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Teaching and Examination Regulations English Language Master’s degree programmes in Law, RUG

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Teaching and Examination Regulations 2015-2016 for the English Language Master’s degree programmes

Global Criminal Law European Market Law International Commercial Law International Business Law Public International Law and International Human Rights Law International and European Law and Energy and Climate Law General Master of Laws

Contents

Contents.............................................................................................................................................................. 1

Section 1 General provisions ............................................................................................................................... 3 Article 1.1 Applicability .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Article 1.2 Definitions ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Article 1.3 Aim of the degree programmes ............................................................................................................ 4 Article 1.4 Type of degree programme .................................................................................................................. 9 Article 1.5 More than one Master of Laws degree ................................................................................................ 9 Article 1.6 Honours programme master’s degree programme .............................................................................. 9

Section 2 Structure of the degree programmes ................................................................................................. 10 Article 2.1 Study load ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Article 2.2 Content of the degree programmes ................................................................................................... 10 Article 2.3 Optional ECTS ..................................................................................................................................... 14 Article 2.4. Extracurricular ECTS ........................................................................................................................... 14

Section 3 Examinations and final assessment of the degree programme .......................................................... 15 Article 3.1 Board of Examiners and examiners .................................................................................................... 15 Article 3.2 General ............................................................................................................................................... 16 Article 3.3 Frequency and Examination Periods .................................................................................................. 16 Article 3.4 Seminar assessment ........................................................................................................................... 16 Article 3.5 Form of Examinations ......................................................................................................................... 17 Article 3.6 Oral Examinations ............................................................................................................................... 17 Article 3.7 Marking of Examinations and Publication of Grades .......................................................................... 17 Article 3.8 Repeating a course unit passed .......................................................................................................... 18 Article 3.9 Validity ................................................................................................................................................ 18 Article 3.10 Post mortem ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Article 3.11 Assessment plan ............................................................................................................................... 19 Article 3.12 Exemptions ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Article 3.13 Course units obtained elsewhere ..................................................................................................... 20 Article 3.14 Final Assessment (awarding of degree certificate) ........................................................................... 20 Article 3.14 Degree .............................................................................................................................................. 21

Section 4 Admission .......................................................................................................................................... 21 Article 4.1 Previous education and admission ..................................................................................................... 21 Article 4.2 Admissions Board ............................................................................................................................... 22 Article 4.3 Admissions Assessment: times ........................................................................................................... 22 Article 4.4 Conditional admission ........................................................................................................................ 22


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Section 5 Study supervision and the judicium abeundi...................................................................................... 23 Article 5.1 Study Progress Administration and Supervision ................................................................................. 23 Article 5.2 Refusal of registration (Iudicium abeundi) ......................................................................................... 23

Section 6 Transitional and Final Provisions ........................................................................................................ 23 Article 6.1 Amendments ...................................................................................................................................... 23 Article 6.2 Publication .......................................................................................................................................... 23 Article 6.3 Deviations ........................................................................................................................................... 24 Article 6.4 Date of Commencement ..................................................................................................................... 24


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Section 1 General provisions

Article 1.1 Applicability

1. These Regulations apply to the degree programmes and final assessment of the following Master’s

degrees:

a. Global Criminal Law (GCL; CROHO code 60669);

b. European Market Law (EML; CROHO code 60602);

c. International Commercial Law (ICL; CROHO code 60603);

d. International Business Law (IBL; CROHO code 60604);

e. Public International Law and International Human Rights Law (PIL and IHRL; CROHO 60605);

f. International and European Law and Energy and Climate Law (IEL and ECL; CROHO code

66829);

g. General Master of Laws (ML) within the degree programmes a –d;

hereinafter referred to as: the degree programmes. The degree programmes are organised by the

Faculty of Law of the University of Groningen, henceforth referred to as ‘the Faculty’.

2. This Teaching and Examination Regulation is also applicable to students of other faculties or

universities insofar as they participate in parts of one of these master’s degree programmes.

Article 1.2 Definitions

The following definitions apply to these Regulations:

A. Act: Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek [Higher Education and Research

Act];

B. Student: a person enrolled in the university for the purpose of taking courses and/or examinations

and a final assessment leading to the conferring of a university degree;

C. Course unit: a course as part of the degree programme within the meaning of the Act;

D. ECTS: credit as mentioned in the Act with which the study load of the course unit within the

programme is expressed. 1 ECTS is the equivalent of 28 hours of study;

E. Seminar: a course unit that is rounded off by writing a paper;

F. Examination: a test of the knowledge, understanding and skills of the student as well as an

assessment of the results of research;

G. Final assessment: the final assessment of the Master’s degree programme;

H. Semester: part of the academic year, either starting on 1 September and ending on a date to be

determined by the Executive Board on or around 31 January, or starting on the aforementioned

date determined by the Executive Board and ending on 31 August;

I. Day: working day, except when stated differently.

J. Degree programme: the Master’s degree programme referred to in Article 1.1 of these

Regulations, comprising a coherent set of course units

K. Pre-Master’s programme: a programme intended to remedy deficiencies for admission to the

degree programme

L. Academic year: the period of time that starts on 1 September and ends on 31 August of the

following year

M. OCASYS: the University of Groningen’s online course catalogue


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N. Board of Examiners: an independent body with the duties and powers as stated in Articles 7.11,

7.12, 7.12b and 7.12c of the Act, including assessing whether the requirements of the final

assessment have been met

O. Admissions Board: the board that has decision-making powers in matters concerning admission to

the degree programme on behalf of the Faculty Board.

The other definitions shall have the meaning that the Act ascribes to them.

Article 1.3 Aim of the degree programmes

The degree programmes have the following aims:

A. Global Criminal Law (GCL) A. Learning outcomes knowledge and understanding. The final attainment levels of the LLM programme Criminal Law and Criminology in the field of knowledge and insight of the graduate are: A1. Thorough knowledge and understanding of substantive criminal law, procedural criminal law, international criminal law and basic knowledge and understanding of criminology in an international context through a deepening of the legal knowledge and understanding acquired during the Bachelor’s phase and through an introduction at master level in criminology; for the track Global Criminal Law, thorough knowledge and understanding of substantive criminal law, procedural criminal law, international criminal law as well as of organized crimes, financial crimes and cybercrimes. A2. Specialized knowledge and understanding to solve problems in a new or unknown environment within broader or multidisciplinary context related to criminal law and criminology; for the track Global Criminal Law, knowledge and understanding to solve problems in a new or unknown environment within the broader context of global criminality. A3. Well-developed comprehension and understanding of the wider international context in which criminal law and criminology function and the role they have to play in this regard; for the track Global Criminal Law, well-developed comprehension and understanding of the global context in which criminal law functions and the role it plays in this regard. B. Learning outcomes skills and attitude. The final attainment levels of the LLM programme Criminal Law and Criminology in the field of skills and attitude of the graduate are: B1. The ability to independently collect, evaluate and apply relevant legislation, jurisprudence and literature related to a complex problem of criminal law, including in its criminological aspects; for the track Global Criminal Law, the ability to independently collect, evaluate and apply relevant legislation, jurisprudence and literature related to a complex problem of criminal law, including in its global aspects. B2. The ability to conduct independent academic legal research in the field of criminal law and to make a societally relevant contribution to the development of the law; B3. The ability to independently engage in academic discourse with colleagues regarding criminal law; B4. The ability to make a complex argument concerning criminal law understandable to a group of colleagues and the public in written and spoken English. C. Final attainment level study orientation and careers guidance. The final attainment levels of the LLM programme Criminal Law and Criminology in the field of study orientation and careers guidance of the graduate are: C1. Knowledge and insight in the career perspective; C2. Insight in the requirements that are needed, as a result of the permanent and quick development of positive law, for self-study and personal decision-making.


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B. European Market Law (EML)

A. Learning outcomes knowledge and understanding.

The learning outcomes of the LLM programme European Law in the field of knowledge and

understanding of the graduate are:

A1. Thorough knowledge of and thorough understanding in European Law by deepening the

knowledge gained during the Bachelor’s degree programme; for the track European Market Law in

particular European market law.

A2. Thorough knowledge of and understanding in the specialized areas of European Law that are

important for legal practice, academic research and European integration; for the track European

Market Law in particular European market law.

A3. Thorough knowledge and understanding in the functioning of the European institutions and of

the interaction between the centralized and decentralized aspects of the European legal system,

and the interaction between institutional and substantive European Law; for the track European

Market Law in particular in the functioning of the European institutions and of the interaction

between the centralized and decentralized aspects of the European legal system with respect to

markets, and the interaction between institutional and substantive European market law.

B. Learning outcomes skills and attitude.

The learning outcomes of the LLM programme European Law in the field of skills and attitude of

the graduate are:

B1. The ability to independently assemble, assess and apply relevant facts, legislation,

jurisprudence and literature in order to solve complex issues in the field of European law; for the

track European Market Law in particular European market law.

B2. The ability to independently do academic legal research in the field of European law and with

that contribute in a socially relevant manner to the development of law;

B3. The ability to independently participate in the debate in the field of European law, with

colleagues; for the track European Market Law in particular European market law.

B4. The ability to convey to a group of colleagues and non-colleagues both orally and in written

form, a complex argumentation in the field of European law, in English in a comprehensive

manner; for the track European Market Law in particular European market law.

C. Final attainment level study orientation and careers guidance.

The learning outcomes of the LLM programme European Law in the field of study orientation and

careers guidance of the graduate are:

C1. Knowledge and understanding in the career perspective;

C2. Understanding of the requirements that are needed, as a result of the continuing and rapid

development of European Union law, for self study and forming own judgments.

D. International Commercial Law (ICL)

a. Learning outcomes knowledge and understanding.

The learning outcomes of the LLM programme International and Comparative Private Law in the

field of knowledge and understanding of the graduate are:

A1. Thorough knowledge of and thorough understanding in international aspects of private law,

particular international contracts and transactions;


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A2. Thorough knowledge of and thorough understanding of the theory and practice with regard

to international aspects of private law;

A3. Thorough understanding in the coherence, differences and similarities between important

legal systems in the field of private law.

b. Learning outcomes skills and attitude.


field of skills and attitude of the graduate are:


jurisprudence and literature in order to solve complex issues in the field of international aspects

of private law;

B2. The ability to independently do academic legal research in the field of international aspects

of private law and with that contribute in a socially relevant manner to the development of law;

B3. The ability to independently participate in the debate in the field of international aspects of

private law with colleagues;


form, a complex argumentation in the field of international aspects of private law, in English in a

comprehensive manner.

c. Final attainment level study orientation and careers guidance.


field of study orientation and careers guidance of the graduate are:


C2. Understanding in the requirements that are needed, as a result of the permanent and quick

development of positive law, for self study and creating own judgments.

E. International Business Law (IBL)


The learning outcomes of the LLM programme International Economic and Business Law in the

field of knowledge and understanding of the graduate are:

A1. Thorough knowledge of and thorough understanding in international economic law and

international business law by deepening the knowledge gained during the Bachelor’s degree

programme; for the track International Business Law in particular international business law.

A2. Thorough understanding in the coherence of international economic law and international

business law, especially insolvency law, company law, corporate governance and trade law by

deepening the knowledge gained during the Bachelor’s degree programme; for the track

International Business Law in particular international business law, especially company law,

insolvency law, corporate governance, dispute settlement law and property law.

A3. Well-developed comprehension and understanding of the wider context in which

international economic law and international business law function; for the track International

Business Law, the wider context in which international business law functions, in particular

competition law and corporate social responsibility.



field of skills and attitude of the graduate are:



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jurisprudence and literature in order to solve complex issues in the field of economic law and

business law; for the track International Business Law in particular to solve complex issues in the

field of international business law.

B2. The ability to independently do academic legal research in the field of international economic

law and international business law and with that contribute in a socially relevant manner to the

development of law; for the track International Business Law in particular in the field of

international business law.

B3. The ability to independently participate in the debate in the field of international economic

law and international business law with colleagues; for the track International Business Law in

particular in the field of international business law.


form, a complex argumentation in the field of international economic law and international

business law, in English in a comprehensive manner; for the track International Business Law in

particular in the field of international business law.



field of study orientation and careers guidance of the graduate are:


C2. Understanding in the requirements that are needed, as a result of the permanent and quick

development of positive law, for self-study and creating own judgments.

F. Public International Law (PIL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL)


The learning outcomes of the LLM programme International Law and the Law of International

Organizations in the field of knowledge and understanding of the graduate are:

A1. Thorough knowledge of and thorough understanding of public international law as a

legal system by deepening the knowledge and understanding gained during the Bachelor’s

degree programme; for the track International Human Rights Law in particular international

human rights law.

A2. Specialized knowledge and understanding of positive public international law in

specialized areas of public international law and its application in practice, knowledge and

understanding of the processes and procedures for further legal development and the role of

law-making bodies, international organizations, and courts and tribunals therein; for the track

International Human Rights Law in particular international human rights law.

A3. Awareness of the broader context in which international law functions and of the

various perspectives on the role of public international law in international society; for the track

International Human Rights Law in particular in the field of international human rights law.



Organizations in the field of skills and attitude of the graduate are:

B1. The ability to independently collect, assess and apply relevant facts, law, cases and

literature in order to solve complex issues in the field of public international law; for the track

International Human Rights Law in particular international human rights law.

B2. To develop the academic skills to be able to independently undertake legal research


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aimed at contributing to the further development of international law and to enhancing its role

in society; for the track International Human Rights Law in particular international human rights

law.

B3. The ability to independently participate in the public international law discourse

among colleagues; for the track International Human Rights Law in particular international

human rights law.

B4. The ability to comprehensively convey to a group of colleagues and non-colleagues a

complex argumentation in the field of public international law both orally and in written form, in

English; for the track International Human Rights Law in particular international human rights

law.



Organizations in the field of study orientation and careers guidance of the graduate are:

C1. Knowledge and understanding of career options;

C2. Understanding the need to engage in continuous study and critical reflection to keep

up with the permanent and quick development of public international law; for the track

International Human Rights Law in particular the development in international human rights law.

G. International and European Law (IEL) and Energy and Climate Law (ECL)

A. Knowledge and understanding learning outcomes The Master’s degree programme in International and European Law has the following learning outcomes with regard to knowledge and understanding: A1. A thorough knowledge and understanding of international and European law through a deepening of the knowledge acquired during the Bachelor’s phase; for the track Energy and Climate Law especially international and European aspects of energy law and climate law. A2. A thorough understanding of the coherence of the law, in particular international and European law, through a deepening of the understanding acquired during the Bachelor’s phase; for the track Energy and Climate Law especially the coherence of energy law and climate law. A3. A thorough knowledge and understanding of the wider (international) context in which international and European law functions; for the track Energy and Climate Law this specifically concerns the international and European context in which energy law and climate law function. B. Skills and attitude learning outcomes The Master’s degree programme in International and European Law has the following learning outcomes with regard to skills and attitude: B1. The ability to independently collect relevant facts, legislation, jurisprudence and literature related to a complex problems of international and European law, and to evaluate and apply them; for the track Energy and Climate Law especially complex problems of the field of energy law and climate law. B2. The ability to conduct independent academic legal research in the field of international and European law and to make a societally relevant contribution to the development of the law; for the track Energy and Climate Law especially in the field of energy law and climate law. B3. The ability to independently engage in academic discourse with colleagues regarding international and European law; for the track Energy and Climate Law especially in the field of energy law and climate law. B4. The ability to make a complex argument concerning international and European law understandable to a group of colleagues and the public orally and in writing; for the track Energy and Climate Law especially in the field of energy law and climate law.


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C. Professional and academic learning outcomes The Master’s degree programme in International and European Law has the following professional and academic learning outcomes: C1. Knowledge and understanding of the professional prospects. C2. Understanding of the demands regarding independent study and the personal decision-making process which follow from the rapid and continuous development of positive law.

H. General Master of Laws (ML) within the degree programmes stated in Article 1.3 A-F

1. To prepare students by means of a specialist degree programme in English, to exercise the

profession of lawyer in the field of European/international public and/or private law;

2. To impart specialised knowledge, skills and understanding with a view to deepening and expanding

the knowledge and understandings gained during the Bachelor’s degree programme;

3. To teach students how to apply knowledge and understanding in such a way that they can

independently solve legal problems and contribute towards the development of law;

4. To teach students to conduct independent juridical research and participate in the legal debate.

Article 1.4 Type of degree programme

The degree programmes are one-year, full-time programmes entirely taught in English.

Article 1.5 More than one Master of Laws degree

1. If a student, after obtaining a Master of Laws degree of this University, would like to take another Master of Laws programme at this University, he or she has to fulfil all requirements of the curriculum of that Master of Laws programme that have been arranged for in the Teaching and Examination Regulations of that programme. Compulsory subjects from the curriculum that have already been sufficiently passed in the first Master of Laws programme can be exempt, with the exception of the Master’s thesis.

2. If a student can fulfil the requirements of the Teaching and Examination Regulations of the second

(third, etc) Master of Laws programme by taking less than 30 ECTS of new course units, the

student needs to take, after approval by the Board of Examiners, new optional course units until

30 ECTS of new course units have been obtained. The Master’s thesis can be included in these 30

ECTS in new course units.

3. A maximum of 30 ECTS can be exempt in a Master of Laws programme. Therefore a student needs

to be registered as a master student of our faculty for a minimum period of at least one semester

in order to be able to successfully pass the Master’s examination. If a student wishes to be

examined in multiple Master’s degree programmes within the Faculty, the student needs to be

registered during a minimum period of one semester in each of the programmes though this can

be simultaneously.

Article 1.6 Honours programme master’s degree programme

1. A student can be invited to participate in an Honours programme which is being offered by the

Honours College of the University of Groningen.

2. The Honours programme has a total study load of 15 ECTS. The Teaching and Examination

Regulation of the Honours College is applicable to that programme.


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3. The Honours programme is not part of the regular master’s degree curriculum. The results and

grades will not count towards awarding the judicium cum laude or summa cum laude of the

master’s degree programme.

4. The results of the Honours programme will be mentioned on the diploma supplement attached to

the degree certificate of the master’s degree programme which the student obtained.

Section 2 Structure of the degree programmes

Article 2.1 Study load

The degree programmes referred to in article 1.1a-f each have a study load of at least 60 ECTS

(European Credits), with one ECTS being the equivalent of 28 hours of study. The study load is

expressed in full credits.

Article 2.2 Content of the degree programmes

1. A. European Market Law (EML)

a. The degree programme comprises the following compulsory theoretical course units with their

study loads:

a.1. Competition Law, 6 ECTS;

a.2. Constitutional Principles of the EU Market, 6 ECTS;

a.3. European Internal Market Law, 6 ECTS;

a.4. EU Trade Law, 6 ECTS

a.5. Market Regulation, 6 ECTS.

b. In addition, the degree programme comprises the following compulsory course units with their

study loads:

b.1. Seminar European Market Law, 6 ECTS;

b.2. 1 course unit to be chosen from the list of optional compulsory course units, at least 6

ECTS. List of linked optional course units;

European Human Rights Law, 6 ECTS;

European Judicial Protection, 6 ECTS;

European Sustainability Law, 6 ECTS;

b.3. Master thesis, 18 ECTS.

B. Global Criminal Law (GCL)


study loads:

a.1. Comparative Criminal Law, 6 ECTS;

a.2. Criminal Procedure and Human Rights, 6 ECTS;

a.3. Cybercrime and Cyber Security, 6 ECTS;

a.4. International Crimes, 6 ECTS

a.5. International Criminal Tribunals and Courts, 6 ECTS;

a.6. Organised and Financial Crime, 6 ECTS.


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study loads:

b.1. Seminar International Cooperation in Criminal Matters, 6 ECTS;


C. International Business Law (IBL)


study loads:

a.1. Company Law, 6 ECTS;

a.2. Comparative Property Law, 6 ECTS;

a.3. Competition Law, 6 ECTS;

a.4. International Commercial Dispute Settlement Law, 6 ECTS;

a.5. International Corporate Insolvency Law, 6 ECTS;

a.6. Multi-level Labour Law and CSR and CSR, 6 ECTS.


study loads:

b.1. Seminar Corporate Governance, 6 ECTS;


D. International Commercial Private Law (ICL)

b. The degree programme comprises the following compulsory theoretical course units with their

study loads:

a.1. Comparative Private International Law, 6 ECTS;

a.2. Comparative Property Law, 6 ECTS;

a.3. Comparative Tort Law, 6 ECTS;

a.4. Cross-border Commercial Transactions, 6 ECTS;

a.5. International Commercial Dispute Settlement Law, 6 ECTS;

a.6. International Contracts Law, 6 ECTS.


study loads:

b.1. Seminar Contracts Law, 6 ECTS;


E. International and European Law (IEL) and Energy and Climate Law (ECL)

a. The degree programme comprises the following compulsory theoretical course unit with its

study load:

a.1. 2 course units to be chosen from the list of European Law courses (at least 12 ECTS):

Competition Law, 6 ECTS

European Human Rights Law, 6 ECTS

European Internal Market Law, 6 ECTS

European Sustainability Law, 6 ECTS

EU Trade Law, 6 ECTS

a.2. 2 course units to be chosen from the list of International Law courses (at least 12 ECTS):

International Human Rights Law, 6 ECTS


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International Humanitarian Law, 6 ECTS

International Institutional Law, 6 ECTS

International Trade and Development Law, 6 ECTS

UN Peacekeeping and Peace Enforcement, 6 ECTS

a.3. 3 course units to be chosen from the list of non-legal courses (at least 6 ECTS)

Economics of Regulation, 6 ECTS

Moral Dilemmas in International Relations, 6 ECTS


study loads:

b.1. A seminar to be chosen from the following list of seminars (at least 6 ECTS):

Constitutional Principles of the EU Market, 6 ECTS;

Seminar Comparative Constitutional Law, 6 ECTS;

Seminar International Environmental Law, 6 ECTS;

Seminar International Relations, 6 ECTS;

c. After approval by the Board of Examiners, other course units may be chosen from the list of

English-language optional course units (see Ocasys 2015-2016) as far as they are not already

compulsory parts of the degree programme, together at least 6 ECTS;

d. Master thesis, 18 ECTS.

e. Within International and European Law it is possible to opt for the specialization Energy and

Climate Law

e.1. This specialization comprises the following compulsory theoretical course units with their

study loads:

Climate Law, 6 ECTS;

Economics of Regulation, 6 ECTS

Energy Investment and Trade Law, 6 ECTS;

Energy Market Law, 6 ECTS;

Energy Law and Policy, 6 ECTS;

Energy Contracting, 6 ECTS.

e.2. In addition, the degree programme comprises the following compulsory course units with

their study loads:

Seminar International Environmental Law, 6 ECTS;

Master thesis in the field of Energy and/or Climate Law, 18 ECTS.

F. Public International Law (PIL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL)

a. The degree programme comprises the following compulsory theoretical course unit with its

study load:

a.1. Advanced International Law, 6 ECTS;

a.2. International Human Rights Law, 6 ECTS;

a.3. International Institutional Law, 6 ECTS;

a.4. Settlement of International Disputes, 6 ECTS;

a.5. UN Peacekeeping and Peace Enforcement, 6 ECTS.

For students who have already participated in a Human Rights Law course in their bachelor the

course International Environmental Law is available as alternative.


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study loads:

b.1. 1 course unit to be chosen from the following list (at least ECTS):

International Humanitarian Law, 6 ECTS;

Refugee and Asylum Law, 6 ECTS;

International Trade and Development Law, 6 ECTS;

Investment and International Law, 6 ECTS;

b.2. Seminar International Law in Practice, 6 ECTS;


c. Within Public International Law it is possible to opt for the specialization International Human

Rights Law:

c.1. This specialization comprises the following compulsory theoretical course units with their

study loads:

International Courts and Tribunals, 6 ECTS;

International Health Law, 6 ECTS;

International Human Rights Law, 6 ECTS;

International Institutional Law, 6 ECTS;

c.2. In addition, the degree programme comprises the following compulsory course units with

their study loads:

c.3. 1 course unit to be chosen from the following list (at least ECTS):

International Humanitarian Law, 6 ECTS;

Refugee and Asylum Law, 6 ECTS;

c.4. 1 course unit to be chosen from the following list (at least ECTS):

European Human Rights Law, 6 ECTS;

International Crimes, 6 ECTS;

c.5. Seminar Human Rights, 6 ECTS;

c.6. Master thesis in the field of Human Rights, 18 ECTS.

G. General Master of Laws (ML) within the degree programmes stated in Article 2.2A-F

a. The degree programme comprises the following theoretical course units with their study loads:

6 course units to be chosen from the list of English-language optional course units, together at

least 36 ECTS.


study loads:

b.1. Seminar to be chosen from the seminars of the six set Master degree programmes, at

least 6 ECTS;

b.2. Thesis 18 ECTS;

c. The degree programme must form a coherent entity in relation to the desired degree. It may

not be realised within one of the existing degree programmes and must be at least 50%

different with regard to the compulsory part of the programme of the desired degree.

d. Before the start of the course, the programme must be discussed with the LLM study advisor

and submitted for approval to the Board of Examiners.

2. The course descriptions, available in the ‘Information for international students’, hold further

descriptions of the content and education format of the course units plus the prerequisites of each


July 2015 page 14

course that is considered to be either required or advised in order to be able to successfully pass

said course.

3. Activities, including participation in lectures and examinations, which have been conducted

contrary to paragraph 2 are considered not to have taken place.

Article 2.3 Optional ECTS

1. After approval of the Board of Examiners a student can fill in the optional ECTS by:

a. An optional course unit (from the list of English language optional course units);

b. A short thesis.

2. Optional course units must be chosen from the course units with level M4 or M5 (see list of English

language optional course units). If an M4 course unit was taken for the optional ECTS within a

bachelor, this course unit cannot be chosen for the optional ECTS of the master degree

programme. In special circumstances the Board of Examiners can decide to allow (a) course unit(s)

from other research university master programmes to be chosen. The Board of Examiners will

always take the coherence of (parts of) the programme into consideration when assessing such a

request.

3. The student will hand in a request for approval of the optional ECTS at least three months before

he wants to take the course unit involved. Such request can be done through Progresswww. If a

request is handed in, exceeding this term, the Board of Examiners can decide that the request is

not admissible.

4. The Board of Examiners will take a motivated decision if the request is declined.

5. The Board of Examiners decides within six weeks after receipt of the request, or, if the request was

handed in within an academic holiday, within a fortnight after its ending. The Board of Examiners

can adjourn the decision for a fortnight maximally. The student will be notified of such an

adjournment in writing by the Board of Examiners before the ending of the term mentioned in the

first full sentence.

6. The student will be informed of the decision in writing immediately. If the Board of Examiners has

not decided within the possibly extended term, mentioned in paragraph 5, the approval is

considered given.

Article 2.4. Extracurricular ECTS

After approval of the Board of Examiners and the Academic Director of his/her programme a student is

allowed to add extracurricular activities to his/her degree. These extracurricular activities are limited

to the following activities:

1. Participation in a Moot Court which is initiated by a Department of the Faculty;

2. An internship, which is consistent with the programme the student is participating in and is

fulfilling all requirements as mentioned in the Internship Regulation of the Faculty

3. Extracurricularly a student can also choose a Law in Practice module. The Law in Practise course

units include:

Belastingwinkel 7 ECTS

Bestuurlijke Pleitwedstrijden (Administrative Law Moot Courts) 4 ECTS

Bezoekgroep Norgerhaven (Visiting group Norgerhaven) 3 EC TS

Civielrechtelijke Pleitwedstrijden (Civil Law Moot Courts) 4 ECTS


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European Law Moot Court 6 ECTS

GFE Taxtour 3 ECTS

Fiscale Pleitwedstrijden (Tax Law Moot Courts) 4 ECTS

Groninger Masterclass Procederen in Arbeidszaken 6 ECTS

Het Juridisch Spreekuur 9 ECTS

International Moot Competition (W.C. Vis) 9 ECTS

International Study project SGOR 4 ECTS

International Study project JFV 4 ECTS

International Moot Competitions (Cassin, Telders etc.) 9 ECTS

Kamerbewoneradviesbureau 9 ECTS

Kinder- en Jongerenrechtswinkel 9 ECTS

Masterclass Intellectuele Eigendom 4 ECTS

National Moot Competition of het Dutch Association for European

Law 4 ECTS

Participation in Teimun 5 ECTS

Rechtswinkel Groningen 9 ECTS

Editorship Ars Aequi 7 ECTS

SOG-Rechtsbureau 7 ECTS

Internship, as arranged for in the Faculty Internship Regulations 7 ECTS

Internship abroad 7 ECTS

Internships Washington/Brussel 14 ECTS

Students parliament 6 ECTS

VAR Pleitwedstijden (VAR Moot Courts) 4 ECTS

In exceptional cases, the Board of Examiners may permit students to select one or more course units from the Master’s degree programme of another university.

Section 3 Examinations and final assessment of the degree programme

Article 3.1 Board of Examiners and examiners

1. The Board of Examiners is the independent body that determines whether individual students

have the knowledge, understanding and skills required to be awarded the degree.

2. The Faculty Board appoints the members of the Board of Examiners on the basis of their expertise

in the field of the degree programme (or group of degree programmes) in question.

3. The Board of Examiners must comprise at least one member who is:

a. a lecturer in the degree programme

b. from outside the degree programme

4. Members of the Board or other people who have financial responsibilities within the institution

may not be appointed as members of the Board of Examiners.

5. The Board of Examiners will appoint examiners to set examinations and determine the results.

6. The Board of Examiners will set out the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Examiners.


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Article 3.2 General

The results of an examination are given as pass or fail, in figures expressed as 6 or above or 5 or below,

respectively.

Article 3.3 Frequency and Examination Periods

1. The academic year holds four examination periods. With the exception of the seminars at least

one opportunity for an examination and one opportunity for a resit will be offered per year for the

examinations of the course units listed in article 2.2. The examination periods are scheduled as

follows:

1. The examination period after the classes of block 1



4. The examination period after the classes of block 4.

2. The two examinations for a subject – referred to as the examination and the resit – are taken

during the examination period of the block within which the course unit was offered and the

adjacent block.

3. Notwithstanding to the provisions of paragraph 2, all subjects with an examination halfway

through the semester will have their resit examinations during the second half of the examination

period of that same semester.

4. The Board of Examiners may in exceptional circumstances of pressing nature grant permission for

examinations to be sat at other than the regular times.

5. The Board of Examiners may in exceptional circumstances grant permission for an extra written or

oral resit.

6. The Board of Examiners may grant students who are unable to sit an exam due to committee

activities permission to sit the exam at another time, to be determined in consultation with the

lecturer involved. The following student executives qualify for this regulation:

- members of the Faculty Board

- members of the Faculty Council

- Law students who are members of the University Council

- members of the JFV board (a maximum of 6 people)

- members of representative organs of public law organs

In addition and at the discretion of the Board of Examiners, student members of ad hoc

committees and board members of Faculty student societies may also qualify for this provision if

their contributions are equivalent in workload to the above-mentioned board memberships. Extra

examinations are offered for no more than one module per semester and a maximum of two

course units per year. Requests for qualification for these alternative examination regulations

must be submitted to the Board of Examiners via the study advisor in good time, and in any case

before the start of the examination period of the semester in which study delay is imminent.

Article 3.4 Seminar assessment

1. A student needs to fulfil all the requirements for the seminar which have been set by the lecturer

in order to obtain a sufficient assessment or final grade. If a student has not fulfilled the


July 2015 page 17

requirement of the seminar according to the lecturer, the result ‘fail’ will be registered. The

requirements that the student has fulfilled will be declared null and void at the end of that

academic year.

2. An examiner will decide the mark of a seminar as soon as possible, but within twenty working days

after the final seminar-class at the latest or within twenty working days after the student has

fulfilled all requirements of the seminar at the latest.

3. Successful participation in seminars equals passing the examination for these course units.

Seminars do not have a resit possibility.

Article 3.5 Form of Examinations

1. Examinations will be taken in the form stated in Ocasys

2. At the student’s request, in exceptional circumstances of pressing nature, the Board of Examiners

may allow an examination to be taken in a form different from that stated in the course unit

description.

3. Students with a functional disorder will be given the opportunity to take examinations in a form

that will compensate as far as possible for their individual handicap. If necessary, the Board of

Examiners will seek expert advice on this matter.

4. The assessment of a Master’s thesis and of participation in research projects, internships, seminars

and other practical assignments is done by the examiners in a way determined by the examiners.

The assessment of a Master’s thesis of at least 18 ECTS of which the thesis topic has been

registered by the thesis coordinator on or after 1 September 2011 will be conducted by two

examiners, on the basis of the Thesis Regulations.

5. When the assessment of a course consists of assignments and papers, according to the course

description, a student should participate in all components of the assessment, unless the examiner

decides differently, which should be clearly stated in the course description. The student’s result of

the seminar will be expressed in a final mark. The examiner defines the weighing factor of the

separate components. If a student did not participate in all components of the assessment, the

result ‘insufficient’ will be registered. The components of the assessment that the student did

participate in will be cancelled at the end of that academic year.

6. The Board of Examiners for the degree programme setting the examinations is authorized to

assess the examinations, deal with any complaints and decide upon requests for alternative exam

regulations. Course units taught by other degree programmes or faculties are the responsibility of

the Board of Examinations of the degree programme in question.

7. Mock versions of each examination will be made available to practise.

Article 3.6 Oral Examinations

1. Unless the Board of Examiners decides otherwise, an oral examination may only be taken by one student at a time.

2. Oral examinations will be taken in the presence of two members of the academic staff.

Article 3.7 Marking of Examinations and Publication of Grades

1. The examiner will determine the result of the examination.

2. The Faculty Examination Administration will post the results at the tenth working day after the

date of examination at the latest. If necessary the examiner can ask the director of education to


July 2015 page 18

grant an extension of five extra working days before publishing the results of an exam or a resit

but not of an exam in block 4.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, an examiner will decide the mark of an oral

examination immediately and provide students with a copy of the written confirmation, thereof;

the original will be sent to the Faculty Examination Administration.

4. If an examination is taken in a form other than oral or written, the Board of Examiners will

determine in advance how and when students will receive written confirmation of the result.

5. The written exam sheet with the results of an examination listed in paragraph 2, 3 or 4 will inform

the students of their right of inspection, as stipulated in article 3.12, paragraph 1, as well as of the

possibility of an appeal to the Board of Appeals for Examinations.

Article 3.8 Repeating a course unit passed

1. A course unit that has been completed with a pass cannot be taken again.

2. In deviation of paragraph 1, students may submit a request to regard an examination that was

passed, not being the seminar, as not taken. This request has to be submitted within three days

after publication of the results of that examination. This regulation may be applied to a maximum

of two examinations per academic year.

3. If the, at the request of the student, deleted examination result will, during the post mortem of

the examination, be raised to a result that would lead to a student’s approval for registration,

he/she can request the examiner to register this result in the Faculty’s Examination Registration.

With this request, the previous deletion request is considered to not have been sent.

Article 3.9 Validity

Examinations that have been passed remain valid indefinitely.

Article 3.10 Post mortem

1. If a written examination has been taken, the exam must be made available to students after the

examination, and at least within the period stated in paragraph 3.

2. Every examination sheet will be provided with information about time, place and type of

consultation, whether the corrected exam can be collected and discussion times such that

students can take it along with them after the examination. Further, (the appendix to) the

examination form states that an appeal may be lodged against the decisions of examiners within 6

weeks with the Board of Appeals for Examinations, in accordance with article 7.61 of the Higher

Education and Research Act (WHW).

3. The member of the academic staff involved, will arrange a time and place where either;

a. the corrected examination will be returned to the examinees for inspection and a general post

mortem will be held, or

b. the corrected examinations with standard answers will be shown or handed out to examinees.

With multiple-choice examinations or similar examinations or partial examinations, the lecturer

may choose not to make the corrected examinations available to the examinees. The time of the

post mortem must be no later than I) one week after the announcement of the exam results and


July 2015 page 19

II) four working days before the resit examination. For examinations for the second semester the

time mentioned under 1 may be deviated from and may fall in the period around the start of the

next first semester.

4. At the time referred to in paragraph 3, the examinations will be returned to the examinees by

members of the relevant department in such a way that name, student card number or

registration number can be checked during the inspection or taking out of the exam.

5. The member of the academic staff involved, will provide students with the opportunity to discuss

the examination individually, either at a time immediately subsequent to that stated in paragraph

3, or on a later day. If individual post mortems do not take place at the time stated in paragraph 3

but at a later time, the lecturer may collect the papers of those students who wish an individual

post mortem and keep them until this later date. If students wish to take out examination papers

for which they have scored a 5, this will always be a copy of the original.

6. A student who does not attend the post mortem at the time and place stated in paragraph 3 and

does not submit a notice of absence based on reasonable grounds, has no right to a post mortem

as set out in paragraphs 3 and 5. The assessment of the reasonable grounds for absence lies with

the examiner.

7. Post mortems must aim at clarifying errors or omissions in an answer given by a student.

8. Students may take notes during the post mortem as long as this is not done on the examination

sheet.

9. If corrected examinations may be taken out by the examinees, the lecturer must offer one more

occasion subsequent to the time stated in paragraph 3 at which they may be collected. The

examinations then also will be returned to the examinees by members of the relevant

department in such a way that name, student card number or registration number can be

checked during inspection or taking out.

10. Every examinee is allowed to arrange for his or her corrected examination to be collected by

someone else at the time stated in paragraph 3 or 9. That person must present the registration

number and proof of identification of the examinee.

Article 3.11 Assessment plan

An assessment plan has been approved by the Faculty Board, comprising the following topics: 1. The learning outcomes of the degree programme;

2. The course units of the degree programme and the learning outcomes of each course unit;

3. the relationship between course units and learning outcomes;

4. The test method to be used and the test moments for each course unit;

5. The test design and assessment procedures, and assessment criteria;

6. Who is/are responsible for the implementation of the various components of the assessment

policy;

7. The method of regular evaluation.

Article 3.12 Exemptions

1. At the student’s request, the Board of Examiners, having discussed the matter with the examiner

in question, may grant exemption from an examination for a compulsory course unit, thesis and

seminar excluded, on the condition that the student has already passed such a course unit of a

university law master degree similar in size, content and level. If a student has already passed


July 2015 page 20

such a course unit of a university law bachelor degree which is similar in size and content, the

student has to replace the exempted credits by taking extra optional course units.

2. An exemption request needs to be handed in in written form at the Board of Examiners.

3. The Board of Examiners decides within six weeks after receipt of the request. Academic holidays

are excluded from these six weeks.

Article 3.13 Course units obtained elsewhere

1 Subject to obtaining the degree certificate for the master programme, a student needs to obtain at least 2/3 of the programme by course units offered by the Faculty of Law in Groningen while they were registered as a student of the University of Groningen.

2 In case of a double degree master programme with a foreign university at least half of the programme needs to have been obtained at the Faculty of Law in Groningen while they were registered as a student of the University of Groningen.

Article 3.14 Final Assessment (awarding of degree certificate)

1. At least once a year there will be the opportunity for the final assessment (degree certificate

ceremony).

2. A student needs to request approval of his/her list of course units to the Board of Examiners at

least three months prior to obtaining his/her final course unit. This request needs to be done

through Progresswww.

3. The Board of Examiners will determine the result of the final assessment at the student’s request

when it is determined that the student has successfully passed all examination components of

his/her by the Board of Examiners approved programme. Also the Examination Administration

can request the Board of Examiners to determine the result of the final assessment when it has

been confirmed that he student has successfully passed all examination components of his/her by

the Board of Examiners approved programme. Before the Examination Administration requests

the Board of Examiners to determine the result of the examination, the student has to be

informed of this request. If the student would like to take additional examination components,

he/she will have to request this to the Board of Examiners within two weeks.

4. Students who have passed all the examinations for a degree programme must apply for the

certificate no later than two weeks after doing so. The examination date entered on the

certificate by the Board of Examiners is the date on which the student is deemed by the Board to

have satisfied the final examination requirements.

5. If students apply for their degree certificate after the period mention in paragraph 3, the Board of

Examiners will mention as graduation date the date that the Board of Examiners determined that

the student in question has completed his/her programme, even if this date at which the Board of

Examiners takes this decision is in a different academic year and the student should be registered

in that new academic year.

6. When determining the result of the final assessment, the Board of Examiners will use the data

about the examinations taken registered with the Faculty Administration, unless the student can

prove the contrary.


July 2015 page 21

Article 3.14 Degree

1. Those who passed the final assessment will be awarded the degree of:

a. for the degree programme Criminal Law and Criminology: Master of Laws (LLM) in Criminal

Law and Criminology

b. for the degree programme European Law: Master of Laws (LLM) in European Law

c. for the degree programme International and Comparative Private Law: Master of Laws (LLM)

in International and Comparative Private Law

d. for the degree programme in International Economic and Business Law: Master of Laws (LLM)

in International Economic and Business Law

e. for the degree programme in International Law and the Law of International Organizations:

Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law and the Law of International Organizations

f. for the degree in International and European Law: Master of Laws (LLM) in International and

European Law

g. for the General Master of Laws degree programme: one of the degrees listed under paragraph

1a-f, namely that for which the Board of Examiners approved the General Master of Laws

programme.

2. The degree awarded will be stated on the certificate. Any specializations will be mentioned on the

diploma supplement.

Section 4 Admission

Article 4.1 Previous education and admission

1. Students with a Dutch or foreign university Bachelor degree in Law (LLB) or similar certificate that

indicates that they have the following knowledge and skills shall be admitted to the degree

programme:

a. a thorough basic knowledge of the field of law covered by the degree programme to the level

of a Bachelor degree.

b. a GPA (Grade-point Average of Bachelor degree) of 7/10, 70/100, 3.5/5, 2.75/4 or the

equivalent, in level at least the equivalent of a second class honours degree within the British

educational system.

c. for non-native speakers of English, an internet based TOEFL score of 92; or an IELTS score of at

least 6.5. All separate sections of both tests must be sufficient (21 for all sections in the TOEFL

test but 23 for the writing section; 6.0 for all sections in the IELTS test, but 6.5 for the writing

section). A CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English) or a CAE (Cambridge Certificate

of Advanced English) is also accepted. The internet based TOEFL score should hold a ‘spoken’

part. The IELTS should be an academic IELTS test.

2. Bearing in mind the admissions procedure for the degree programme within the meaning of

paragraph 4, the Admissions Board shall assess the knowledge and skills of the candidate. In

addition to the written proofs of degree programme(s) already followed, the Board may ask

experts from within or outside the university to test certain areas of knowledge and skills.

3. Only in highly exceptional cases the Admissions Board can decide to take additional factors into

consideration for admission if one of the admission requirements is not fully met.


July 2015 page 22

4. Admission under the terms of paragraph 1 grants, in combination with a positive result of the

admissions assessment as set out in paragraph 2 and 3, the right to register for the degree

programme.

5. The admission requirements stated in paragraph 1, 2 and 3 apply to students participating in the

LLM programmes in the academic year 2014-2015. New admission requirements might be set for

the academic year 2015-2016.

Article 4.2 Admissions Board

1. The Admissions Board of the degree programmes decides on behalf of the Faculty Board with

regard to admission to the degree programmes. The Admissions Board consists of six members of

the academic staff, one of whom functions as the chairperson. Each member has one deputy.

2. The staff member concerned with preparing the admissions will be appointed as secretary. The

coordinator of the International Office is appointed as advisory member.

3. Members of the Admissions Board are appointed by the Faculty Board. The Faculty Board also

determines the Admission-regulation.

Article 4.3 Admissions Assessment: times

1. Assessment of admissions may take place throughout the entire year.

2. A request for admission to one of the degree programmes, accompanied by all the relevant and

required documents, must be submitted before 1 June via the International Office to the

Admissions Board. Candidates who wish to be considered for one of the scholarships offered by

the relevant organizations must submit their request to the Admissions Board at least one month

before the closing date for scholarship applications set by those organizations.

3. In exceptional cases the Admissions Board will consider an application submitted after the date

stated in paragraph 2.

4. The Admissions Board will make its decision about the application as quickly as possible, though

at the very latest 6 weeks after receipt of all the documents. Admission will be on the condition

that the candidate has satisfied the requirements listed in Article 4.1 concerning knowledge and

skills by the date the degree programme starts at the latest, supported by certificates from

his/her Bachelor’s programme. The written admissions declaration will include information for

the student about the possibility of an appeal to the Faculty Board.

Article 4.4 Conditional admission

1. At a candidate's request, if he/she is preparing for the final examination of a Bachelor’s degree as

described in article 4.1. paragraph 1, the Admissions Board may decide to grant conditional

admission to the degree programme on receipt of a clear, written declaration from the relevant

faculty that the Bachelor's degree programme in question will be completed successfully before

the start of the Master's degree programme.

2. Provisional and/or conditional admission will be converted into full admission within the meaning

of article 4.1 on receipt by the Admissions Board of the Bachelor’s degree certificate.


July 2015 page 23

Section 5 Study supervision and the judicium abeundi

Article 5.1 Study Progress Administration and Supervision

1. The Faculty is responsible for registering the study results in such a way that students can be

provided with an overview of their results concerning the teaching and examinations programme

of the degree programme at least once a year.

2. The Faculty Board will organize the introduction and the study progress supervision of

students enrolled in the degree programme, partly to facilitate their progress and also with a

view to identifying potential study options within and outside the degree programme.

Article 5.2 Refusal of registration (Iudicium abeundi)

1. In extraordinary cases of reprehensible behaviour and/or statements made by a student, the

Board of the University may, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners or the Faculty

Board, terminate said student’s registration.

2. The Board of the University will not make a decision as referred to in Article 1.5.1 until after the

student in question has been heard about the proposed decision, any interests of the student and

the institution have been carefully assessed and it has been proven reasonable to assume that the

student’s behaviour and/or statements prove him/her to be unsuitable for one or more of the

professions which he/she is being trained for in his/her degree programme of for the practical

preparation for the profession. In such cases the Faculty Board, the Board of Examiners and the

Board of the University will follow the Protocol Iudicium Abeundi [protocol for refusal of

registration] as approved by the Nederlandse Federatie van Universitaire Medische Centra

[Netherlands Federation of University Medical Centres] on 1 November 2010.

Section 6 Transitional and Final Provisions

Article 6.1 Amendments

1. Any amendments to these Regulations will, after discussions with the curriculum committees and

after they have been presented to the Faculty Council, be confirmed by the Faculty Board by

decision.

2. An amendment to these Regulations shall not apply to the current academic year, unless it may

reasonably be assumed that the amendment will not harm the interests of students.

3. In addition, an amendment may not influence any decision concerning a student taken under

these Regulations to the detriment.

Article 6.2 Publication

1. The Faculty Board shall duly publish these documents.

2. This TER is available from the section ‘Information for international students’ on MyUniversity.


July 2015 page 24

Article 6.3 Deviations

In extraordinary cases of a pressing nature, the Board of Examiners can deviate in favour of the student from what is determined in the Teaching and Examination Regulations, with the exception of section 5.

Article 6.4 Date of Commencement

These regulations shall take effect on 1 September 2015.

As decreed by the Faculty Board in June 2015. Approved by the Faculty Council in its meeting of July 2015.

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