Bachelor European Law School

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Maastricht University

Program Overview

The European Law School (ELS) is an ambitious three-year bachelor programme that teaches you law through a distinctly European and comparative lens rather than a narrow national perspective. You'll study alongside peers from around the world, analyzing how major legal systems approach the same problems and understanding how international and European law shapes national legal systems.

This programme is ideal if you want a truly global legal education that prepares you for careers in international law, EU institutions, multinational corporations, or any field where understanding cross-border legal issues matters.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Building Your Legal Foundations

Your first year establishes the core knowledge you'll build on throughout the programme. You'll take foundational courses including Constitutional Law, Introduction to Private Law, International and European Law, and Foundations of Law, each providing 11 credits and giving you a grounding in the main fields of law from a comparative European perspective. Alongside these, you'll develop essential legal skills through Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning and Thinking Like a Lawyer, which teach you how to approach legal problems, brief case reports, and develop the foundational skills needed to succeed in your studies.

Year 2: Deepening Your Expertise

In your second year, you move beyond introductions to more specialized legal knowledge while continuing to build professional competencies. You'll take courses like Private Law (covering family law, contract law, property law, and tort law), Law of the European Union, and Criminal Law alongside Criminal Procedure and Administrative Law. This year also includes courses such as Philosophy of Private Law and Legal Research, which develop your analytical reasoning and argumentation skills—preparing you not just to know the law, but to think critically about it.

Year 3: Specialization and Professional Development

Your final year gives you flexibility to shape your own graduate profile through electives, study abroad opportunities, and internships. You'll complete your Final Legal Challenge or Bachelor Essay, a capstone project that allows you to explore a substantive legal topic in depth, and you can choose from 60 credits of electives to focus on areas that match your career aspirations.

Focus Areas

The programme covers private law, public law, criminal law, international law, and European law, with particular emphasis on understanding how these fields operate across different legal systems and how EU law influences national legal frameworks.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop deep knowledge of core legal fields and major legal traditions, the ability to understand how international and European law affects national systems, and the academic, legal, and professional skills necessary to practice law in a multilingual, international context.

Professional Alignment

Upon successful completion, you'll earn the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in European Law School from Maastricht University, a qualification recognized across Europe and valued by employers in international law, EU bodies, and multinational organizations.

Reputation & Employability

A European Law School degree demonstrates expertise in EU law and comparative legal systems—skills that position graduates for careers in international legal practice, European institutions, and cross-border business. Maastricht University's Faculty of Law is known for its problem-based learning approach and international outlook, setting graduates apart in a competitive global legal market.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the European Law School (ELS) LLB programme at Maastricht University, you'll dive into hands-on learning right from day one through our signature Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach, where you tackle real-world legal cases in small, international tutorial groups of about 15 students. This builds essential practical skills like legal reasoning, analysis, negotiation, mediation, and advanced legal writing, all while preparing you for an international career in law. You'll also engage in research projects, legal challenges, and high-stakes moot court competitions—our faculty has an outstanding track record, winning first prizes in events like the European Law Moot Court Competition, VAR Moot Court, and National Round of the Philip Jessup Moot Competition.

Here are some standout experiential opportunities tailored to ELS:
- Small-group PBL sessions: Around 8 contact hours weekly (tutorial groups, lectures, and skills practicals), focusing on real cases to develop competences for public/private sector roles.
- Moot court and skills training: Practice advocacy, research, and working with reference books; join international competitions for real-world simulation.
- Legal research projects: Courses like Legal Research (SLC2001) and Final Legal Challenge (SLC3001) build on foundational skills from Introduction to Law and Thinking Like a Lawyer.
- Conflict resolution practice: In Conflict Prevention and Resolution (SLC2004), apply negotiation and mediation to practical scenarios.
- Faculty of Law facilities: Study in a state-of-the-art building in Maastricht's city center, with small-scale, international environment linking teaching to European/international law research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor European Law School at Maastricht University leave with a strong understanding of how law operates across national borders and within the European Union. The programme prepares students for careers where legal knowledge meets international cooperation, policy, and business. Many graduates move into roles such as legal advisor, policy officer, compliance specialist, or legal researcher in international organisations, companies, and government institutions.

Students benefit from strong career preparation and industry exposure throughout their studies:
• Career Services at Maastricht University supports students with career counselling, CV workshops, networking events, and internship guidance.
• Graduates from the Faculty of Law are well regarded by employers due to the university’s Problem-Based Learning approach, which develops analytical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills.
• The programme benefits from Maastricht’s close connections with European institutions and international organisations, particularly due to its location near major EU bodies.
• The degree follows recognised European higher education standards, giving graduates a strong foundation for international legal careers and postgraduate study.
• Alumni commonly pursue careers in European institutions, international organisations, law firms, consultancy, and public administration.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the bachelor’s programme, many students continue their studies with a specialised Master’s degree in law or related fields. Popular pathways include programmes such as European Law School (LLM), International and European Tax Law, Globalisation and Law, or International Business Law at Maastricht University. Graduates may also pursue master’s programmes at other universities across Europe and worldwide, further specialising in areas like international law, human rights law, business law, or public policy.