Applicants who apply for the English-language LL.M. programmes or the LL.M. Advanced Studies programmes may benefit from attending the pre-sessional English classes offered by Leiden Law School and the Leiden Language Centre.
Students who do not meet the required language level for the LL.M. programme (minimum score required: IELTS 7.0 or internet based Toefl 100) may be offered the opportunity to bring their English up to the required entry level by attending either an 8 or a 4-week English course. The course is especially designed to fast track applicants who have IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 (or equivalent Toefl) to the required English level.
Your study programme will be extended by a maximum of 12 ECTS with the addition of English language classes (IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 to IELTS 7.0 level courses) to be held at the Leiden University Language Centre.
Note: this offer is open only to applicants with IELTS 6.0, 6.5 or 7.0.
IELTS 6.5 and 6.0 are equivalent to:
Start date of the pre-sessional classes:
Both courses will be completed before the last week of August 2013, so that you can participate in the international welcome activities organised by the university just before the start of the academic year.
The pre-sessional English classes require an additional fee in addition to the standard tuition fee, with an additional cost of approximately € 50 for the required reading materials.
Applicants who already meet the required English language test score can also benefit from attending the pre-sessional courses on a voluntary basis. If you are interested in attending these courses, please send an e-mail to s.bruce@law.leidenuniv.nl.
If you prefer not to take pre-sessional English classes
If you receive an offer of admission for an extended (Adv) LLM programme with pre-sessional English classes, but you prefer not to take pre-sessional classes, please let your programme coordinator and the Admissions Office know as soon as possible. You must then re-take your IELTS or Toefl test and submit a sufficient score (IELTS 7.0 or internet based Toefl 100) if you wish to be eligible to join the study programme. Your sufficient English score must be received by the Admissions Office before the start date of the study programme, or before the visa/residence permit deadline if applicable.
You can request student accommodation for both during your pre-sessional English course and during your Master’s studies. As students following pre-sessional courses arrive in Leiden during the quieter summer months, they are initially all housed together in the same university housing complex. Additional introduction and social activities are also arranged for the whole group. This provides you with a great opportunity to get to know your fellow international law students and the city of Leiden before you start your Master’s degree.
At the end of your pre-sessional course and prior to embarking on your Master’s studies you will move to a different room in another university housing complex. You can indicate your preferred choice of housing complex for your Master’s year after you receive an offer of admission from the Admissions Office.
More information on student accommodation can be found on our Student Housing website
Note: Due to the regulations governing short-stay accommodation in the Netherlands, it is not possible to stay in the same student room for the duration of both your pre-sessional English course and your Master’s degree.The Housing Office charges a standard ‘moving fee’ for students who move to a new student room. However as a special service for our presessional course students, Leiden Law School will cover these costs.