Admission requirements

On this page, you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the master's programme in International Laws for the academic year 2025-2026.

Important deadlines for application

The master's programme in European Law School starts in September. 
The deadlines below are applicable for applicants who want to start their studies in September 2025.

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Date	What you need to know about this date
1 October 2024	Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2025-2026
1 May 2025, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for non-EU/EEA applicants (these applicants require a visa or residence permit)
1 June 2025, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for applicants from the EU/EEA or Switzerland

Are you a non-EU citizen requiring a visa/residence permit for study?

Please note that Maastricht University can only formally apply for your visa/residence permit if you have met all admission and enrolment requirements.

This means you have to have completed all admission and enrolment tasks in the MyApplication portal (except the ‘visa/residence permit’-task and the ‘send certified copy of diploma’-task) before we can send your application to the IND (Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service).

We have to send the application to the IND before 1 July if you are starting your studies in September. Please note: a few pre-master and master programmes offer a start in February. If you’re study programme offers a start in February and you want to start your studies in February, we have to send the application to the IND before 1 December. You can find out if your study programme offers a start in February on the admission requirements web page of that programme (pre-master’s, master’s).

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you reconsider applying for this study programme if you are not sure that you will meet the following requirements before 1 July/1 December (if applicable in your situation):

Having remedied all subject and/or language deficiencies (if applicable)
Having qualified for admission to your study programme, including being selected (if applicable to your study programme) AND
Having paid the tuition fee for your study programme

General requirements: previous education

The admission requirements for academic year 2025-2026 for the master’s programme in International Laws depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.

International Laws is a selective master’s programme and not a continuing master. You are not guaranteed admission by fulfilling the requirements. Students are selected on the basis of previously obtained degrees and grades, extracurricular experience, and language skills.

Students from Maastricht University

The Board of Admissions may establish that you qualify for admission if you have a UM bachelor’s degree in:

European Law School 
Rechtsgeleerdheid
Fiscaal Recht

Important: the above provides an indication as to whether you qualify for admission, not a guarantee. The selection of candidates is determined by assessing the various selection criteria that are mentioned above and below.

Students from a different educational institution

The Board of Admissions may establish that you qualify for admission if one of the following situations applies to you:

You have a Bachelor of Laws degree from a Dutch university.
You have a Bachelor of Laws degree by another university, including a foreign university, which is comparable in level with the Dutch degree.

Are you unsure whether you qualify for admission? Then we recommend that you apply via Studielink and complete your tasks in the MyApplication portal, so that the Board of Admissions can assess your application.

Additional requirements

Language requirements for English-language master programmes

As English is the language of instruction in this study programme, it is essential that your English language skills are good enough for you to undertake intensive and challenging academic courses that are taught and examined in English.

There are several ways to proof your English proficiency:

You hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in which English was the sole language of instruction.
During your bachelor’s or master’s degree, you successfully completed English-taught courses. The Board of Admissions will decide if the number of English-taught courses you completed is sufficient.
With language-test certificates (not older than 2 years):
- Academic IELTS: minimum overall score 6.5 and writing 6.5, or minimum overall score 7
- TOEFL iBT: minimum overall score 90 and writing 25, or minimum overall score 100
- TOEIC listening and reading: 720; speaking and writing: 310
- Cambridge Advanced C1: Grade C (scale 180-184); First: Grade A (scale 180-184)
- TOEFL Paper-delivered Test: Reading: 20-30; Listening: 20-30; Writing: 20-30 (We recommend taking one of the other tests listed above, as speaking skills are not assessed in this TOEFL test)

Applicants who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country (handling fee)

Applicants applying for this study programme who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country will have to pay a handling fee. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the Handling fee page.

Documents required for application process

During the application process for this study programme, you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will often have to upload documents. The list below gives you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare.

Required documents for all applicants to this study programme

A recent portrait picture*
This picture must satisfy certain requirements. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait picture' in the MyApplication portal.
A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card**
Make a copy of the page with your personal details. Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ and not as ‘passport picture’.
A copy of your most recent grades transcript and a copy of your diploma if you have obtained it.
If you have not graduated yet, you can upload your official grades transcript from your bachelor's programme.
Grade Point Average (GPA) Form
This form is provided in the MyApplication portal.
Curriculum Vitae
Letter of motivation
All candidates must write a well-prepared and structured letter of motivation for this specific master’s programme. The letter should explain your motivation for choosing this specific master’s programme. It should also include an overview of what you intend to learn and how this programme fits into your future professional plans. The letter must be dated and addressed to the Board of Admissions of the Faculty of Law.
A letter of recommendation
For this particular programme only academic letters of recommendation are accepted. Professional letters of recommendation may be submitted in addition to but not instead of an academic one.
Documents that demonstrate your proficiency in English
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for English-language master programmes’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation. The outcome of your answers will indicate which documents you can use to prove your proficiency.

^{* For current UM students it is not necessary to upload a recent portrait picture in the MyApplication portal.}

^{**For current UM students it is not necessary to upload this document in the MyApplication portal. Unless your passport is not valid on 1 September 2025; in that case you do have to upload a copy of your passport. You will be notified of this with a specific task in the MyApplication portal.}

Please note: all documents must be in Dutch, English or German.

How do we assess your application?

When you want to apply or are applying to this study programme, it is useful to know how we assess your application. You can find more information about this in this section.

For this master's programme selection takes place on the basis of your quality and suitability. For this your motivation and your academic experience are important.

Note: only complete applications will be assessed. We therefore recommend that you adhere to the deadlines provided in the table under ‘Important deadlines for this study programme’ on this page. We strive to assess your application and communicate the result to you within three to four weeks.