“INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN UNION LAW” PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

Why Master Studies of Law at Vilnius University?

The Faculty of Law at Vilnius University is the oldest and most prestigious law school in the country and one of the best in the region. Each year 300 Masters of Laws graduate from our university and are particularly welcome by employers.

The study programme “International and European Union Law” at Vilnius University is an officially registered full-time university study programme; upon its completion, a student will acquire the European-wide recognized qualification of the Master of Law. Professors of the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University have gained significant experience in international and the European Union law as a result of their active involvement and participation in the implementation of international and the European Union law in Lithuania. They are distinguished experts in the legal specificity of Western Europe as well as Central and Eastern Europe.

Programme description

The objective

The objective of the study programme is to train legal experts and legal service professionals with:
– the comprehensive and profound knowledge about international, international-regional and European Union legal norms that influence the most important areas of national legal systems, as well as development, interpretation and application practice of these legal norms;
– abilities to identify, analyse and solve complex problems related to law-making and legal application in the contexts of international and European Union law;
– abilities to apply the acquired knowledge in professional practice in an innovative and integral way in order to settle disputes and legal conflicts that arise in international environment;
– critical approach and skills to carry out independent research and provide suggestions based on scientific analysis.

Career opportunities

The completion of the study programme enables graduates to be legal experts (advisers) to both public and private entities, engage themselves as problem analysts or researchers in academic institutions as well as to work in all major legal professions in national and international, governmental and non-governmental organizations and companies. A possibility of holding an office in regulated professions (judges, solicitors, prosecutors, civil servants etc.) will depend on qualification requirements applicable in a particular country and the recognition of foreign studies.

Structure of the programme

The full-time study programme lasts three semesters (1.5 years). In the first and the second semester, students shall have to complete 3 compulsory and 2 optional courses and gain 6 ECTS credits (equivalent to 240 hours of student workload). The compulsory courses aim at providing thorough knowledge in different legal systems as well as offering an overview of fundamental legal norms and techniques of their practical application. Optional courses provide an opportunity to choose an individual area of study according to the student’s individual needs and interests and to lay the foundations for analytical research work. Each course includes lectures as well as practical instruction time (workshops and seminars). During the third-semester a Master Thesis on a scientifically and/or practically relevant topic demonstrating the student’s analytical skills shall be prepared.