Programme

Modes of study

The programme is available in the following versions:

Master’s 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 master’s 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.

Master’s of Advanced Studies Programme Blended Learning

A blended learning version of the Master’s 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.