Advanced Studies in Air and Space Law

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This unique programme offers a combination of public air law, private air law and space law, both from an international and a European perspective.

The Leiden Air and Space Law programme is unique. Our teaching and research has a clearly defined European dimension and is in line with the highest academic standards. At the same time, the programme focuses on professional applications, particularly through its internship requirements. The International Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL), which houses this advanced master's specialisation, is one of the leading international academic research and teaching institutes in this field. The Institute maintains close relations with national and international organisations and institutions worldwide and enjoys the guidance of a prestigious International Advisory Board. For who? This programme is specifically designed for: * law gradudates wishing to pursue a challenging advanced master's study at postgraduate level, possibly followed by a PhD position; * legal practitioners in internationally operating law firms, private companies (e.g. airlines, aircraft parts manufacturers), civil aviation authorities, telecommunications authorities, international and regional organisations and representatives from governments wishing to specialise in the area of air and space law.

The programme is available in the following versions:

Masters of Advanced Studies Programme: full-time and part-time options
The programme runs from early September until the end of August or from February until the end of December, with the summer months being devoted to the internship and the writing of the masters thesis. Graduation takes place at the very end of August. A part-time option also exists, consisting of the same courses as the full-time version, spread over a maximum of two years.

Masters of Advanced Studies Programme Blended Learning
A blended learning version of the Masters of Advanced Studies Programme is also offered. Blended learning is a combination of distance learning and face-to-face learning. Participants largely work from their homes or offices and communicate with the teaching staff through Internet, using various new teaching techniques.

Participants come to Leiden three times during the year for a period of two weeks, in order to follow classical teaching and to collect study materials for their thesis. The two-week periods are scheduled to coincide with parts of the normal curriculum, i.e. the first two weeks in September, the first two weeks of February and in May (exact dates depending upon the final schedule). Thereafter, students write their thesis at home, and graduation takes place at the end of August, jointly with the participants in the regular curriculum.

From the accreditation report:
One specific feature of the programme the possibility to follow the blended learning version provides some extra opportunities for the programme to be very much integrated in the present developments in the field.

Modular: single courses
All courses listed in the full-time programme can also be taken on a single-course (modular) basis. The course fee per module is around 300 euro per ECTS credit. In order to qualify for admission, prospective applicants must show an already existing interest/participation in aviation or space activities.

Courses

For the most up to date course overview, see the e-Prospectus.

Internship (face-to-face students only)
After completion of the scheduled lectures (May), students are required to undertake a 6-8 week internship in an institution dealing with either air or space law, often outside The Netherlands The internship aims at further enhancing the capacity to apply the previously acquired knowledge, research and practical skills in a professional environment. Often, students will manage to obtain an internship by approaching guest lecturers or senior officials during field trips to the European organisations and institutions. See course overview/internship for more detailed information. Blended learning students are not required to do an internship.
Since the Fall semester focuses primarily on Air Law and the Spring semester on Space Law, it it is recommended to start the LL.M. programme in September if your field of primary interest for an internship is Air Law.

Moot Court competitions
Depending on the size of the class, students will have the opportunity to participate in an extra-curricular moot court competition.
In the framework of the Air Law courses, students may participate in the International Air Law Moot Court, organised by the IIASL of Leiden University and the Sarin Legal Foundation, which takes place every year in March.

In the framework of the Space law and policy course, students may participate in the European Rounds of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition organised each year by the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). The European rounds take place somewhere in Europe, around April, and the winners of this round represent Europe in the World Finals held during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), which takes place in September/October, each year in a different location.

Considerations regarding the starting date of your LL.M. programme
You can start the LL.M. programme in Air and Space Law in September or in February. If you are thinking of starting the programme in February, then please take into account the following:
Normally students use the months of June-August for their internship and thesis. If you start in February, it will be difficult to do your internship and thesis in the field of Air Law, because the main courses on Air Law are being taught in the Fall semester (September-December). So if your main interest lies in the field of air law, you are advised to start the programme in September. If your main interest is space law, then both September and February are suitable for starting the programme. Note that all students follow courses in both air and space law.
If you would like to be considered for one of the moot court teams, you are advised to start in September.

All applicants should: * have completed their full law degree (offering access to legal practice) with sufficient knowledge of international law [1]. Some prior knowledge of Air and Space Law is certainly an asset, but is not compulsory. In addition, candidates for the blended learning version of the Advanced Masters programme must have at least five years of professional experience in the field of air and/or space activities, as the programme is specifically designed for experienced professionals; * demonstrate a sufficiently high performance in a general law programme, validated by grades on their university degree/transcript and accompanying grade criteria, and two letters of recommendation from current or previous professors and/or employers; * have sufficient knowledge of European Law and international organisations. Applicants whose legal studies did not include these subject areas may be admitted provided they take the compulsory supplementary courses offered; * demonstrate a keen interest in aviation and space activities and the legal implications thereof, illustrated by, for example, a letter of motivation, past experience related to the subject i.e., professional experience, publications, conference papers; * have proven English-language proficiency, validated through a TOEFL test (600 paper-based/250 computer-based or 100 Internet-based) or IELTStest (7.0), occasionally complemented by a telephone interview. This requirement does not apply if you have: * completed your education in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia, or * an International BaccalaureateStudents who want to start in September and do not meet this level of English but have a minimum score of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, may be offered a place on the programme on the condition that they attend a two-month pre-sessional English course at Leiden University. For the February intake no pre-sessional English courses are offered.[1] A full law degree is considered a degree that gives access to the legal professions in the country where the degree was obtained. Where specialist expertise is required to assess the level of degrees obtained by applicants, the expertise of the Admissions Office or the Nuffic (Netherlands Organization for International Co-operation in Higher Education) is sought.NoteAll of Leiden Universitys LL.M. and LL.M. Advanced Studies programmes are NVAO accredited. However, as the LL.M. Advanced Studies programmes are not funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Dutch and EEA students will be required to pay the same tuition fee as that of (other) international students. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 TOEFL paper-based test score : 600 TOEFL iBT® test: 100

Scholarships / Grants:
Leiden University:For additional information: Website

Accreditation

Accredited by: NVAO in: The Netherlands