Master of Laws (LLM) in EU and EEA Law at University of Bergen

Today’s Europe requires experts who possess a thorough knowledge of European law. Specialist legal knowledge of how the international and national systems interact, influence, and develop dynamically in tandem with each other, is increasingly in demand. And whilst there are countless LLM-programmes in EU law offered by universities around the globe, given its unique emphasis on the intricacies and peculiarities of EEA law, the LLM in EU and EEA law is unique, and the first of its kind in the world.

The programme is designed to prepare you for a wealth of theoretical, but also practical EU/EEA legal issues that you may encounter, for example when working in the public administration, as a corporate lawyer as a judge or in academia. 

The first semester (autumn I): starts off with the course JUS3500 EU and EEA Institutional Law and Policymaking, an interdisciplinary introduction to the institutional and constitutional aspects of both EU and EEA cooperation. As a gateway to the programme’s substantive EU/EEA law modules, the students will here learn about the policies and political integration theories explaining the current legal structures, in combination with traditional legal dogmatic perspectives on the distribution and nature of competences of the EU/EEA/EFTA institutions, the political and legal principles and rules guiding their decision-making, and how they cooperate – both with each other and with the constituent Member States – in practice. The implementation and impact of EU and EEA law in the Member States, and the levels of discretion they enjoy in various fields, will be a central theme here – and a recurring topic throughout the entire programme.

After having completed the introductory course, the remainder of the first semester will focus on the fundamental principles governing the core aspects of EU and EEA cooperation – namely free movement rights and competition which will be studied through the two courses “Free Movement under EU and EEA Internal Market Law” and “Competition Law”.

The second semester (Spring): will open for further specialization through various semi-obligatory and elective courses. Students will take three courses (each of 10 ECTS) and at least two of them must be among the three semi-obligatory specialisation courses on the programme which are

• EU and EEA State Aid Law (JUS3502 , 10 ECTS)
• EU and EEA Public Procurement Law (JUS3515, 10 ECTS)
• EEA Moot Court (JUS330-A, 10 ECTS)

The semi-obligatory courses to be taken in the second semester will build directly on knowledge and skills attained during the first semester and will cover a wide range of substantive legal issues.

Instead of taking all of the three semi-obligatory courses, students may also choose one of the following elective courses:

• Privacy and Data Protection - GDPR (JUS3503, 10 ECTS)
• EU Copyright Law (JUS3514, 10 ECTS)
• International Climate Law (JUS3511, 10 ECTS)
• Legal Philosophy (JUS3512, 10 ECTS)
• Health and Human Rights (JUS3522, 10 ECTS)

The final semester (autumn II): will be devoted to legal research and the writing of a master’s thesis on a chosen EU/EEA law topic. Preparatory work with the thesis will nevertheless begin already from the very first weeks of the programme and be followed up throughout in the form of lectures and seminars. The lectures and seminars are designed to teach the students how to conduct and write legal research in the field, including matters such as how to identify and choose a topic, seeking out legal sources, drafting skeletons etc. A supervisor will be made available to each student.

Site visits to certain key national and/or international institutions working with EU/EEA law on a day-to-day basis and optional participation at local seminars and conferences on EU/EEA law related topics throughout the programme, including presentations of ongoing research projects by Law Faculty members, will provide further important insights and context for students admitted to the Master of Laws programme. 

Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the core legal principles and rules governing EU and EEA cooperation concerning the internal market, competition law, and certain ancillary policies thereto.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the relationship between the EU and EEA policymaking and regulatory regimes, and their relationship to the national political and legal systems of the EEA Member States.
• Thorough knowledge of the international and national mechanisms ensuring proper surveillance and enforcement of EU and EEA law, and how they interact, in practice.
• Awareness of the most recent developments in the case-law of the EU and EFTA Courts and national courts of the EEA states concerning on both institutional and substantive matters
• Familiarity with the main theories of European integration, and general knowledge and understanding of the polity, politics, and policies of the EU and EEA.

Skills

• A strong grounding in various legal research skills and techniques particular to EU and EEA law.
• The ability to read and critically analyse and assess various EU/EEA legal texts and academic works in an independent fashion.
• Advanced written and oral English skills, including the clear and succinct expression of ideas through presentations and case-studies.
• The ability to relate knowledge acquired on the programme to current events and developments within the EU and EEA.
• The ability to discuss and reflect on various EU/EEA policies, the institutional arrangements behind them, and their possible legal and policymaking implications both presently and in the future.

The Master of Laws programme in EU and EEA law offers a study path of clear relevance to the pursuit of a wide variety of professions – primarily in law, as a legal practitioner or judge, but also in other fields where such specialist legal knowledge may prove helpful. 

The programme is also a relevant recruitment arena for international organizations such as: 

• the European Union,
• European Free Trade Association (EFTA),
• United Nations, World Trade Organization etc.

International institutions such as the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA), the EFTA Court, the European Commission and the Court of Justice with its many subdivisions are important employers for lawyers with specialist knowledge in EU and EEA law.

The Master of Laws programme in EU and EEA Law will also prepare its students for potential future academic careers at universities and colleges. 

Read more about the University of Bergen's PhD programme in Law. 

To apply for the Master of Laws Programme in EU and EEA Law you must have obtained a bachelor’s degree in law (3- or 4-years’ duration) or have completed law studies equivalent to a bachelor’s degree (first degree) in law.

You also need to document:

• That you have obtained an average grade of minimum Norwegian grade C or the equivalent, in your previous law studies. (The Norwegian grade C equals to the grade C in the ECTS system or to the US grade B.)
• Proficiency in English
• Your motivation for the programme by submitting a letter of motivation (this applies to all applicants)

All you need to know about the application procedure you can find here: How to apply for a master's degree.