The Advanced LL.M. in Air and Space Law offered by Leiden
University is one of the most dynamic Masters of Law
a student can pursue. For Indian students, all that
is required is a keen interest in aviation matters,
a good past academic record, up-to-date knowledge about
the happenings in the aviation world and preferably
some work experience in the legal or aviation sector.
Application Procedure
Students from India must also take the TOEFL or the
IELTS (both are accepted). Application procedure is
all done online and can be found on www.law.leiden.edu,
a hard copy of the manual of courses and admission
procedures can be requested, which will be mailed
to the perspective student free of charge. Tuition
fees for the 1 year LL.M. is 15,000 EUR and this includes
books. Housing, however, is extra. Two kinds of teaching
methods are available, 1. Face to face: Where the
student stays in Leiden full time and attends classes
as usual. 2. Blended Learning: For already working
lawyers, they are required to attend 2 weeks at the
beginning of each semester (2 in a year) and are required
to submit assignments every 2 weeks for the duration
of the course.
All submissions are made confidentially through a
special Leiden University online portal. Students
have the option of starting either in February or
September, however, it is preferred if students start
in September, as the course is designed to start in
September and gives the students the perfect build
up to the courses at the end of the year.
Views of the Director
According to the Director, Prof. P.
Mendes De Leon, The Master’s Programme in Air
and Space Law offered by the International Institute
of Air and Space law of Leiden University, the Netherlands,
is a combination of public air law, private air law
and space law, both from an international and European
perspective.
The programme which has been running since September
2000, and was internationally accredited in 2007,
is unique in the world and attracts increasing numbers
of participants from all parts of the world. It has
a clearly defined European dimension, whereas it keeps
track with new demands from the professional air transport
sector by also focusing on relatively new and young
fields of air and space law such as financing of air
and space craft, management of air transport and space
companies and space tourism. Without neglecting academic
levels, the courses pay specific attention to professional
applications, particularly through its internship
requirements. A blended learning version of the programme,
enabling participants to obtain the advanced LLM degree
by working principally but not exclusively from their
home or professional base is also offered.
Other views
"The LLM (Adv) in Air and Space Law
at Leiden University is one of only two specialised
LLM programmes in Air and Space Law, the other being
at McGill University in Montreal. What distinguishes
Leiden is an emphasis on European law as well as on
the commercial aspects of both air and space law,
aspects which are of ever growing importance. The
reason I chose Leiden is simple - it is also the only
such programme available on a blended learning basis
for practitioners. Our class consists of both full
time students, mostly fresh from undergraduate studies,
and blended learning students such as myself, who
travel to Leiden every few months or so but who otherwise
study from home while continuing to work full time.
The mix of students is, in my view, a very good idea.
The professionalism of the programme combined with
personal care and attention from the faculty makes
the programme very worthwhile. As an aircraft finance
lawyer, I appreciate the solid grounding in both public
and private air law, as well as the solid grounding
in space law, with which I am less familiar. Comparing
and contrasting air and space law has enhanced my
knowledge of both."
- Donal Hanley, Vice President,
Legal, Aviation Capital Group
"Ever since the tender age of 6, I have been
totally fascinated with aircraft and with the beautiful
machines that fly us around the globe in a matter
of hours. Surprisingly for a child of just a few years,
my passion lay with a rather dull interest in law.
On growing older, I thought of ways to combine both
my fascination and passion in my career, Leiden University
had the answer. The Advanced LL.M. in Aviation and
Space Law offered by Leiden University is one of the
most versatile courses a student of law can pursue.
The program covers various key aspects of aviation
aswell as space law including, International Aviation
Policy, Aircraft Financing and Aviation Liability,
the space part also is very diverse and trains the
students in the worlds most upcoming field of law.
Lectures are imparted by a panel of world famous professors,
aviation specialists, aviation lawyers, executive
officers and Ph.D. students, giving the students a
wholesome education and results in them mastering
the legal sphere of aviation. Lastly, this program,
being one of the two in the world and situated in
Europe, gives the students a brilliant overview of
aviation matters in the evolving European Legal System
as well as from the global sphere, mainly due to its
central location on the globe. As they say, "The
sky is the limit", and this LLM programme truly
lives up to that quote.”
- Nitin Sarin, B.A. LL.B. (Legal Aviation specialist, completed the Adv. LL.M. in Air and Space Law in 2008-2009)
Further information
