Master's in Law – Specialization in International and European Law

Connecting the dots

Presentation

The Master’s in International and European Law, lectured in English, offers students the opportunity to expand their legal knowledge in an area that is becoming increasingly essential considering world globalization, in which national boundaries are losing importance.

Operating within an increasingly transnational and globalized world requires legal knowledge that today is less focused on classical issues of public international law, and more on areas that focus on issues related to the internationalization of businesses and private/public transnational legal relationships, as well as human rights, humanitarian law and new developments in international criminal law. European integration is part of the new geopolitical environment. This explains the focus of the master’s on several areas of European Union law such as the freedom of movement of people and the European jurisdictional system. It is crucial for a lawyer to be familiar with the diverse and increasingly vast areas of International Law and European Union Law in order to successfully address the theoretical and practical challenges they face.

This master’s is taught in English.

Coordination

Francisco Pereira Coutinho

Veronica Corcodel

Scientific Commission

President: Jorge Morais Carvalho | Board Members: Lúcio Tomé (taught component) | João Zenha Martins (taught component) | Veronica Corcodel (non-taught component) | Fabrizio Esposito (non-taught component)


Goals

Building on the knowledge acquired in the bachelor’s degree in the fields of International Law, this Master in Law develops the interdisciplinary nature of both International and European Law, namely in the area of the protection of human rights. It addresses the development of skills in scientific research, and prepares students for their professional life.


Target Applicant

Graduates in Law or in other social sciences who wish to deepen their knowledge.


Timetable

This course is taught during working hours*.

*Some Optional Curricular Units may have schedules that do not match the timetable of the course.


Certification

Study CycleDegreeA3ES DecisionNumber of YearsPublication of the A3ES decisionDGES registration numberPublication in Diário da República

Law

Master

accredited

5

R/A-Ef 3196/2011/AL02

Testimonials

This Master’s is ideal for anyone who wants to have a career with an international focus. The student has the opportunity to choose their curriculum path according to their own professional ambitions. As a student of this Master’s, I had the once-in-a- -lifetime opportunity to visit the European Court of Justice and to see a judgment taking place. Recently, I was recruited by Altice Portugal, and am working with European Data Protection Law, and currently doing my Master‘s thesis in this field. I strongly recommend this Master’s for those of you who, like me, have a thirst for knowledge which goes beyond national borders and who wants to be a jurist of XXI century.
Patrícia Raminhos
Jurist at Altice Portugal
O Mestrado em Direito Internacional e Europeu da NOVA School of Law demarca-se pela sua abordagem de temas atuais com uma perspetiva de futuro, possibilitando aos alunos a escolha dos tópicos que mais lhes interessam dentro da vasta oferta curricular. Devido aos vários protocolos assinados com a Faculdade, neste Mestrado tive a oportunidade de fazer o segundo semestre na Universidade de Ljubljana e de obter experiência profissional com um estágio curricular em Bruxelas. Uma vez que procurava um mestrado que se afastasse do percurso tradicional da advocacia e me preparasse para uma carreira num plano internacional, esta foi a escolha evidente!
Sérgio Abreu
Trainee at Portuguese Embassy in Brussels

Curricular Plan

+ 2023/2024

1st year – Taught Component

In addition to the mandatory course, students must complete 32 ECTS in the restrictive optional courses listed above and 20 ECTS in free-option courses that they may choose from any Master’s course taught at NOVA School of Law (subject to availability).

Total ECTS of the Taught Component: 60 ECTS.

1st Semester ECTS
Restrictive Optional
Diplomatic and Consular Law 6
International Humanitarian Law 6
Direito Internacional do Mar e Tribunais Internacionais 6
Direito Internacional Público Avançado 6
Data Protection and Management Law* 6
Advanced EU Law 6
Environmental Law 6
Legal English 4
Direito Administrativo Europeu 4
Emerging Technologies: Governance and Regulation 4
Interdisciplinary Studies (Law & Cinema) 4
International Economic Law 4
Introdução ao Direito da União Europeia 2
2nd Semester ECTS
Mandatory
Methodology of Legal Research 6
Restrictive Optional
Human Rights International Protection Systems 6
International Commercial Law 6
International Tax Law 6
Competition Law 6
EU Asylum and Migration Law 6
International and European Security Law 6
Media Law 6
EU Criminal Law 4
European Law of the Sea 4
Business, Human Rights and Sustainability 4
Moot Courts 4

2nd year – Research

1st Semester / 2nd SemesterECTS
Mandatory 
Dissertation, internship at national or international institution or project work.60

NOVA School of Law participates in THEMIS, a network that encourages the internationalization of master’s students. The THEMIS certificate is granted when students complete a semester of mobility, participate in an international conference, and complete an international internship under the THEMIS Programme.

+ 2022/2023

1st year – Taught Component

In addition to the mandatory course, students must complete 32 ECTS in the restrictive optional courses listed above and 20 ECTS in free-option courses that they may choose from any Master’s course taught at NOVA School of Law (subject to availability).

Total ECTS of the Taught Component: 60 ECTS.

1st Semester ECTS
Restrictive Optional
Diplomatic and Consular Law 6
Human Rights International Protection Systems 6
International Humanitarian Law 6
Direito Internacional do Mar e Tribunais Internacionais 6
Direito Internacional Público Avançado 6
Legal English 4
Transitional Justice 4
2nd SemesterECTS
Mandatory 
Metodologia da Investigação Jurídica*8
Restrictive Optional
International Commercial Law6
International Tax Law6
Data Protection and Management Law**6
Competition Law6
Environmental Law6
EU Asylum and Migration Law6
Direito Internacional e Europeu de Segurança6
International Economic Law4
EU Criminal Law4
European Law of the Sea4
Business, Human Rights and Sustainability4
Moot Courts4

* Taught in English & Portuguese. Students must choose the version they wish to attend

**Data Protection and Management Law is a course offered by NOVA School of Law’s Jean Monnet Module on European Union Data Protection Law in Portugal (DataporEU)

 

2nd year – Research

1st Semester / 2nd SemesterECTS
Mandatory 
Dissertation, internship at national or international institution or project work.60

Opportunity to benefit from the THEMIS NETWORK international experience. Three core elements: a semester abroad, an international internship and the THEMIS seminar.

Objectives and Structure of the Curricular Units

Tuition Fees

National Student/European Union:

  • Total Tuition Fees: 6.200€
  • Annual Tuition Fees for the Academic Phase: 4.200€
  • Annual Non-Taught Phase Tuition Fee: 2.000€
  • Tuition Fees for Additional Non-Taught Semester: 1.000€
  • Extension of deadline for submission of the dissertation by 90 days: 600€

International Student:

  • Total Tuition Fees: 10.000€
  • Annual Tuition Fees for the Academic Phase: 7.000€
  • Annual Non-Taught Phase Tuition Fee: 3.000€
  • Tuition Fees for Additional Non-Taught Semester: 1.500€
  • Extension of deadline for submission of the dissertation by 90 days: 1.200€

*Tuition fees as deliberated by the General Council on 14 December 2022

Reading of this information does not exempt consultation of the full documentation regarding fees, emoluments and taxes for the academic year in question.

Tuition fees are annual and due in full upon enrolment in the course. Payment in instalments is allowed for students’ mere convenience.

In the case of withdrawal from the course, the amounts already paid are not refundable. The remaining tuition fee payments due for the academic year to which the application relates must also be paid.

Refund of the tuition fee is only possible where the previous course has not been completed by September, and is conditioned by its completion. In this case, the applicant must give proof of the situation through a declaration from the home institution, before the end of September. Amounts other than tuition fees (fees, school insurance and administrative costs) are not refundable.

Payments must be made via ATM or through PayPal* using the references available in the reserved area. Failure to pay tuition fees within the time limits indicated results in an increase in the amount to be settled and/or the suspension of enrolment and registration, as well as the invalidity of all curricular acts practised in the academic year in which the non-compliance is not respected.

*Paypal payments are validated automatically; Multibanco payments will be validated up to 48 hours after the payment


Financial Discounts

Students who choose to pay the annual tuition fees in a one-off payment receive a 5% discount on the amount to be paid.


Payment by instalments

Annual tuition fees for the taught component
The annual tuition fees for the taught component can be paid in 4 or 10 instalments

  • 4 instalments: 25% of the amount paid at the time of registration and the remaining between the 1st and 10th of the months of September, January, May.
  • 10 instalments: 1st instalment of 20% of the total amount paid at the time of registration and the remaining amount in 9 instalments paid between the 1st and the 10th of the months of September to May.

Tuition fees of the non-curricular phase
Tuition fees for the non-curricular phase can be paid in 4 instalments.

  • 4 instalments: 25% of the amount paid at the time of registration and the remaining between the 1st and the 10th of the months of November, January, May

Tuition fee for an additional non-curricular semester
Tuition fees for the non-curricular phase can be paid in 4 instalments.

  • 4 instalments: 25% of the amount paid at the time of registration and the remaining between the 1st and the 10th of the months of October, November, January for the 1st semester and March, April, May for the 2nd semester

Tuition fees for the non-curricular phase
Fees are paid in full at the time of registration.


Merit Awards

Merit Awards are awarded to:

  • Candidates whose final average admission to a 2nd study cycle at NOVA School of Law, according to assessment and ranking by the appropriate jury, is equal to or higher than 17 points (on a scale of 0/20) and who enrol and attend the same course, benefit from an award in cash corresponding to 50% of the tuition fee for the taught component of the Master’s degree.
  • Candidates whose final average admission to a 2nd study cycle at NOVA School of Law, according to assessment and ranking by the appropriate jury, is equal to or higher than 16 points (on a scale of 0/20) and who enrol and attend the same course, benefit from an award in cash corresponding to 30% of the tuition fee for the taught component of the Master’s degree.

In the non-taught phase, three prizes for academic merit are awarded (by master’s degree or area of specialization, in the case of the Master’s Degree in Law). These awards assume the completion of the taught component within the stipulated time.

  • The best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the non-taught phase benefits from an award in cash corresponding to 100% of the tuition fee for the non-taught phase of the Master’s degree;
  • The second-best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the non-taught phase, benefits from an award in cash corresponding to 60% of the tuition fee, corresponding to the non-taught phase of the Master’s degree;
  • The third-best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the non-taught phase of the Master’s degree.


Emoluments/Charges and Taxes Fees

  • Application fee: 51.00€
  • Administrative costs per registration/enrolment (each year): 35.00€
  • Institution insurance (each year): 3.00€
  • Total Tuition Fee – National and International Student: 6200.00€;
  • Annual fee for the taught component – National and International Student: 4200.00€;
  • Total Semester Tuition Fee for Non-curricular phase: 2000.00€;
  • Tuition Fee for Additional Non-Curricular semester – National and International Student: 1000.00€;
  • Extension of the non-curricular phase (90 days): 600€

Reading of this information does not exempt consultation of the full documentation regarding fees, emoluments and taxes for the academic year in question.

Tuition fees are annual and due in full upon enrolment in the course. Payment in instalments is allowed for students’ mere convenience.

In the case of withdrawal from the course, the amounts already paid are not refundable. The remaining tuition fee payments due for the academic year to which the application relates must also be paid.

Refund of the tuition fee is only possible where the previous course has not been completed by September, and is conditioned by its completion. In this case, the applicant must give proof of the situation through a declaration from the home institution, before the end of September. Amounts other than tuition fees (fees, school insurance and administrative costs) are not refundable.

Payments must be made via ATM or through PayPal* using the references available in the reserved area. Failure to pay tuition fees within the time limits indicated results in an increase in the amount to be settled and/or the suspension of enrolment and registration, as well as the invalidity of all curricular acts practised in the academic year in which the non-compliance is not respected.

*Paypal payments are validated automatically; Multibanco payments will be validated up to 48 hours after the payment


Financial Discounts

Students who choose to pay tuition fees in a one-off initial payment at the time of registration receive a 5% discount on the amount to be paid.


Payment by instalments

Annual tuition fees for the taught component
The annual tuition fees for the taught component can be paid in 4 or 10 instalments

  • 4 instalments: 25% of the amount paid at the time of registration and the remaining between the 1st and 10th of the months of September, January, May.
  • 10 instalments: 1st instalment of 20% of the total amount paid at the time of registration and the remaining amount in 9 instalments paid between the 1st and the 10th of the months of September to May.

Tuition fees of the non-curricular phase
Tuition fees for the non-curricular phase can be paid in 4 instalments.

  • 4 instalments: 25% of the amount paid at the time of registration and the remaining between the 1st and the 10th of the months of November, January, May

Tuition fee for an additional non-curricular semester
Tuition fees for the non-curricular phase can be paid in 4 instalments.

  • 4 instalments: 25% of the amount paid at the time of registration and the remaining between the 1st and the 10th of the months of October, November, January for the 1st semester and March, April, May for the 2nd semester

Tuition fees for the non-curricular phase
Fees are paid in full at the time of registration.


Merit Awards

Merit Awards are awarded to:

  • Candidates whose final average admission to a 2nd study cycle at NOVA School of Law, according to assessment and ranking by the appropriate jury, is equal to or higher than 17 points (on a scale of 0/20) and who enrol and attend the same course, benefit from an award in cash corresponding to 50% of the tuition fee for the taught component of the Master’s degree.
  • Candidates whose final average admission to a 2nd study cycle at NOVA School of Law, according to assessment and ranking by the appropriate jury, is equal to or higher than 16 points (on a scale of 0/20) and who enrol and attend the same course, benefit from an award in cash corresponding to 30% of the tuition fee for the taught component of the Master’s degree.

In the non-taught phase, three prizes for academic merit are awarded (by master’s degree or area of specialization, in the case of the Master’s Degree in Law). These awards assume the completion of the taught component within the stipulated time.

  • The best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the non-taught phase benefits from an award in cash corresponding to 100% of the tuition fee for the non-taught phase of the Master’s degree;
  • The second-best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the non-taught phase, benefits from an award in cash corresponding to 60% of the tuition fee, corresponding to the non-taught phase of the Master’s degree;
  • The third-best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the non-taught phase of the Master’s degree.


Emoluments/Charges and Taxes Fees

  • Application fee: 51.00€
  • Administrative costs per registration/enrolment (each year): 35.00€
  • Institution insurance (each year): 3.00€

Applications

2023/2024

Length 4 Semesters

120 ECTS

Entries: 120 places

These places are available within the areas of specialization of International and European Law, Business Law and Technology (“Law & Tech”), Public Law and Social and Innovation Law.

Applications from students who prove they will be able to complete their bachelor’s degree (licenciatura) by September will be accepted.


1st Phase of Applications:

  • Submission of applications: From 1 to 28 February 2023
  • Announcement of placements: 21 March 2023
  • Complaint about placements: From 22 March to 4 April 2023
  • Enrolment: From 5 to 17 April 2023
  • Registration for Curricular Units: From 18 to 28 July 2023

2nd Phase of Applications:

(remaining places, if any)

  • Submission of applications: From 24 April to 5 May 2023
  • Announcement of placements: 26 May 2023
  • Complaint about placements: From 29 May to 9 June 2023
  • Enrolment: From 12 to 23 June 2023
  • Registration for Curricular Units: From 18 to 28 July 2023

3rd Phase of Applications:

(remaining places, if any)

  • Submission of applications: From 3 to 7 July 2023
  • Announcement of placements: 21 July 2023
  • Complaint about placements: From 24 July to 4 August 2023
  • Enrolment and Registration for Curricular Units: From 7 to 11 August 2023

Requirements

Holders of a bachelor’s degree (licenciatura) or legal equivalent.

Selection Criteria

  • Final grade of the degree which the applicant is applying with (50%);
  • Relevance and suitability of previous background to the master’s degree course with regard to the pluridisciplinary nature of the course (50%); the jury assigns each applicant a grade of 0 to 20, based on analysis of the letter of motivation and curriculum vitae. If necessary, the members of the jury may decide to conduct an interview with all or some of the applicants;
  • Applicants with a rating lower than 9.5 will automatically be excluded.

Submission of Applications (Online):

  • Completion of the application form (online)
  • Payment of the application fee using the ATM or Paypal reference provided (51.00€)*
  • Online submission of the following documents:
      • Motivation letter
      • Curriculum vitae (European model)
      • Copy of the course(s) certificate(s)
      • Copy of the tax number identification card;
      • Copy of the Identification Card
      • If you are an International Student, declaration, under oath, that the applicant does not have Portuguese nationality, nor is covered by any of the exceptions of no. 2 of Article 2 of Regulation no. 687/2020, of 20th August, which under the terms of Decree-Law no. 36/2014, of 10th March, excludes him/her from the International Student status – Declaration of Honour | International Student
      • For applicants presenting an identification document with a nationality other than Portuguese or EU, declaration, under oath, that the applicant has Portuguese nationality or is covered by one of the exceptions of Article 2, no. 2 of Regulation no. 687/2020, of 20th August, which under the terms of Decree-Law no. 36/2014, of 10th March, excludes him/her from the International Student status – Declaration of Honour 
      • Declaration under oath on the status of finalist (in case the previous academic degree is not finished by the application date) – Declaration of honour for applications conditional on completion of degree
  • Applicants conditioned upon the conclusion of the bachelor’s degree must submit an interim academic transcript showing the subjects already completed and their final grades discriminated and a declaration under oath stating the course, school, expected average and the the conclusion date. In addition, a statement from the institution of higher education where they are attending the degree should be submitted, proving their academic situation
  • Applicants with foreign qualifications must send an academic transcript showing the coefficient of performance or a statement with the final average of the degree. Applicants are conditioned to the respective formal recognition or equivalence of the foreign qualification by a competent Portuguese authority, under the regime of the Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16 (certificate or proof of submission of the request to be presented until September)
  • Applicants who do not report the final grade average, expected or completed will be graded with a minimum score of 10 on the 0-20 scale.
  • Applicants may submit, at the time of application, the request for accreditation of academic qualifications and professional experience obtained before enrolment in the study cycle. The crediting processes take into account the level of the credits corresponding to the previous education and training, in no case being allowed the creditation, for the continuation of studies in a study cycle, of education and training carried out in the context of a study cycle of a lower qualification level. For the purpose of accreditation, the candidate must fill in a specific form and attach all the relevant documentation. When the crediting request occurs during the application, the crediting is not a sufficient condition for admission in the study cycle and it only produces effects after the admission and only in that same study cycle

*Paypal payments are validated automatically; Multibanco payments will be validated up to 48 hours after the payment

All documents must be presented in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish, and endorsed by the competent authority of the State where the document originates

Applications omitting the documents requested or where the application fee has not been paid will be rejected.

Applications available through the NOVA School of Law applications portal.

Readmissions

Readmission is the act by which a student, after interruption of studies in an institution/course of higher education, enrols in the same institution and enrols in the same course or in a course which has replaced it.


SCHOOL YEAR 2023/2024

Requirements:

Students who can apply for readmission to any cycle of studies:

  • Must have already been enrolled and enrolled at the NOVA School of Law, in the same course or in a course in which they are already registered, without having completed it
  • Must not have been enrolled in that course in the previous academic year to the one in which they intend to be readmitted to
  • Those students whose registration has lapsed due to the requirements in force may apply for readmission once two school semesters have elapsed since the date of the regulations

The Faculty reserves the right to refuse readmission to applications from students whose curricular record indicates serious difficulties in adapting to the study plan in force and to the type of teaching provided at the NOVA School of Law. Requests from students who are in debt to the Faculty for tuition fees or any other amounts will be rejected, subject to the provisions of Law Nº. 75/2019, of September 2.


Deadlines for submission of applications | School Year 2023/24:


1st Semester

Submission of the application

From 3 to 14 July 2023

Enrolment and Registration for Curricular Units

From 28 August to 8 September 2023

2nd Semester

Submission of the application

From 8 to 19 January 2024

Enrolment and Registration for Curricular Units

From 29 January to 2 February 2024


Instructions for submitting the application (online):

The application is submitted online through the website of NOVA School of Law by filling in a form and uploading the necessary documents, namely:

  • Online submission of a simple photocopy of the citizen card or passport (international applicants)
  • Payment of the application fee through the Multibanco/PayPal references that will appear during the application process 70.00€ (non-refundable)

The student must print proof of the online application, essential for any subsequent steps.


Fees and Emoluments

Fee

70,00€

Administrative cost per enrolment/registration (annual)

35,00€

School insurance

  3,00€

Registration certificate

  6,00€

Note: to these amounts must be added the annual fees applicable to the study cycle relevant to the academic year 2022/23 (see the relevant notice).

Tuition fees are fixed annually by the General Council of the NOVA University Lisbon.

The reading of this information does not exempt consultation of the relevant legislation and regulations, the public notice of fees, and the table of fees in force of the respective school year.

Applications that are not accompanied by all the documents or whose fee has not been paid will automatically be rejected.


Regulations Applicable:
Decree-Law Nº. 36/2014, of March 10th, altered by Decree-Law Nº. 62/2018, of August 6th, and Regulation Nº. 436/2020, of April 28th, of the NOVA School of Law.

Applications through the NOVA School of Law applications portal.

Clear all your doubts

We are at your disposal to answer any questions you may have about studying at NOVA
School of Law.

Please do not hesitate to contact us by email: admissions@novalaw.unl.pt