LL.M. in International Business Law

The LL.M. in International Business Law is an English language full-time programme. It is a 60 ECTS credits (one year) post-graduate university programme, running from late September to June. Courses are divided into two semesters, with exams held in January and June. Our core curriculum covers the main areas of business law and features small seminar style classes exclusively for LL.M. students. The LL.M. emphasizes active learning through mock in-class activities, presentations and small group discussions.

The LL.M. is designed for students who wish to take full advantage of the extraordinary range of opportunities offered in Brussels, the capital of Europe. The program includes visits to the institutions of the European Union (European Commission, Council, and Parliament) which are headquartered in Brussels. The LL.M. is part of the program offering of the University of Brussels (Université libre de Bruxelles, or “ULB”), one of the leading universities in Europe, with 25.000 students, 32% of which come from outside of Belgium.

The ULB offers extraordinary extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, including lectures, workshops, internships, writing seminars, career events, and social activities. Some of these activities are integrated into our academic program. The LL.M. seeks highly motivated students and independent learners ready to engage in small group discussions who wish to deepen their knowledge of international business law.

Fast Facts

• 2:1 student: faculty ratio
• Truly global student body
• Average class size 35 students
• LL.M. core courses reserved exclusively for LL.M. students
• Location in the heart of Brussels
• Active teaching methods (moot court, witness examination exercise, mock investment arbitration, class presentations)
• Assessment based on exams, projects and class participation
• Faculty of both academics and active practitioners able to share practical insights and experience
• Extra-curricular activities such as guest lectures, access to conferences on cutting legal issues and visits to the European Institutions which are headquartered in Brussels
• A dedicated academic coordinator advises all LL.M. students

The programme is organized through the department of continuing education. It is officially recognized by the Communauté Française of the Kingdom of Belgium as a University Programme Level 7, without sanctioning an academic rank, meaning that under Belgian laws and regulations, the LL.M. does not qualify for access to the Belgian bar or to regulated legal professions. Students who wish to seek the academic recognition of the programme (or access to a PhD) in their home institutions or countries are advised to seek information on such recognition before enrolling.

LL.M. candidates who successfully complete the programme are awarded a LL.M. in International Business Law, signed by the rector of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). Most applicants to the LL.M. will already hold a degree giving access to the bar (in the UK, for example, this is a LLB while in Europe it is a Master). Every year graduates go on to work at international law firms in Brussels, major consulting firms, international and European institutions and firms in their home countries throughout Europe and the world.

LL.M. courses are taught on the Solbosch Campus, which is the main and largest campus of the university, situated in the Brussels-Capital Region. The campus is located in the vicinity of the European Institutions. The ULB offers extraordinary extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, including lectures, workshops, internships, writing seminars, career events and social activities. Some of these activities are integrated into our academic program. The LL.M. is open to students from across the globe who hold a primary degree in law or who have gained experience in law at the graduate level.

General structure

• The program includes 8 core LL.M. courses, 1 elective course, and an LL.M. thesis
• The LL.M. is structured on the European credit system. Each course (compulsory and elective) is worth 5 credits, for a total of 45 credits. The remaining 15 credits are earned by writing the LL.M. thesis
• The 8 Core LL.M. Courses are reserved for the LL.M. students. They provide the primary course load, covering the main areas of international business law. Students will benefit from small classes, close relations with the ULB teaching staff and group camaraderie amongst the LL.M. students
• The 1 Elective Course may be selected from any of the courses that are taught in the law faculty of the ULB (in English or in French). LL.M. students can capitalize on the truly remarkable curricular and methodological diversity offered at ULB
• The LL.M. Thesis involves the preparation of a written work on a topic of international business law of the student’s own choosing, under the one-to-one supervision of a member of the teaching staff

Core LL.M. Courses

• Corporate Governance and ESG
• International Commercial Transactions
• Competition Law
• International Company Law – International Taxation
• International Trade and Investment
• International Litigation and Arbitration
• International Banking and Finance Law
• International Law of IP, IT and Data Protection

Elective Course

Students must choose an optional course from amongst the courses that are offered at the Faculty of Law of the ULB. The requirement can also be satisfied by doing an internship (obtained by the student).

The list of courses is very rich. Examples from previous years include:

• European Private and Comparative Law (E. Van den Haute)
• International Mergers and Acquisitions (H. Leibman)
• Free Movement of Goods (P. Oliver)
• Terrorism and International Law (P. Klein)
• Data Law (D. Restrepo)
• Moot Court Seminar (G. Croisant)