Law

Incoming exchange students

What you need to know

Nomination and application

Partner institutions nominate their selected students to our central International Relations Office. These students then have access to our Mobility Online system in which they fill out their application. After succesful application and acceptance, students can prepare their study programme in Antwerp taking into account the following important items.

Requirements for incoming exchange students

Study level

Our English-taught courses are currently at the master's level. Therefore, we can only accept exchange students who have successfully completed a minimum of three years of law school, equivalent to 180 ECTS credits, at the time of their arrival. It's important to note that our courses presume a foundational knowledge of all fundamental law subjects.

Prior knowledge

Some courses may also require specific prior knowledge, so please review the prerequisites for each course. For students coming from non-European universities, we strongly recommend having completed a course on EU law before arriving in Antwerp.

Number of ECTS

Exchange students are expected to enrol in courses totalling at least 18 ECTS credits per semester.

Language requirements

All courses offered to exchange students are taught in English.
Students' level in English should be at least B2 (CEFR levels) prior to arrival. Kindly consult the application instructions for details regarding the necessary attestation.

How to design your study programme

Transnational Legal Scholarship Seminar

The Transnational Legal Scholarship Seminar is a combination of a seminar series on approaches to legal scholarship and legal methodology and the Transnational Law Course of that semester.

The TLSS is tailored specifically for incoming exchange students at the Faculty of Law. It serves as an essential introduction into approaches to legal scholarship and legal methodology. We highly recommend that incoming exchange students include this seminar in their course selection, particularly those who are required to complete 30 ECTS credits per semester.

Prerequisites per course

Please carefully review the prerequites for each course you wish to enrol in. If you have fulfilled the prerequisites at your home institution prior to your enrolment in Antwerp, this must be reflected in your official Transcript of Records. For students planning a full-year stay, we recommend prioritising first semester courses as they may be mandatory for enrolling in second semester courses, thereby expanding your options in the second semester.

Modules

All specialised modules must be taken as a complete set of courses. Each module is worth 18 ECTS. Be aware that specific prerequisites apply to the modules.

Workload

Make sure not to take more than two 6-credit or 9-credit (Advanced) courses in total. The workload would not be feasable.

Courses from other faculties

We strongly advice against taking courses from faculties other than the Faculty of Law. If however this is required by your home institution, it is limited to maximum two courses from another faculty and upon explicit approval of both faculties. Please consult with the International Office Law, and keep in mind that this may cause conflict in class schedules and exam times.

Academic calendar

You can find the academic calendar here.

We expect exchange students to be here for the full semester / academic year, including the exam period.

Below, you will find the most crucial dates for the academic year 2024-2025:

AUTUMN SEMESTER

  • Thursday 12 - Wednesday 18 September
    Survival on Arrival (Dutch crash course) / optional but warmly recommended

  • Wednesday 18 September
    Visit of Courthouse Antwerp with LL.M students / optional but warmly recommended

  • Thursday 19 September
    Orientation day exchange students / highly recommended

  • Friday 20 September
    Academic welcome session for Law exchange students / mandatory!
  • Monday 23 September
    Start of the academic year / semester
    No classes
    Students On Stage Unifac and Opening day ASK-Stuwer

  • Tuesday 24 September
    Start classes first semester

  • Sunday 29 September
    Deadline to finalise your course enrolment in SisA
    (this differs from the university-wide deadline!)

  • Saturday 21 December - Sunday 5 January
    Christmas break
    No classes, but considered to be a study period

  • Monday 6 January - Saturday 1 February
    Exam period

SPRING SEMESTER

  • Monday 3 - Wednesday 5 February
    Survival on Arrival (Dutch crash course) / optional but warmly recommended

  • Thursday 6 February
    Orientation day exchange students / highly recommended

  • Friday 7 February
    Academic welcome session for Law exchange students / mandatory!

  • Monday 10 February
    Start of the semester

  • Sunday 16 February
    Deadline to finalise your course enrolment in SisA
    (this differs from the university-wide deadline!)

  • Saturday 5 - Sunday 20 April
    Easter break
    No classes, but considered to be a study period

  • Monday 26 May - Saturday 28 June
    Exam period

Additional certificate

International and European Legal Studies Certificate

Exchange students who register for 30 ECTS per semester and who pass all the exams can obtain the International and European Legal Studies Certificate.
Students who come for only one semester can obtain a semester certificate.

Comparative, International and European Law (CIEL)

The Faculty of Law of UAntwerp participates in the CIEL network which comprises the universities mentioned below.

  • University College Dublin (Ireland)
  • Maastricht University (The Netherlands)
  • Universität Mannheim (Germany)
  • Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona (Spain)
  • Université de Toulouse 1 Capitole (France)
  • Zagreb University (Croatia)
  • Universiteit Antwerpen (Belgium)

Students who succesfully complete this programme are awarded the CIEL certificate of ‘European Master in Comparative, International and European Law’. As a CIEL student, you need to take 30 ECTS worth of courses. In addition you need to find a supervisor at UAntwerp for your master's thesis. Please contact us in time to find a co-supervisor in Antwerp. Mind that you have to write the thesis under the rules of your home university.
Only students from the universities mentioned above qualify for the CIEL programme, provided they have been nominated as such. If you want know if you can participate, please contact your home faculty.