The following diploma requirements apply for this programme:

• A full degree in law offering access to legal practice in the country where it was obtained, or an equivalent degree from a recognised university/law school;

• or a degree at an equivalent level in a relevant discipline with a sufficient background in law; and

• evidence of excellent academic performance.

In many European countries, students need both a Bachelor's (LL.B.) and a Master's (LL.M.) in law to become a lawyer. So, applicants from those countries should have an LL.M.

In some countries, a Bachelor's degree in law (LL.B.) is enough to start a legal career. These applicants may be accepted with just an LL.B., though we prefer to see an LL.M. as well.

It is important to emphasise that the admissions process is not a mechanical exercise. We look at each file in its entirety. For instance, if an applicant has many years of relevant working experience, we will attach less weight to the exact contents of the curriculum or the grades obtained.

The following requirements apply:

• IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall, with at least 6.0 for the listening and reading components, and at least 6.5 for the speaking and writing components.
  • We do not accept IELTS Academic online.
  • We do not accept IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator or IELTS One Skill Retake.
     
• TOEFL internet based: 100 overall, with at least 20 for the listening and reading components, and at least 22 for the speaking and writing components. 
  • We are not able to accept The TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situation only: you are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in the relevant country.
  • We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™  or institutional tests such as ITP.

• Cambridge English Exam: C2 Proficiency or C1 Advanced with an overall score of 185, with at least 169 for the listening and reading components, and at least 176 for the speaking and writing components.

Note: English test results may not be more than two years old and must be obtained in one single test.

Exemptions

You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta, or if you obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™, or if you completed an English-taught bachelor's degree at a Dutch research university.

Exemptions are not issued for Dutch pre-university (VWO) diplomas, or for English-taught degrees obtained at a Dutch university of applied sciences (HBO).

Still awaiting your test result?

You can apply for admission before receiving your English test result. However, if you are admitted, it will be on condition of submitting a sufficient result before the visa/residence permit deadline, or before the start of the programme if you don't need a visa or residence permit. 

Further information

For detailed information, including detailed exemption criteria and submission methods, refer to the English language proficiency information sheet. 

• Sufficient academic background with excellent scores in the area of civil and commercial law. Applicants who do not hold a full law degree should have obtained at least 30 ECTS in legal courses in the field of international civil and commercial law.
• A successfully completed academic thesis (not necessarily in the area of civil and commercial law). The application should outline the subject of the thesis and the grade obtained for it.
• A keen interest in the field of civil and commercial law, illustrated by way of a letter of motivation and demonstrated by past practical/academic experience.
• Documented evidence of relevant practical legal experience, a minimum of one continuous year is highly recommended. This may include employment, internships or voluntary work at a law firm or as part of an in-house legal team, illustrated by way of a detailed curriculum vitae. The application should state the nature of the work done during the experience.
• Two letters of recommendation attesting to good academic and/or professional ability. At least one letter must be written by an academic staff member, for example a lecturer or academic supervisor.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to add their (preliminary) language test result to their application when it is first submitted.