Clusters
The five clusters are similarly problem-oriented and case-based. They require active participation in class and include assignments that prepare you for your career. Each cluster consists of two advanced courses and one basic course. The advanced courses are typically taught via lectures and seminars. Most are assessed on the basis of assignments or exercises, case studies, your participation in classroom activities and a final assignment or group project, usually with an oral presentation. Many basic courses are assessed on the basis of a final exam, which can be either written or oral, open or closed book, in addition to class participation. Guest lecturers are common in both advanced and basic courses. And lastly, our lecturers are available for further explanation and feedback and are always happy to assist their students. Below you can find a short summary of every cluster and our current privileged partners.
Sustainable Development and Global Justice
Within the cluster ‘Sustainable Development and Global Justice’ you will undertake a post-colonial analysis of public international law by looking at the global development architecture, with attention to international (sustainable) development law and international economic governance. You will study the role of law in ecological crises and learn about human rights law and the potential and challenges for human rights law to contribute to global justice.
Our legal clinic partner for this module is ClientEarth and/or similar NGOs. Professor Wouter Vandenhole is our module coordinator.
Do you want to study abroad? Below you can find an overview of our current privileged partners:
Multilevel Constitutionalism and Fundamental Rights in Europe
The cluster ‘Multilevel Constitutionalism and Fundamental Rights in Europe’ studies constitutional law and fundamental rights based on the observation that different levels of authority are interconnected. It gives you the opportunity to study how all laws and governmental powers flow from a written or unwritten constitution safeguarding fundamental rights, the interplay between state institutions and the relationship between European, national and subnational governments. The specific emphasis is on how various governmental levels, such as supranational, national and subnational correlate via concrete cases and wicked issues within the European territory (nation states, European Union and Council of Europe). You will gain insight into the multilevel aspects of European fundamental rights protection via such supranational, regional and national instruments. You will equally balance the domestic Three Branches – Legislature, Executive and Judiciary – in light of the increasing impact of supranational law. You will ultimately focus on the territorial structuring of political systems that distribute powers over different levels of government, and how a balance is found between regional or national autonomy, and overall cohesion.
Our legal clinic partner for this module is Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Professor Cedric Jenart is our module coordinator.
Do you want to study abroad? Below you can find an overview of our current privileged partners:
Diversity and Law
You can explore diversity from several perspectives and in different legal domains within the module ‘Diversity and Law’. We will do so by investigating together the role of legal professionals in tackling “wicked” societal problems (i.e. climate change, inequality, poverty, migration). You will study the interaction between genders, sexualities and the law by learning about feminist theory and jurisprudence, by analysing selected fundamental legal debates, and by studying the relevant legal framework in complex areas such as multi-parenthood. You will explore how combining an interdisciplinary approach with an analysis of administrative law, urban planning, consumer law, data protection law and human rights can contribute to turning cities into more inclusive and sustainable cities. You will also gain new insights into the essential field of international and European immigration and asylum law. The legal clinic in asylum or migration law will help you to understand better the implications of this complex area of the law in practice. If you wish to do a semester abroad, we have selected several privileged partners who offer fascinating courses that will enable you to deepen the expertise acquired in Antwerp.
legal clinic partner for this module is Nansen Belgian refugee council. Professor Esther van Zimmeren is our module coordinator.
Do you want to study abroad? Below you can find an overview of our current privileged partners:
Economic Governance
In the cluster ‘Economic Governance’ you will study several aspects of economic regulation. This includes the European Union’s approach in this field, and how it combines government interventions with private initiatives. The interaction between the EU institutions, national legislators, regulators, businesses and other stakeholders is also covered, as well as the approach in specific sectors of the economy. Further, you will learn about international trade law with a focus on the WTO, trade defence instruments, free trade agreements and methods of dispute settlement. In international investment law you will look into principles of protection and substantive standards and investor-state dispute settlement. You will also consider the role and competence of the EU in this field. Finally, the course on intellectual property law shows how this field affects economic regulation, taking into consideration both its business and public governance context.
Our legal clinic partner for this module is Hogan Lovells law firm in Brussels. Professor Jan Blockx is our module coordinator.
Do you want to study abroad? Below you can find an overview of our current privileged partners:
Commercial Transactions & Disputes
Within the cluster ‘Commercial Transactions & Disputes’ you will focus on the different approaches of and on the law applicable to commercial transactions. You will learn about the extent to which parties can navigate between legal systems, with respect to both substantive law and dispute settlement. You will tackle dispute settlement questions, such as: Should parties opt for court proceedings, arbitra-tion or mediation and what are the consequences of these choices? You will consider what the international effectof the resulting judgment, award or agreement is. You will study the methods and potential of private and business law harmonisation at a European and international level. The focus will be on key domains of private law such as contract law (with a specific focus on choice of law, sales law, trans-port law, and consumer law). You will learn to map contract chains and identify resource gaps. You will examine inter-national insolvency, including the question of enterprises that have assets in different countries and the insolvency of enterprise groups that are active in various countries.
Our legal clinic partner for this module is Loyens & Loeff law firm in Brussels. Professor Wouter Verheyen is our module coordinator.
Do you want to study abroad? Below you can find an overview of our current privileged partners:
