC). This includes writing a Master thesis that students will defend at the conclusion of the IBL Master s programme. The IBL programme board will monitor the students performance during the IBL Master s programme. In July, VU University Amsterdam hosts the graduation ceremony of the IBL Master s programme during which the students receive their Master diploma. Families and friends are warmly invited to join this 3

4 special event. Credits Credits are listed according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). This system is based on student workload, which includes hours spent in class and hours spent on studying, writing papers and completing assignments. A full academic year is equivalent to 60 EC (two semesters). Schedule The regular academic year in the Netherlands runs from 1 September through the end of June, followed by the closing ceremony in July. Please notice that all schedules are subject to change! Internship Some students opt for a student internship at an international company or law firm located in the Netherlands. Such internship is extracurricular. Although the students must arrange such internships themselves, companies sometimes provide information to VU University Amsterdam in this respect. In such case, relevant information will be published on Blackboard. Moreover, the board of the IBL programme can provide advice to the students with respect to an internship. 4. Master thesis Students will complete the IBL Master's programme by writing and defending a Master's thesis. The student will select the topic of the Master's thesis himself/herself in cooperation with the supervisor of the Master's thesis. The Master's thesis deals with a chosen area related to business law. Many students are inspired by subjects covered in the courses when choosing the topic of their Master's thesis. Normally, a Master's thesis requires between eight and ten weeks of research work and includes approximately words. Supervisors will encourage the student to choose an appropriate topic, and the student will learn how to write an academic Master's thesis according to the accepted standards of legal research. During the research and writing process the supervisor will provide the student with guidance by giving the student advice and by commenting on how to modify and improve the research. All students will defend their Master thesis during seminar sessions attended by academic staff and other students in June. The Master's thesis will be reviewed by a second professor of VU University Amsterdam (the second reader). The supervisor and the second reader will decide upon the final grade jointly. 5. International Business Law at VU University Amsterdam 4

5 International classroom The International Business Law (IBL) Master s programme is designed as an international and dynamic course of graduate study. The relatively small number of students in the class guarantees a highly interactive character of the courses. Students as well as lecturers coming from different countries and different legal cultures strongly contribute to a special and a truly global character of the IBL Master s programme. It all offers a unique intellectual atmosphere for group discussions, presentation of views on legal matters and exchange of ideas that are enriched by diverse national perspectives. Connect with legal practitioners Academic training is a key to understanding the theoretical and legal framework of (international) business law. The complexity of modern business transactions requires the development of analytical skills that allow the student to identify and comprehend the relationships between different fields of law. However, learning how this knowledge can be applied in practice constitutes an important part of legal training. The IBL Master s programme is designed to offer students the opportunity to acquire both theoretical and practical legal skills. Lecturers in the IBL Master s programme are legal academics as well as legal practitioners. Practicing lawyers from leading law firms, judges and legal advisors participate either as regular lecturers or as guest lecturers. Lecturers also work as students tutors, helping the student to write papers or to make presentations. Under their supervision the student will improve his or her study methods and legal skills. Located in the business district of Amsterdam The Faculty of Law of VU University Amsterdam benefits from its unique location, right in the heart of Amsterdam s business district, where many international law firms and companies are situated. Moreover, Amsterdam is the gateway to other important capitals in Europe, and students can easily travel by fast train to, for example, Brussels, Paris, London or Berlin. This offers a unique experience of studying in the neighborhood of a real international business environment. In addition to this, a limited number of high-achieving students may have the opportunity to pursue an internship at one of the firms or companies located in the Netherlands. This depends on available projects and openings. Internships must be arranged by students themselves. Internships may be awarded with 6 EC (additional to (i.e., on top of) the curriculum of the IBL Master s programme). Training skills The improvement of legal skills constitutes an important goal of the IBL Master s programme. The courses require writing several papers and preparing oral presentations, which will improve the performance of the student and will help the student to communicate effectively in (international) business relations. Students will also publicly defend their Master thesis before a jury composed of the academic staff of the Faculty of Law in June. 6. Career prospects 5

6 Students who successfully completed the International Business Law (IBL) Master's programme have a wide range of career choices. They can work as professional business lawyers, in-house legal counsels for companies, government officials, corporate executives, legal professionals for an international (intergovernmental) organization, etc. Our alumni have jobs at, for example, international law firms, banks and international accounting companies in their home countries or in the Netherlands. Others pursue a career as a legal counsel in government institutions or international organizations. A number of students choose to further develop their academic skills by enrolling into a PhD programme at VU University Amsterdam or elsewhere. LinkedIn Alumni Group Former students of the IBL Master's programme are linked to each other by means of a LinkedIn Alumni Group related to the IBL Master's programme in order to exchange news, experiences and professional opportunities. 7. Contact Questions about the IBL Master's programme If you have detailed questions about the contents of the IBL Master's programme, please contact one of the board members: Dr. Rik Mellenbergh (director): r.mellenbergh@vu.nl Ioana Ciobanasu (coordinator): i.c.ciobanasu@vu.nl Questions on admission and application If you are a student with a Dutch degree and you have any questions on admission or application, please contact toelatingscommissie.rechten@vu.nl. If you have an international degree, please contact our Admission Officer, ms. Laura Smit: admissionsfl@vu.nl. General questions If you have any general questions after reading the website, please contact our Communications department: info.law@vu.nl. 6