Testimonials

My name is Ingrid-Ioana Murariu and I am a 23-year-old Romanian. After living in Bucharest, Romania for 16 years and 3 more in Stavanger, Norway, I decided that I wanted to live and study somewhere that would remind me of both. So, after visiting Rotterdam for a few days, I had no doubt that this city will be my next home. Once I finished my Bachelor studies in Psychology and International Law at Erasmus University College, not only was I not ready to leave this beautiful city, but I was certain that pursuing an LL.M. degree is the best next step towards my foreseen legal career.

Given that there are so many opportunities when it comes to an LL.M. programme, one may wonder why choose International and European Union Law. Well, as an international residing in a European Member State, I wanted to study both (actually, I did not know which one of the two to choose). So, when I saw that Erasmus University Rotterdam can give me both, I did not even look further. The way the courses were organized and the fact that you have two months delving into the realm of both International and European Union Law, to then decide which of the two shall be your specialization seemed like a perfect fit for me.

When classes first started, it was quite overwhelming due to the COVID-19 health crisis and the measures imposed that led to the entire programme to be followed online. Not being able to attend live lectures and meet your professors and classmates was challenging and frustrating. However, the professors have done their utmost best so that we get to work together, have class discussions and overall, not feel like we have lost something by not being able to attend in-person. Every class was something new and interesting and we had many opportunities to get to know our future professors and theses supervisors both during guest lectures and organized meeting sessions. Having graduated from the programme, I can confidently say that I have learned more than I would have ever expected to. From case-studies, assignments, mind-maps, moot-court simulations to presentations, exams, blogposts and theses, there is not one area or way of accumulating knowledge and skills that we have not explored during this programme. Nonetheless, commitment and ability to follow deadlines are crucial assets to succeed, which became obvious as soon as we started our first week.

Ultimately, I am grateful for this experience, our professors and my classmates for making this LL.M. programme as exciting and educative as it was. If one does not know which track (and corresponding branches) is the best fit for them, this programme is the perfect place to find that out. Furthermore, if there is one piece of advice that I could give it is: “Unity is strength!”. Finding my people in this programme and pushing, supporting and helping each other was the best decision I have made (and honestly, I could not have done it without them).

If someone would have told me two years ago that I would write a testimonial for Erasmus School of Law, I would have laughed. Why would I? I was an engineering student at Delft University of Technology, not a law student.

However, after my exchange at Berlin University of Technology, I wanted to pursue my ‘newly discovered’ interest in international and European Union law in Rotterdam. It was especially that combination of international and European law that attracted me: these two legal orders are inherently interlinked and for a better understanding of global governance you need knowledge of both of them. Corresponding to Erasmus University’s identity, a wide range of electives on economic integration, human rights, and democracy is offered. This all makes the programme very interdisciplinary and gives you a great deal of freedom to shape the LL.M. to your own interest.

In the first block, you will follow the Research & Writing Skills course. For me, as a non-law student, this was quite an intense module as it is basically a crash course in international and European law. Meanwhile, much attention is paid to developing your legal skills. Some students, like me, had doubts about this programme after taking this module: would this master’s remain so intense? I can only say, do not be put off by this block. This block might be challenging but assures you that you have the basis needed to successfully complete the rest of the programme. And for the first block itself? If you just complete the assignments, participate in classes, and read the literature, you definitely will make it through!

For the remainder of the master’s, you can specialise in either EU or international law. Choosing does however not mean you will stop learn about the other track. Firstly, you will experience in the interactive joint courses in blocks 3 and 5 that the interaction between the two legal orders is never far away. Secondly, it is still possible to participate in courses from the other track. I myself, for instance, took two modules on European competition law and the EU’s economic and monetary union to learn more about international economic law as a whole.

The best thing about this master’s is the people defining it. We often worked in small, multicultural, and interdisciplinary groups. Not only did I learn much from other students having various backgrounds, but we also became very close. Nothing is more important than being able to enjoy Rotterdam together after having studies together all day. The teachers are very open to discussion and have a strong connection with the legal practice, making the lectures interactive and applicable to current cases. Their personal guidance really motivated me to go for the extra mile.

This master’s will give you a wealth of both theoretical and practical knowledge of international and EU law. After graduation, you are not only utmost prepared for the labour market, but you certainly have made new friendships for life as well.

My name is Jonathan Ruff, and I graduated from Erasmus School of Law in 2008. My keen interest in international matters and surroundings has ‘drawn’ met to follow the predecessor of the current International and European Union Law LL.M. programme. I very much enjoyed the rich and stimulating academic programme, which entailed a broad variety of themes and sub-areas within the ambit of Public International Law and European Union Law, resulting in a deepening and broadening of my knowledge and understanding of these fields of law. Next to legal theory, this programme provided ample opportunities to further develop my writing, legal research and collaborative skills.

Against the background of the modern and cosmopolitan campus of Erasmus University and the vibrant city of Rotterdam, the current International and European Union Law LL.M. programme offers an inspirational and captivating palette of international and EU law courses, an international classroom featuring tailored small-scale teaching, proper attention to practical legal skills alongside theoretical knowledge and an open and welcoming atmosphere that fosters the exchange of ideas and dialogues between students, lectures and guest experts.

Public international law and European Union law can be practised in various professional contexts. I have been working as an attorney since 2009, mainly focusing on international matters in the fields of public international law, private international law and international arbitration. Next to private legal practice, national and international courts, international organisations, academia, non-governmental organisations and diplomacy are examples of organisations and career fields that may offer exciting opportunities to practice, study and research public international law and European Union law.

My advice to prospective master students is to follow their heart: when choosing a master programme, a professional career, and - generally - in life. Your time at university is an excellent period to acquire deeper knowledge about your interests, qualities and passions, which in turn can help you identify and formulate your ideas and vision for a future career path, and navigate towards it. Elective courses, the activities of various student associations and foreign exchange programmes, to name a few options, offer excellent opportunities to discover new horizons, meet new people and grow as a person. I also encourage you to do one or more internships at an organisation you feel enthusiastic about, in order to experience the daily life and work at such organisation. In sum: university life offers a great number of chances and opportunities, waiting to be seized by you. I believe that dedication, confidence, joy, courage, perseverance and authenticity will be helpful companions along the way in creating your own, unique path, imbued with happiness, meaning and energy.      

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.

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. 

My name is Friedrich Ernst and I am 27 years old. I grew up in the vibrant city of Berlin, where I also spent all my years in school. At 20, I moved to Heidelberg, a very calm and beautiful, typical University city, to study Law. After 5,5 years of studying in Germany (with an Erasmus exchange to Istanbul after 2 years), I needed to go somewhere else to see how Law is taught and practiced elsewhere.

When I decided that I wanted to participate in an LL.M. programme, I looked around for places that interested me the most, rather than for the best fitting curriculum. Quite some friends told me that Rotterdam is the perfect mix of a metropole that is not too big, so it is possible to feel like home quite soon. When I looked for the programmes offered, I found that Erasmus University Rotterdam has quite a focus on economic (law) courses, which was not what I was looking for. Luckily, there was this International and European Union Law master programme and since I was always interested to dive deeper into the increasingly important EU law, I was ready to give it a try.

When I started the programme, it was quite a new experience for me. First, from my point of view law is being looked at a lot more practical in the Netherlands then in Germany, where the theoretical approach is much more visible. Secondly, the classes focus a lot on discussion which I like a lot, so there is quite some interaction between the students and the professors. Add to this that the classes are rather small compared to Germany and that a lot of classes are taught by two professors rather than one, further enhancing the discussion. Furthermore, the students as well as the professors are quite international which is extremely interesting, because you get insights from very different points of view.

On the other hand, there are some things to consider in the decision as well. For example, it was a little hard to adjust to the fact that there is a deadline for something to hand in basically every (second) week, so there is always something to do. In addition, in the course there is no real semester break in the spring, so the courses go on during the whole year (except for Christmas and some shorter brakes in between). Furthermore, the housing in Rotterdam can become an issue since there is quite a lot of demand and not so many places. Therefore, the city in general is not the cheapest, but in the end, I would say it is worth it! Especially since the University is very helpful when foreigners come to Rotterdam to study and need help with accommodation and other questions. The very efficient and supportive organization could also be seen when the University got shut down during the Corona crisis. The staff made a huge effort to keep the classes running online and keep everyone satisfied as much as possible.