Testimonials

My name is Jana Trifunović and I am a graduate of Erasmus University Rotterdam (Erasmus School of Law), class of 2016. I am currently 28 years old and working in Maastricht as a second-year PhD researcher at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Law, Department of Public Law. I am, moreover, affiliated with the Montesquieu Institute Maastricht. In the context of today's data-driven information societies, my doctoral research is aimed at exploring the legal and social implications of a practice called independent judicial research. Questions that I address include whether judges confronted with non-routine or factually complex legal disputes may google any supplementary information regarding the dispute’s factual background. 

I obtained my bachelor in Dutch Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam (Erasmus School of Law) and graduated cum laude from the LL.M. programme International and European Union Law. I started working for Maastricht University in September 2016 in the capacity of lecturer in law, primarily teaching courses belonging to the LL.B. European Law School (ELS). I currently teach a course on European Human Rights to third-year ELS bachelor students and exchange students from all over the world. Prior to joining Maastricht University, I assisted in the defence of General Ratko Mladić before the former International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

I am certain that I would not have ended up where I am today had it not been for the LL.M. programme International and European Union Law at the Erasmus School of Law. Specialising in international and European law was something that I had been drawn to at a rather early stage during my university studies. Whilst I deliberated enrolling in an LL.M. programme abroad, I eventually settled on staying in Rotterdam. Looking back, I would not have had it any other way. The LL.M. programme International and European Union Law enabled me to excel academically and to develop certain practical skills that proved valuable all throughout my professional career. I felt positively challenged by the contemporary and engaging curriculum, and would express nothing but praise as to the guidance, expertise and intellectually stimulating environment offered by the university’s professors and teaching staff. Moreover, the programme’s small-scale and highly international learning environment made the experience all the more enjoyable. It allowed me to work together closely with colleagues from nearly all continents of the world and facilitated a dynamic educational approach tailored to students’ individual needs. In conclusion, I would highly recommend the LL.M. programme International and European Union Law to anyone, including my own students, given its outstanding academic staff and the exceptional learning experience that it offers.

My name is Nick Rurangwa Nshimiyen and I am a 22-year old Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies student. I am originally from Rwanda, and grew up in Belgium where I did all of my pre-university schooling. For my bachelor’s I attended Tilburg University and completed the LL.B. in Global Law. This programme was heavily focused on training students for a career in law at an international level. With the help of Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies, I was able to further substantiate my interest in an international career in law through a study of its theoretical foundations. My main focus has been on topics within the philosophical track of Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies.

I chose this LL.M. programme because the curriculum offers a great variety of options for those with a non-traditional interest in law. I felt convinced that this would allow me to delve into my various legal interests without having a strict specialisation in a single area of law. In addition to that, I had plans to continue my legal studies after the LL.M. programme, which made it easier to choose one that is as theoretically-concentrated as Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies.

I have greatly enjoyed the LL.M. programme. Before starting the LL.M. programme, I never thought I would become as interested in legal philosophy as I am today. At first, the LL.M. programme felt like a big challenge due to the amount of readings and intensive classes, but this all took a positive turn once I got acquainted with the teaching style of the professors. The small classes and emphasis on class discussions offer an opportunity for students to not just learn from their lecturers, but from their fellow students as well. This organisation of the LL.M. programme reassured me of my own skills and abilities throughout the year in great new ways. One thing that I do remain critical of is the age of the LL.M. programme. Since the LL.M. programme is still fairly new, I struggled to feel confident about my career possibilities with the degree. However, I was recently informed that a solution is in the works which I am excited about. The faculty is working towards establishing an alumni network for Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies graduates where experiences can be shared directly between alumni of Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies and students participating in this programme. I think it is essential that prospective Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies students have someone to talk to when insecure about the job perspective with a degree as theoretical and broad as Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies.

The only significant tip that I have for prospective students is to make sure that you organise your time carefully. Although you will learn a great deal, you must remember that the LL.M. programme is demanding in terms of mandatory literature that needs to be read in preparation for each class. To ensure that you still have sufficient free time next to your studies while living in the great city of Rotterdam, you have to use your time carefully and remain organised throughout the year!

I am Lieske, 23 years old and in the year 2019-2020 I participated in the master  Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies. After finishing my bachelor’s degree in Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam, I wanted to get a master degree in law as well. However, in my opinion the bachelor mainly taught me how to think like a judge, and honestly, that wasn’t really my thing. I wanted to think outside of the law, approach the law from other disciplinary perspectives. As I have followed a double bachelor at the Faculty of Philosophy, I was looking for a master in which I could combine the insights from both my legal and philosophical background. Well, I found it!

The master Legal Theory & Socio-Legal Studies gave me a lot of freedom to develop my own interests and to discover what my talents are as a law student. The many essays I had to write enabled me to dive into topics that spur my interest, to engage with political debates and to write on topical issues. There is a lot of focus on developing skills like reading, writing and presenting. The teachers are involved with the students, and the lectures are very interactive. The small group of students made it easy for me to socialise and we had drinks together on a weekly basis.

I must admit that the master programme can be quite challenging. There is hardly any week without deadlines and the work load can be stressful. However, a lot of assignments also creates the opportunity to get a lot of feedback. Moreover, I consider myself a deadline junkie, so for me the time pressure worked really well to keep on track.

I am Ipek Yalçindağ Dursun. I was born and raised in Istanbul. After finishing my bachelor at Marmara University on Political Science and International Relations, I did my first master in Berlin School of Economics on Political Economy of European Integration.

Since 2013, I have been working at the Turkish Ministry of Trade, Directorate General of International Agreements and EU Affairs. At my job, I had always felt the necessity of a law perspective, and a good knowledge of the law of the European Union. Therefore, I decided to study the LL.M. programme International and European Union Law at Erasmus Rotterdam University.

Actually, the LL.M. programme has helped me a lot in developing a law perspective. Besides, I was able to obtain knowledge about International and EU Law. I feel quite satisfied with the education that I have obtained from the LL.M. programme, since it provided with me what I was looking for.

The LL.M. programme started with basics of International and EU law, and proceeded with more specialized courses. For me, one of the most useful courses was International Economic Law, as it mostly deals with World Trade Organization law.

On the other side, the challenging part of the LL.M. programme is the intense structure of the courses. As I come from a different background, starting a new semester with quite demanding law courses was actually challenging for me. I had to work hard to catch up with my classmates who had a more extensive law background.  After the first block, I started to feel more confident about the courses as I had built relevant basic knowledge. Yet still, the LL.M. programme required good time management, as in the last blocks of the programme, we were busy with assignments, presentations, written exams and writing the master thesis all at the same time.

Unfortunately, my studies have coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the university was quite successful in adapting itself into online courses. We were able to continue to our usual course programme. At the same time, lecturers took care about our health, and asked us to confirm our well-being on a regular basis.

I strongly recommend the LL.M. programme, especially to those who want to work at public institutions, international organisations, and EU institutions. As a person having work experience in a public institution, I believe the LL.M. programme gives relevant education in order to be able to work in the said areas. 

Hi! My name is Judith and I am one of the students of the LL.M. programme International Trade Law ("ITL"), class 2020. Before I started this programme, I followed the Law pre-master at Erasmus University. As it may be challenging to choose the right programme, I hope I can help you choose by sharing my experiences.

The decision to start the ITL programme was easy for me. I have always been interested in the global trading world. The size of the contracts, the many parties involved, and the different jurisdictions make it a dynamic area of law. Moreover, I figured English as teaching language and the interaction with international peers in this programme will help me prepare for an international career.

ITL is one of the four programmes in the master Commercial Law with a focus on trade and commerce. The programme is structured in a way that gives you a good overview of the various (international) facets of the law under consideration. In addition, common law and civil law are often compared from a legal perspective, so that you get an insight into how jurisdictions relate to each other. Depending on the type of course, you will have approximately two lectures per course per week. These lectures often incorporate real-life examples, e.g. from the news of that week or (recent) striking events, and include assignments related to everyday practice. For example, during the Commercial Contracts course we wrote an advice to a client with regard to rental/purchase agreements which was best suited to his business operations. To write such an assignment, you not only rely on your academic knowledge, but also on your practical skills. The fact that attention is paid to both aspects is something I find very valuable in this programme. Furthermore, you will be supervised by lecturers with a very thorough knowledge of their field of law, and there is plenty of room for individual contact and supervision because of the relatively small class. This master is highly recommended to follow in Rotterdam. You will visit various offices and companies, including the Port of Rotterdam. In my opinion there is no better city to study ITL. I very much enjoyed following the programme!

Are you still not convinced this programme is right for you? Feel free to visit open days and approach alumni, e.g. through LinkedIn.

Why a master? Why the Netherlands? Why International Trade Law at Erasmus University of Rotterdam? These are simple questions with difficult answers.  

In 2018, I was working as a lawyer in Singapore specialising in international trade and insolvency disputes. As the nature of my practice surrounded commercial contracts, trade finance and carriage of goods, I was keen on advancing my knowledge in this area of law. A part of me was also yearning to go back to my student days of having the academic freedom to read and learn about a topic without the crushing pressure of billable hours. Doing a masters in international trade law was therefore an attractive option to achieve both my academic and career aspirations. Sometime in June I was granted the Excellence Scholarship for non-EEA students by the university, which covered a large part of my international student tuition fees. With the golden ticket in hand, I packed my bags for Rotterdam.

Did the master live up to my expectations? Generally, yes. As the master programme was spread across 5 blocks over the academic year, there was balance between work and play. Apart from the graded assignments, you have the freedom to plan your schedule and the flexibility to choose an elective of your interest in one of the blocks. The students are diverse and there are plenty of opportunities to excel. While there is a focus on independent learning, the faculty also has experienced professors who are passionate and knowledgeable on maritime, shipping and international trade law. If you have an interest in this area of law, you would be hard-pressed to find a better university in Europe to do your masters.

The Netherlands is a beautiful country and English is widely spoken. Like Amsterdam, Rotterdam is teeming with life and has a strong international presence. The city is a beautiful sight to behold - a combination of modern architecture with the rustic charm of buildings from the past. Cocktail in hand at a rooftop bar while admiring the city lights over the meandering Maas on a Friday night? Check. Beer with friends in an underground grimy bar? Also check. New and old. Clean and rough. There is a place for everyone in Rotterdam.

So what can you do with this masters? I have classmates who went into various industries like banking as well as oil and gas. As for me, I am happy to be working as a Transaction Lawyer at Loyens & Loeff. The university has given me the gateway to a life in the Netherlands and as they say, the rest is history.

 Curious to learn more? Find me on LinkedIn!

Choosing a master’s programme that fits ones interests, needs and ambitions is hard, especially as the options seem endless. My name is Paulina Kletschke, I am 24 years old, German and finished an LL.B. programme in European Law at Maastricht University. I had former experience studying in the Netherlands and knew that I also wanted to pursue my master’s degree in this beautiful country. During my bachelor’s, I did a business law minor, which awoke my interest in corporate law. After researching my options, it was clear that the Commercial and Company Law master’s at Erasmus University Rotterdam is the correct choice for me. It combined all the fields I am enthusiastic about, such as intellectual property-, competition-, corporate governance- and tax law. Furthermore, I saw Rotterdam as the perfect city to live in. It has the typical Dutch small-town flair, but is at the same time a big, vibrant, modern city. It has job perspectives for international professionals, but also offers a great student life. The combination of the city itself and the master’s programme made me pick this LL.M. above all others and I was not disappointed.

The master’s offered me the chance to grow personally and academically. I was impressed by the effort and work the professors put into supporting me and my personal goals. I felt incredibly supported and encouraged to grow above my own expectations during the LL.M. programme. Next to academic advice, I received personal feedback and opportunities. The university does not only want you to do well in your studies, but also to support you beyond that step. Once you are in the Erasmus School of Law family, you are part of a community and continue to be part of it as an alumnus or alumna. As I had the great opportunity to be the Commissioner of External Affairs for the Trade and Transport Law Association, I was in contact with many alumni. It was interesting to exchange information about how the programme developed and grew throughout the past years and what my options for the future are.

One aspect I appreciated most about the University is the openness concerning critical feedback. After every period, a feedback round was held in which the students could give direct feedback to the people responsible and exchange their experiences. This is a really good system to ensure a steady improvement of the programme, which benefits all the parties involved.

When starting a new academic block, the list of readings and deadlines one finds in the syllabus may seem overwhelming at first. But in my opinion the workload is well balanced and doable through proper time management. I was able to follow the programme, while working and being engaged in different extracurricular activities. So, I encourage everyone to not be discouraged, since the community, from staff to fellow students, is understanding, supportive and very helpful.

All in all, the LL.M. in Commercial and Company Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam is a great choice for students that look for a supportive environment and a compelling study.

My name is Benedict Tan and I am from Singapore. In the academic year 2019/2020, I was enrolled in Erasmus University Rotterdam’s LL.M. programme Commercial and Company Law, under a dual degree programme with the National University of Singapore.

Erasmus University Rotterdam was an excellent choice for me because it is such an international university. There are many wonderful opportunities in Erasmus University Rotterdam to meet people from all around the world, as well as develop an international mindset. Coming from a common law background in Singapore, it was also intriguing to experience the differences in a civil law jurisdiction.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Erasmus University Rotterdam. The curriculum for the LL.M. programme Commercial and Company Law was well-designed. It featured many international aspects, which means that it was relevant even for those who intended to return to their home country after completion of the degree. Moreover, many of the subjects provided a broad overview with useful comparative analysis. This is exactly what education for a master’s degree ought to be – concerned with more than just the black letter law, but also normative questions of what an effective legal system should be. Finally, the pace of lessons was also appropriate, in that it was sufficiently rigorous whilst still allowing me ample time to make friends, build a network, as well as travel around Europe.

I would highly recommend prospective master’s students to think hard about what they want to achieve in their master’s programme. Erasmus School of Law has much to offer, including well-run co-curricular activities such as study trips, student associations and moot competitions. The community is also friendly, warm, and welcoming – even for non-Dutch speakers like me. I never felt out of place and my Dutch friends truly made me feel at home. Ultimately, a master’s degree is for many of us the final few steps in our formal education, so do make the most out of it!

My name is Stefan Haeussler Vesco; I am an Italian student, raised in Guatemala, Central America. I applied to the specialisation of International Trade Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam around February of last year and ecstatic to find out I was accepted to the programme. I had very high expectations of the city when I first arrived to Rotterdam and fortunately they were met.

Life in Rotterdam is very relaxed and chill, with many parks and lakes to visit around. I cannot say there was once a moment where I felt I could not go on a short bike ride and find a new and beautiful place to visit. Even the most iconic landmarks in the Netherlands are a short train ride from Rotterdam’s central station.

My first few weeks of the master were a bit hectic, the pace and level of the master’s course is very high; Nevertheless, I knew from the start it was not going to be easy. The University is a very well-known academic institution through Europe and it does show by the professionalism the lecturers show during the classes. Not once I was met with a lecturer that could not answer the very hard and confusing questions that other students threw at them, which showed the experience and competence of the professors the University employs.

Students who want to apply for this LL.M. programme must know that they will be met with a great task, which is working and reading every week; whether it be by doing assignments, preparing for finals exams or constantly working on the master’s thesis. This does not mean that there’s no leisure time, there are many activities held either by the University on the campus or by student associations.

I highly recommend registering for a student association, because they not only organise professional meetings with important lawyers and advocates that work in different branches of the law, it is also a great way to meet new people and make friends that will make the journey much more pleasant during the year in Rotterdam.

The master’s degree is very internationally focused. I met people from all over the world and created great friendships along the way. Although social life was cut short for many due to the coronavirus outbreak, student associations held online meeting and games to maintain the morale of the group. Overall it was a great experience with different people, cultures, and ideas.

Last but not least the University has many facilities that make the student experience quite comfortable, even on high stress weeks, such as exams week. The lecturers and faculty are always eager to lend a hand to struggling students and will pay attention to the student’s need even on weekends. I would like to thank Erasmus School of Law for this academic year because, even through the pandemic, they rose up to the occasion to give students the education they deserve.

My name is Gonzalo Rizo Patron, I am 31 years old. I was born and raised in Lima, Peru, where I did bachelor studies, got the qualification to practice law, and acquired professional experience. Before enrolling at the Commercial and Company Law LL.M. programme  at Erasmus University Rotterdam, I worked in the legal department of the Peruvian subsidiaries of multinational companies for a few years, mainly in the field of corporate law with a focus on contract and company law.

While having stable job, I felt that I needed to get out of my comfort zone, so I decided to pursue new challenges to enhance and give an international perspective to my career. I was looking to increase my knowledge and experience in corporate law, but as a native Spanish speaker I also wanted to improve my English, and overall live a life-enriching experience. I did right by choosing Rotterdam and Commercial and Company Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam for that purpose!

The LL.M. programme provides an attractive duality between company and commercial law. Courses like International Corporate Governance and Company Law and Restructuring meant learning relevant insights of the European corporate law framework, which surely add value to my career. Courses like Commercial Law and Carriage of Goods got me to explore the legal aspects of international trade at the biggest port of Europe (situated in Rotterdam); which is an interesting field for countries like Peru, with a large part of its economy based on exports.

For those enrolling in this LL.M. programme, be advised that sometimes it can be very demanding. During the first course, attendance is mandatory. Herein you will face frequent deadlines, and at an early stage you will have to start working on your thesis, so better start thinking on potential topics. The school has been struggling to better some organisational aspects and their communications to students. They have been actively collecting feedback from students and I am sure that it will just get better. They have demonstrated its commitment to improve by quickly adapting to the online format within the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic and being keen to listen to students in the whole process.

Finally, I must say that Rotterdam is an amazing city to live in, it is a really safe place and its atmosphere is pretty open-minded and welcoming to internationals. Its modern architecture and skyline are impressive, and it has plenty of beautiful parks and lakes, which together with the ‘Nieuwe Maas’ river deliver great landscapes. So when the weather is nice you will definitely want to be out! There are also plenty of cultural and nightlife activities to enjoy when you are not struggling with the -sometimes tight- deadlines. The best of all is that due to its bike friendly infrastructure, you can safely cycle to anywhere in the city in about 15 to 20 minutes. Moreover, although the official language in the Netherlands is Dutch, English is absolutely widespread, so it is a perfect alternative to experience an English-speaking life.