Program Overview

Master's Academic Excellence Track

The Academic Excellence Track (AcET) is an honours programme that is supplementary to the master’s programme students are enrolled in. AcET can be pursued in addition to all LLM programs (Dutch and English). Students will be able to accomplish AcET in the second semester of the academic year.

Programme Details

• Programme type: Honours
• Study load: 15 EC
• Duration: 0.25 year
• Language of instruction: English

Focus and Objectives

AcET focuses on legal research, academic depth, and opportunities for professional development. As a student, you will receive advanced training in research methods and academic skills, as well as gather first-hand research experience during a research internship at one of the research projects at our research-intensive faculty.

Eligibility and Admission

AcET is designed for excellent law students with evident research talent. AcET is a selective programme, and only students with a proven track-record of excellence (GPA 8+) will be eligible to apply.

Outcomes and Benefits

After graduating from AcET, you will have acquired:

• The skill required to solve complex problems creatively and to critically reflect on such problems and solutions
• An advanced understanding of theories regarding academic legal research and corresponding research methods, including normative, empirical, and critical legal approaches
• The ability to define a problem, to justify a chosen research method, and identify its limitations
• First-hand research experience and the ability to conduct supervised scientific research, individually or in small teams
• The ability to independently produce a research thesis of excellent academic quality

Recognition and Certification

Graduating from AcET will be mentioned on students' diploma supplement, and the AcET courses will be listed on their transcripts.

Additional Activities

There will be a number of activities organised with and for AcET students, such as an introduction day, a legal field trip, and academic as well as social side-events.