Admission requirements

Below you will find the admission requirements for our LLM programmes. Please see the application instructions as there are different processes for applicants with non-Dutch qualifications and applicants with Dutch qualifications (including Faculty graduates applying via direct access). Please note that applications must be initiated before the application deadline.

Our LLMs currently only begin September 1st of each year. There is no February start date (like some other degree programmes at the University of Groningen).

Please note that for the 2025-2026 admissions round, all applicants with non-Dutch qualifications will have to pay an application fee of €100. More specific details about the application fee can be found here. Application files/documents will only begin being reviewed after the application fee has been received.

If you are applying to the Research Masters programme, please see here.

Please note: we cannot provide speculative evaluations or decisions of admissiblity to email questions or questions submitted via our information request form.

ADMISSION AND SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

Admission Requirement 1. A Law degree
The basic requirement for admission is a university Law degree which entitles the holder to practise in his/her country of origin or signifying completion of the academic stage of legal education (e.g. LLB). Because systems of legal education vary widely, the Admissions Board reserves the right to decide on access to the programme, so that the admission of candidates with mixed Law degrees, or a Political Science degree in a system which includes a relevant law element will also be considered. This mainly concerns applications for the programmes European Law in a Global Context, Public International Law, and including its track International Human Rights Law. Please be aware of the fact that a minor in law is the very minimum in these cases.

For all eight LLMs, a thorough basic knowledge of the field of law covered by the degree programme to the level of a Bachelor degree is required as a minimum. This should comprise, per programme, of:

• Energy and Climate Law : Basic knowledge of European law and elementary knowledge of public international law. *Graduates of specific Faculty Bachelor's degree programme tracks have direct access to this LLM.
• European Law in a Global Context : Basic knowledge of European law and elementary knowledge of public international law. *Graduates of specific Faculty Bachelor's degree programme tracks have direct access to this LLM.
• Global Criminal Law : Basic knowledge of criminal law and elementary knowledge of public international law. *Graduates of specific Faculty Bachelor's degree programme tracks have direct access to this LLM.
• Health and Technology Law : Basic knowledge of public international law, on a similar level as the course Public International Law. *Graduates of specific Faculty Bachelor's degree programme tracks have direct access to this LLM.
• International Commercial Law : Basic knowledge of private law and elementary knowledge of European Law and public international law. *Graduates of specific Faculty Bachelor's degree programme tracks have direct access to this LLM.
• International Human Rights Law : Basic knowledge of public international law, on a similar level as the course Public International Law, including some elementary human rights law. *Graduates of specific Faculty Bachelor's degree programme tracks have direct access to this LLM.
• Public International Law : Basic knowledge of public international law, on a similar level as the course Public International Law. *Graduates of specific Faculty Bachelor's degree programme tracks have direct access to this LLM.
• Technology Law and Innovation : Proven knowledge in the areas of data protection, intellectual property law, and IT in the context of law. *Graduates of specific Faculty Bachelor's degree programme tracks have direct access to this LLM.

For all programmes, applicants do not have to submit their certified copies of their degree certificate(s) with their initial application. They will be asked for these copies once/if they have been (conditionally) admitted. Hard copies of these documents are accepted in English, French, German, and Dutch. If an applicant has not graduated yet, they can still be conditionally admitted. Applicants may be asked for more information than just their transcripts to date (such as a statement of expected graduation, list of courses they are about to complete, etc.). Please note that all preliminary documents uploaded and/or submitted should be in English or be accompanied by an official English translation (only the hard copies mentioned above are accepted in the languages listed).

For German applicants: if your university issues an LLB diploma, then you can apply with this degree. If you are pursuing the German two state exam pathway for legal education and will not have an LLB diploma, you can apply with your results from the first state exam. In both situations, a GPA equivalency still applies (see Minimum GPA section below).

*Direct access means that the Admissions Board has assessed that the exit level of specific Faculty Bachelor's degree programme tracks is equivalent to the entry level of specific English-taught LLM programme tracks in Groningen. As a result, graduates of these Bachelor's degree programme tracks have direct access and the submission of supplemental documentation relating to admission and selection requirements may not be necessary when applying. Faculty Admission Regulation relating to direct access can be found here. If any questions about direct access, and for instructions how to apply via direct access, please contact the Study Advisers in the International Office at llm rug.nl. Please note that all applicants applying via direct access do not have to pay an application fee.

Admission Requirement 2. Proficiency in English
Candidates whose native language is not English must provide adequate evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the following tests:

• (International) internet TOEFL (to be sent in through our institutional code 7191): score of at least 100, all sections sufficient (so at least 21 on each section and at least 23 on the writing section);
• (Academic) IELTS Academic (British Council’s English Language Test)*: score of at least 7.0, all sections sufficient (so at least 6.0 on each section and at least 6.5 on the writing section);
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE, Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English);
• Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE, Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English)

* IDP IELTS can be considered as long as its the academic version.

Students from Cameroon should take the British Council’s English Language Test (IELTS) to avoid problems in a later stage of the procedure when they are applying for visa.

Those whose native language is English may be considered for exemption from evidence of proficiency in English. Also, LLM applicants who are taking/have completed an English-taught bachelor programme at a Dutch research university may be considered for exemption from taking an English proficiency test. Students coming from bi-lingual countries or other English-taught programmes can request exemption from taking an English proficiency test, though this exemption is hardly ever awarded. It is up to the Admissions Board to decide upon all exemption requests.

Dutch Law students who already study at the University of Groningen yet do not have direct access to the English-taught LLM programmes can be exempt from taking an English proficiency test if they have taken the course ''Legal English'' at the University.

Details of the TOEFL test can be obtained from ETS on their website. Our TOEFL institution code is 7191. Please mention this on your answer sheet when you are taking the test! Details of the British Council Test are available from the British Council Office in your country or from their website. The test scores cannot be older than two years.

Please note that the English language proficiency tests are not required at the time of application but can be submitted at a later date. Applicants with non-Dutch qualifications should contact the admissions office directly through this form for further information regarding final deadlines for submitting proficiency tests. Applicants with Dutch qualifications should contact llm rug.nl.

Selection Requirement 1. Minimum GPA
On top of providing the Admissions Board with transcripts and diplomas, students are required to achieve an equivalent minimum GPA (Grade Point Average) of 7.0/10 (Dutch grading scale).  This is the average of all the marks of your LLB/previous bachelors degree. All foreign grades will be converted to the Dutch grading scheme, so please provide information about the grading scale used in your institution. To note, a score of 6 is a passing grade in the Netherlands.

Selection Requirement 2. Motivation
Candidates must send a letter in which they state their motivation to participate in one of the programmes (max. 650 words). The letter should be written by the applicants themselves in English; it is not allowed to submit an (official) translation.

Selection Requirement 3. Work experience and skills
Please include a curriculum vitae in English, clearly stating, where appropriate, your working experience in the legal field and/or any other skills you have which might be relevant for your participation in the LLM of your choice.



Selection Requirement 4. Academic aptitude
Candidates must provide one letter of reference from an academic referee who has detailed knowledge of their academic records. The letter in principle has to be written by a lecturer of the student's primary programme, preferably by a law lecturer.

The letter of recommendation should be in English, written on official letterhead, signed, and include full contact details of the referee including their institutional e-mail address. If the letter is not in English, it must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

In the letter, referees should state: 1) How long they have known the applicant and in what capacity, and 2) What is their opinion of the applicant’s ability to undertake study at postgraduate level and to successfully complete the specific LLM programme the applicant is applying to.

Applicants with non-Dutch qualifications can have their referee submit the letter of reference through this form here, or upload the letter of reference in Progress Portal. Applicants with Dutch qualifications upload the letter here.



ADMISSION AND SELECTION

Candidates are admitted on the basis of their merits. As soon as the number of eligible candidates starts to exceed the number of places available, the best candidates are selected for the remaining places. Selection is based on the criteria mentioned above, which all have equal weight. Candidates, who do not yet fulfil all requirements for admission, may be admitted conditionally, pending fulfilment of remaining requirements. Decisions on admission will be made after the Admissions Board has received all the following documents:

• the fully completed application online;
• a certified copy of the candidate’s academic transcript from his/her university;
• a certified copy of the LLB degree certificate;
• one academic reference;
• a letter of motivation;
• a curriculum vitae;
• photocopy of your passport (the page with the date of issue and expiry, your personal details and your picture); and,
• if your native language is not English, evidence of English proficiency (the required English test).

Applicants will be notified of the decision on their application within six weeks of receipt of all the documents required.

If you have already submitted an application and have further questions about processing, applicants with non-Dutch qualifications should contact the Admissions Office through this form and applicants with Dutch qualifications should contact llm rug.nl .