European Master of Laws in Law and Economics
The programme offers the unique opportunity for interdisciplinary studies of law and economics. It provides students with an advanced understanding of the economic effects on divergent laws. The programme covers one year and is divided in three terms, you will choose at least two different universities of the consortium.
What
This programme offers the unique opportunity for interdisciplinary studies of law and economics. It provides students with an advanced understanding of the economic effects of divergent laws. For law students knowledge of the specific regulations of their home country is too narrow a base for counseling firms that are active in interstate trade. Additionally, knowledge of the economic effects of legal rules has become indispensable for understanding their clients' commercial needs.
Similarly, economics students will profit from an accurate understanding of the institutional legal framework of market economies. Hence, for both lawyers and economists, knowledge of the other discipline and international contacts are crucial for a successful future career.
Borders in Europe are becoming less and less meaningful. For law studies, internationalisation creates a specific problem. The legal systems in the different European countries became increasingly divergent due to the increasing importance of specific regulations regarding areas such as social security, industrial policy, protection of the environment, equal treatment of minority groups etc. The economic analysis of law, often briefly called 'law and economics', is certainly a good candidate as a standard for relevant comparison of law. Economics should be able to develop thoroughgoing and systematic insights into law, on the explanatory as well as on the normative level. The Master in Law and Economics allows students to compare the legal institutions of their country and to evaluate them on the basis of a solid analytical framework in the hope for a new European 'ius commune' in which insights of Law and Economics are to play an important role.
For whom
The admission requirements depend on previous degrees (type of degree, country of issue etc.) or additional experience.
Structure
The study programme comprises three kinds of courses. In order to make law students more familiar with basic economic reasoning, some courses are more economic in orientation. Other courses deal with comparative law in order to internationalise the legal background of the students. From the second term onwards, students can select into one of three tracks of specialization: corporate law, innovation law, or public law. The references to law in the courses will be of a comparative kind, due to the all-European character of the programme and the international composition of the audience.
Student mobility
The programme covers one academic year, for which successful students will receive 60 credits. The academic year is divided into three terms. The unique international and interdisciplinary character of the EMLE Programme is secured through an intensive co-operation between lawyers and economists at no less than eight European Universities and three non-European partners.
- Students may study at up to three different universities but cannot spend all terms in the same location.
- In the first term courses will be offered at the universities of Rotterdam, Hamburg and Haifa.
- In the second term students will study at the universities of Ghent, Hamburg or Rotterdam.
- In the third term courses are offered in Aix-en-Provence, Barcelona, Prague, Rome, Rotterdam, Vienna, Warsaw, Mumbai and Haifa.
A bilateral exchange agreement exists, enabling some of the best students to visit the University of California at Berkeley (3rd term)
> Master’s dissertation
The master’s dissertation is a requirement for every candidate to obtain a master’s degree. The master’s dissertation is an original piece of research work. It aims to develop and strengthen the research capacity skills of the students. The student selects a topic and is given guidance by a promoter or supervisor. The master’s dissertation consists of a critical bibliography review part, a theoretical reflection and an original analysis of the topic.
Labour Market
Law and economy interact in many ways. Private law assists individuals and groups willing to enter into agreements in a free market. Public law seeks to correct the outcomes of a free market system by means of economic and social regulation.
Economists should be informed about the legal environment in which economic activities must be conducted. Lawyers should be aware of the economic effects of current legal rules and the expected outcome under a different legal regime.
The master programme prepares students for a professional career, for example, in public organisations, in multinational law firms or consultancy firms. Graduates are also well prepared for doctorate research in a PhD programme.
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
Ghent University continuously focuses on quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
More information:
Unique Selling Points
- Interdisciplinary nature: Economists and jurists attend all lessons together during the complete programme. The programme provides the students with the required competences to apply the economic sciences creatively and in a problem solving way to legal matters.
- Gradual knowledge creation: The programme implements a gradual creation of knowledge. First term basic courses are followed by profound courses in the second term, and specialist courses (elected by the students) in the third term. The programme is concluded with a master’s dissertation. During the programme the students are constantly encouraged to reflect critically.
- Programme harmonisation: Thorough harmonisation of courses and content across all international partners. In spite of the many professors and the diverse specialities of the academic staff and the research groups the programme has successfully built a uniform learning trajectory by means of a thorough and continuous coordination.
- Attention to methodological and research competences: Throughout the entire programme all students are imparted the methodological knowledge and competences to carry out research. This methodology and research learning pathway gives students a logical and gradual leg up to the master’s dissertation.
- International acknowledgment: The EMLE programme has established a reputation as an example of quality of international master programmes. It has been designated “Programme of Excellence” by European institutions and has been awarded Mundus I and Mundus II grants.
Strengths
- Thorough analysis of students’ evaluation: The director of studies carries out a statistical analysis of the students’ course evaluations, including a report of the comparison between partner universities and the evolution over recent years. The course evaluations involve a whole range of variables on quality.
- Acknowledgment of quality of teaching/social dimension: Course evaluations are presented by the director of studies at the annual Board Meetings in the presence of all coordinators and several teachers. Each term and each year “Teacher of the Year” awards are presented during a ceremony in the presence of students.
- Listen to students: In addition to the quality’s quantitative evaluation, qualitative information is gathered about the students’ experiences of the programme’s quality. This information is gathered by means of notes of students from every partner university (first and second term), and open discussions with the student representatives at the Midterm Meeting.
- Development of Best Practices: On the basis of course evaluations, and information and experience exchange between teachers the Board annually formulates Best Practices on the programme’s quality. Partner universities and their teachers are commissioned to implement best practices and each university’s local coordinator reports to the Board on the university’s progress.
- Extensive coordination: As an international programme with partners in 10 countries we work together thoroughly with 3 Board Meetings and on extensive coordination on quality assurance. The annual Summer Meeting’s only goal is to improve the course content and teaching – by means of course evaluations and the exchange of information and experiences between teachers of the same course at diverse partner universities.
Weaknesses
- Coordinate tasks and assignments at a partner university: Students often complain that assignments frequently have to be delivered in the same period. That is why teachers have to agree more on the timing of assignments.
- Equate course load: Evaluations show that the course load is on occasions heavier at certain universities. Better coordination on this matter is priority.
- Feedback: The students are right to indicate that they receive too little feedback on their examinations. Giving feedback is impeded because students attend a new university during the next term when they have completed their examinations. Because of the implementation of Best Practices professors are expected to at least (1) provide a model solution when entering the examination results; (2) invite students to ask questions by email.
This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (in Dutch: NVAO) in 2019.
This information was last updated on 01/06/2021.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.