International Business Law (LLM)
Student experiences
‘I was looking for a programme which could offer me a better understanding of the issues of international trade and the programme International Business Law totally met my expectations. The huge mix of nationalities within the group makes the programme even more special. You’ll meet people from all around the world, with different cultures, religions, history, political preferences... The result of this nationality mix is simply beyond all expectations! The lecturers adapt themselves very well to the different students. They are open-minded, accessible, helpful and always have a positive attitude. I love the way they achieve to get the best out of us by offering challenges while at the same time not creating a too high fear of failure. Also, assignments have to be submitted regularly and are taken into account for the final mark. This forces you to work on a regular basis, which in my opinion is a much better approach than putting all the pressure on one final exam. In addition, the focus of the programme is set more on the development of your skills than on by-heart memorizing.’
Ann Fromont (Belgium), student of International Business Law
‘I have always been fascinated by commercial law. Companies are increasingly operating on a global market and this requires commercial lawyers to be equipped with the necessary skills. With VU University Amsterdam offering a programme of this magnitude, I didn’t hesitate to choose this master. The group is diversified with students from different legal backgrounds, which is excellent. This has helped me immensely to gain an insight into civil law. I admire the open door policy used by lecturers. At all times they are willing to go an extra mile in teaching students. Their personalities are inviting to such an extent that I feel comfortable participating in class activities without the fear of being embarrassed when raising a point that I am not sure of. To be successful in this programme you have to take initiative and be able to think out of the box. After completion of this programme I intend joining one of the top commercial law firms in South Africa. I very much want to make use of the skills and knowledge that I have acquired during the programme.’
Lubabalo Ntsonkota (South Africa), student of International Business Law
‘The International Business Law programme attracted me because of its challenging curriculum. I was confident that by taking it, I would acquire the knowledge I need to pursue my future career. I believe this programme is valuable for anyone who wants to make it into the big world of international business law. Another reason for choosing this programme is its international character. This is not only shown by the curriculum, but also by the lecturers and students, who are from various countries and have various educational backgrounds. I believe this diversity in views and experiences makes the programme very attractive and valuable. The Law faculty of VU University Amsterdam is very professional and attentive to the individual needs of every student. Lectures are given by both scholars and practicing lawyers, which gives students this unique and valuable mixture of academic and practical views on the subjects. The atmosphere at the university is very friendly and exciting. Students can choose from a variety of events, both academic and social, to enrich the time of their stay in the Netherlands. I always feel at home here.’
Nail Hassanov (Uzbekistan), student of International Business Law
‘There are several reasons that made me choose for this master. Firstly, I wanted to come to Europe to study law. Chinese law has more of a civil law approach, so I think it’s valuable to come to a civil law country. Secondly, I prefer an international environment and Amsterdam is a very good choice in this aspect. Most of the people here speak English, which makes it easy to communicate. The programme is well organized and the classes are small scale. Although the curriculum is quite intensive, I like almost everything about it. The international atmosphere I think is the highlight of this programme and I very much enjoyed the study trip to the European institutions in Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Brussels. The facilities at the university are also great, I can find nearly everything I need for my study in the main building, so I usually spend the whole day in there. The lecturers are all very professional and experienced in the area they specialized in. They are very easy-going and accessible and reply to your e-mails or arrange meetings quickly. The atmosphere in the university is friendly, open-minded and busy. At the Law faculty students always get together to discuss assignments or go out and have fun. Some of us have even become close friends. We do not only help each other with our studies, but also in our daily life.’
Lei Tong (China), student of International Business Law
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Former students of the master's programme International Business Law are united in a LinkedIn group for exchanging news, experiences and professional opportunites.
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