Honours Programme Law

• Faculty Honours courses at the Faculty of Law

  Due to the limited availability of faculty Honours courses, the number of credits required for faculty Honours courses has been adjusted for students graduating in the 2026–2027 academic year or later.

  Students graduating in the 2026–2027 academic year or later are required to complete a minimum of 6 EC and a maximum of 12 EC in faculty Honours courses. The remaining 18–24 EC must be completed through interfaculty Honours courses. 

  The 6 or 12 credits at the Faculty of Law can be earned in the following courses:

  • Corporate Social Responsibility; Human and Labour Rights in supply-chains (semester 1 (period 1); 6 EC) [This course will no longer be offered in 2026–2027]
  • Transnational Organized Crime and Conflict (semester 2 (period 4); 6 EC)
  • Beyond Grotius. History of International Law and Diplomacy: Europeanisation and Globalisation (semester 2 (period 4/5); 6 EC) [This course will no longer be offered in 2026–2027]
  • Editing the VU blog platform on current legal issues (semester 1 and 2 (mid-October-period 6); 6 EC) Students have to apply for the course by sending an application letter to anja.eleveld@vu.nl before 30 September 2026.
  • Piracy and the History of International Law (semester 2 (period 4/5); 6 EC) [This course starts in 2026–2027]

  In addition, you can earn 3 credits by participating in the Amsterdam Law Trials (moot court competition against UvA, AUC and PPLE teams) or by writing a lengthier Bachelor’s thesis. The latter does not apply to LIS students. 

  Would you like more details about the courses you could follow? Take a look at the Honoursprogramme descriptions in the study guide.

• Interfaculty honours courses

  The interfaculty courses are taught by top lecturers from the VU, UvA, Amsterdam University College and by (international) guest lecturers. The groups are small and you will be expected to give presentations, write papers and make an active contribution to discussions.

  Some examples of these courses are: Brain and Behavior, Retorica, New Anatomy, Climate Change, The Future Entrepreneur, International Development and Human Rights and Globalisation, Biosocial Aspects of Antisocial behavior, Robot Law.

  More information about the programme and the interfaculty honours courses can be found on the general web pages of the  VU Honours Programme. 

• Why participate

  The reasons for participating can vary: academic curiosity, intellectual challenge, broadening and deepening of your regular studies, contacts with like-minded students (also from other faculties), the creative and interdisciplinary learning environment or the honours rating on your Bachelor degree.

  Since most of the courses are in English, this will benefit your English speaking, listening and writing skills.

• Nice Extras

  The Honours programme is about more than just taking extra courses. Every year we are allowed to select students for participation in the Netherlands-Asia Honours Summer School where you visit China for seven weeks. You will be informed about prestigious scholarships such as studying for a Master’s degree abroad. You can also become a member of Extensus, the study association of Honours students. They organize a study trip abroad, Master classes and social activities.

  When you have completed everything, you will be invited to the festive Graduation Event. These are some of the extras that participation in the programme entails.

• Sign up!

  Register directly on the central web pages of the VU Honours Programme where you can also find more general information about the content and admission requirements of the programme.

Contact

Have you missed the information meetings or have any questions? Please feel free to use our the walk-in office hours!

honours.rechten@vu.nl

Contact

• Prof. dr. mr. Hylkje de Jong
• Honours coordinator Faculty of Law
• honours.rechten@vu.nl

• Drs. Eva Meijerink
• VU Honours coordinator
• 020-5983497
• honours@vu.nl