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How can companies and governments make legal decisions that keep pace with a rapidly changing world? What role does international law play in trade, investment and sustainability? These are the questions at the heart of the International Business Law (IBL) master’s programme.
You will, for example, work on real cases in international business, trade and investment law, explore the legal aspects of climate transition and sustainability, or study how companies and investors navigate risks and opportunities in a complex global economy. While the exact focus differs by specialisation, each pathway prepares you to become a legal professional with a broad perspective and strong international skills.
VU is proud to be the first university in Europe to offer a dedicated International Business Law degree that combines an all-round Master’s in Business Law with a focus on some of the most complex legal challenges of our time: climate change and the societal and environmental effects of economic globalisation.
You can choose from two English-taught specialisations within IBL. Each specialisation has a clear identity and offers a pathway to a wide range of career opportunities. Both follow a current, practice-oriented approach to business law and focus on what is happening in the world today.
Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Business and Management Studies
Degree
LLM
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
How can companies and governments make legal decisions that keep pace with a rapidly changing world? What role does international law play in trade, investment and sustainability? These are the questions at the heart of the International Business Law (IBL) master’s programme.
You will, for example, work on real cases in international business, trade and investment law, explore the legal aspects of climate transition and sustainability, or study how companies and investors navigate risks and opportunities in a complex global economy. While the exact focus differs by specialisation, each pathway prepares you to become a legal professional with a broad perspective and strong international skills.
VU is proud to be the first university in Europe to offer a dedicated International Business Law degree that combines an all-round Master’s in Business Law with a focus on some of the most complex legal challenges of our time: climate change and the societal and environmental effects of economic globalisation.
You can choose from two English-taught specialisations within IBL. Each specialisation has a clear identity and offers a pathway to a wide range of career opportunities. Both follow a current, practice-oriented approach to business law and focus on what is happening in the world today.
Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.
Admission Requirements
Students must meet the following admission requirements:
1. Academic requirements
Your previous education needs to be deemed equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree ( wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO ) obtained at a research university (nominal duration 3 years).
If you have a degree from a University of Applied Sciences, you need a completed relevant pre-master's to apply. The faculty does not offer a pre-master's for this master.
2. Programme specific requirements
Admission to this Master’s programme (LLM) is based on a relevant degree, and on merit and motivation.
You can apply with an academic Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) or equivalent.
If you do not have such a degree, but you have a sound academic background and considerable experience in the field of law, and you can substantiate this, then you can also apply.
Merit is demonstrated by academic excellence, as evidenced by your overall grade average, your thesis, academic English proficiency, proficiency in (legal) research methods and techniques and recommendations. You should have a min. Grade Point Average (GPA) of 7.0 according to the Dutch grading system. Please note that VU Amsterdam will convert international grades into the Dutch equivalents in order to assess your GPA.
Motivation is demonstrated not only in your motivation letter, but also by relevant extra-curricular academic and/or legal work experience on your CV.
A somewhat lower score in one area may be compensated by a strong score in another.
3. English-language proficiency requirements
You will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. You can find an overview of relevant information to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page.
1 Year
Sep
Tuition fees
Domestic
2,694 EUR
International
24,830 EUR
Scholarships
Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.
To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:
Start at the programme page of the degree you are interested in. Read the admission requirements and application steps carefully. Then apply through Studielink, complete your application on your VU dashboard, pay the application fee (if required), and wait for the admission decision, which is usually communicated within 4–6 weeks.
Check the specific ‘Admissions’ section on your programme’s page for required documents. General requirements include your diploma, transcripts and other supporting documents. Documents should be in English, German, Dutch, French, Italian, or Spanish; others must be translated into English.
Yes, for Master’s, you can apply without a diploma copy; if conditionally admitted, you must send a certified diploma copy before the deadline.
The International Office checks your application for completeness. If there’s missing or incorrect information, they will contact you. Otherwise, your application is reviewed and you typically receive a decision within 4–8 weeks. Check your email (including spam) regularly for updates.
International Business Law
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
# 151-200QS Subject Rankings
12 monthsProgramme duration
24,830 EURTuition Fee/year
Business and Management StudiesMain Subject Area
Programme overview
Main Subject
Business and Management Studies
Degree
LLM
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
How can companies and governments make legal decisions that keep pace with a rapidly changing world? What role does international law play in trade, investment and sustainability? These are the questions at the heart of the International Business Law (IBL) master’s programme.
You will, for example, work on real cases in international business, trade and investment law, explore the legal aspects of climate transition and sustainability, or study how companies and investors navigate risks and opportunities in a complex global economy. While the exact focus differs by specialisation, each pathway prepares you to become a legal professional with a broad perspective and strong international skills.
VU is proud to be the first university in Europe to offer a dedicated International Business Law degree that combines an all-round Master’s in Business Law with a focus on some of the most complex legal challenges of our time: climate change and the societal and environmental effects of economic globalisation.
You can choose from two English-taught specialisations within IBL. Each specialisation has a clear identity and offers a pathway to a wide range of career opportunities. Both follow a current, practice-oriented approach to business law and focus on what is happening in the world today.
Climate Change and Corporations
Trade and Investment
Summer School
Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Business and Management Studies
Degree
LLM
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
How can companies and governments make legal decisions that keep pace with a rapidly changing world? What role does international law play in trade, investment and sustainability? These are the questions at the heart of the International Business Law (IBL) master’s programme.
You will, for example, work on real cases in international business, trade and investment law, explore the legal aspects of climate transition and sustainability, or study how companies and investors navigate risks and opportunities in a complex global economy. While the exact focus differs by specialisation, each pathway prepares you to become a legal professional with a broad perspective and strong international skills.
VU is proud to be the first university in Europe to offer a dedicated International Business Law degree that combines an all-round Master’s in Business Law with a focus on some of the most complex legal challenges of our time: climate change and the societal and environmental effects of economic globalisation.
You can choose from two English-taught specialisations within IBL. Each specialisation has a clear identity and offers a pathway to a wide range of career opportunities. Both follow a current, practice-oriented approach to business law and focus on what is happening in the world today.
Climate Change and Corporations
Trade and Investment
Summer School
Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.
Admission Requirements
Students must meet the following admission requirements:
1. Academic requirements
Your previous education needs to be deemed equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree ( wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO ) obtained at a research university (nominal duration 3 years).
If you have a degree from a University of Applied Sciences, you need a completed relevant pre-master's to apply. The faculty does not offer a pre-master's for this master.
2. Programme specific requirements
Admission to this Master’s programme (LLM) is based on a relevant degree, and on merit and motivation.
You can apply with an academic Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) or equivalent.
If you do not have such a degree, but you have a sound academic background and considerable experience in the field of law, and you can substantiate this, then you can also apply.
Merit is demonstrated by academic excellence, as evidenced by your overall grade average, your thesis, academic English proficiency, proficiency in (legal) research methods and techniques and recommendations. You should have a min. Grade Point Average (GPA) of 7.0 according to the Dutch grading system. Please note that VU Amsterdam will convert international grades into the Dutch equivalents in order to assess your GPA.
Motivation is demonstrated not only in your motivation letter, but also by relevant extra-curricular academic and/or legal work experience on your CV.
A somewhat lower score in one area may be compensated by a strong score in another.
3. English-language proficiency requirements
You will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. You can find an overview of relevant information to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page.Tuition fees
Domestic
International
Scholarships
Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.
To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:
How to get a full scholarship
Looking for a fully-funded scholarship to see you into university? Find out how to boost your chances of getting one.
Scholarships to study abroad
Find scholarships to study abroad with our lists of international scholarships – categorized by country, by subject, and by type of student.
Scholarship Applications: Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to all your questions about scholarship applications, including tips on how to find scholarships and chances of success.
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