Ahmet Ufuk Yener

My name is Ahmet Ufuk Yener. I attended the International Arbitration LL.M at Erasmus University between August 2023 - August 2024. My academic experience before this consisted of acquiring my bachelor’s in law at the Bilkent University Faculty of Law in Ankara, Turkey. 

I was always interested in arbitration and wanted to pursue a career in the field also in line with my previous work experience after graduating from Bilkent. This program at Erasmus University stood out as a great opportunity for me to further specialize in this topic as it had a specific and dedicated focus on arbitration, which separated it from a majority of other master’s programs I was considering applying to at the time. It also provided me with the chance to learn from several well regarded and established academicians and practitioners alike. 

My favorite aspect of the master’s was its calculated balance between theoretical knowledge, and the added importance to real world application. This was not a surprise, as the program had specifically advertised itself through the #WhereLawMeetsBusiness hashtag as well, which it held up to in every regard. Many topics and cases that we had covered in the master’s later came back in my work life, both providing familiarity as to keystone cases in the field as a starting point in legal research, as well as allowing for construction upon the base of knowledge accrued during the master’s with regards to key legal concepts in the field. Specifically, my experience with arbitration had previously been very focused in commercial arbitrations, but the master’s provided a condensed but very thorough introduction into investment arbitration, allowing for an expansion of perspective. Not surprisingly, it was also my favorite course in the master’s as a whole. 

The master’s also helped me develop both professionally and academically. I felt through the structuring of the courses and the blocks, I was able to improve upon many aspects of my drafting and research processes and learn about new sources and avenues I could use to collect information. The continuous suggestions of the lecturers to keep up to date with developments in the field has also been a major assistance later in my work life, providing for the ability to both better understand certain trends with regards to theoretical knowledge in courses, or just to make interesting conversations with colleagues and new acquaintances alike. 

The master’s was also a great experience for personal growth. Alongside the valuable knowledge I acquired with regards to legal concepts and practice, I had the opportunity to be in a very diverse environment with classmates from all around the world. Experiencing different viewpoints and cultures, and forming lifelong friendships will remain with me wherever I go from now on. 

My most prudent advice to prospective students considering this program would be fairly simple: manage your time well. While assignments and courses are demanding in their own regard, also do not miss out on the wonderful social aspects of the master’s and the city alike.