Overview
This combined program will permit University of Western Ontario (UWO) students to earn an LLB from UWO and an LLM from the University of Gronigen [Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen] (RuG), in 3 1/2 years. Similarly, RuG students will be able to complement their Netherlands Law Degree by earning a UWO LLB by attending UWO for an exchange year and one additional year.
LLB/LLM Program for UWO Law Students
UWO Law students seeking admission to the combined program will apply during their first or second year to go on exchange to RuG. Students accepted on the one-term exchange will be eligible to apply to the combined program, provided they stand in the top half of their UWO class. Students will have to maintain this standing during the remainder of their LLB program to enrol in RuG's LLM program. UWO students will attend RuG on an exchange for one term during their second or third year. After graduating with an LLB, UWO students in the combined program will return to RuG for an additional term to take the remainder of their LLM courses. RuG has two semesters. The first term runs from September to the beginning of February and the second runs from February to August. UWO students going to RuG will have four LLM programs from which to choose: European Law, International Law and the Law of International Organizations, International and European Comparative Private Law, and International Economic and Business Law. The first and second of these programs also can be completed with a specialization in human rights. Each LLM program consists of a minimum of six courses, a seminar and a thesis. A total of 60 Eyropean Credits (EC) must be taken to graduate from the program. One EC is equivalent to 28 hours of study. The courses in the LLM program are offered in English. The specific course requirements for each LLM program are available from the co-ordinators of the combined program. Students will have to plan their courses for their exchange term at RuG very carefully so as to be able to satisfy these requirements in one additional term.
LLB Program for RuG Law Students
After completing two years of their three-year law degree or three years of their four-year law degree at RuG, students may apply to the combined program, provided they stand in the top half of their RuG class. Students will have to maintain this standing during the remainder of their law degree at RuG to enrol in UWO's LLB program. RuG students accepted into the program will be required to complete two years at the UWO Faculty of Law. During their initial year at UWO, the RuG students will be enrolled in the regular first-year program. In the second year of the combined program, RuG students will be required to take the compulsory elements of UWO's regular upper-year program, subject to the exception that a student who already has taken an equivalent to Public International Law need only take two of the four core-group courses, rather than three of the five. In addition to these compulsory elements, students will select additional upper-year courses to enrol in a minimum of 29 credit hours. The requirements of UWO's first and upper-year law program are available from the co-ordinators of the combined program.
Academic Policies
Once admitted into the combined program, students will be required to meet the academic progression requirements of the school they are attending. Similarly, students will have to comply with the student code of conduct and academic integrity requirements of that school. UWO students admitted to the combined program will remain eligible under the normal UWO rules for the Dean's Honor List and to graduate with distinction. RuG students admitted to the combined program will be eligible for the Dean's Honor List in each of their two years of study at UWO, and will graduate with distinction from UWO if they are on the Dean's Honor List in both years.
Administration
Each institution will appoint a faculty member to serve as the co-ordinator of the combined degree program. The co-ordinators will be responsible for admission decisions and the on-going operation of the combined program. The co-ordinators will attempt to maintain reciprocity in the number of incoming and outgoing students at the two schools.
Tuition (provisional and provided for information only)
RuG students in the first year of the LLB at UWO will, like other exchange students, pay regular tuition to RuG. In their second year, they will pay tuition to UWO at the same level as its other second-year students. UWO students in the first term of the LLM at RuG will pay regular UWO tuition to UWO. In their second term they will pay foreign graduate school tuition (currently about $6,000) to RuG.
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