Master's in Litigation and Arbitration
Settle with creativity
Presentation
The Master in Litigation and Arbitration is the appropriate choice for lawyers who intend to pursue a career as dispute resolution counsels or as judges.
The course prepares future judges and lawyers for the national exams for the ‘Centro de Estudos Judiciários’, and the Portuguese Bar. Furthermore, master students will broaden their legal knowledge in essential fields of both national and international law.
The Degree includes a strong component of Alternative Dispute Resolution methods, such as arbitration and mediation; essential skills for a modern dispute resolution practitioner. Relevance given to the training of Oral Advocacy and the English language (five courses are taught in English) is also a strong feature of this Master. Finally, the limited number of places fosters proximity between professors and students, with a specific focus on the individual path of each student.
Coordination
Mariana França Gouveia
Frederico de Lacerda da Costa Pinto
Scientific Commission
President: Mariana França Gouveia | Board Members: Frederico de Lacerda da Costa Pinto (judiciary) | Pedro Caetano Nunes (advocacy) | João Pedro Pinto-Ferreira (non-taught component)
Goals
The Master in Litigation and Arbitration prepares students to be at the forefront of modern dispute resolution. Not only will Master’s students be able to deepen their knowledge in core areas of the traditional legal professions but also and equally relevant, they will be trained to deal with new knowledge, new realities and to create new solutions for emerging legal issues. The students qualified in this Master will have the skills to tackle the challenges the modern world presents to dispute resolution practitioners in secure but innovative ways.
Target Applicant
Students with a bachelor’s in law who intend to pursue a career as dispute resolution lawyers or judges or who intend to work as mediators or in arbitration, as in-house counsels of companies.
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 Cycle | Degree | A3ES Decision | Number of Years | Publication of the A3ES decision | DGES registration number | Publication in Diário da República |
Litigation and Arbitration | Master | accredited | 6 | R/A -Cr 258/2015/AL01 | Order n.º 115/2017 of 3 March 2017 and Order nº 11319/2022 of 21 September 2022 |
Testimonials
Curricular Plan
+ 2023/2024
The taught component consists of 60 ECTS, of which 30 ECTS are mandatory (1st semester/common core).
| 1st Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | |
| Insolvência | 4 |
| Introdução à Mediação | 8 |
| Introduction to Arbitration | 4 |
| Prática Processual Civil | 6 |
| Providências Cautelares | 4 |
| Recursos Civis | 4 |
In the 2nd semester (depending on the choice of specialization):
Advocacy/Law: 4 ECTS of mandatory courses; 8 ECTS of restrictive optional courses listed above; 8 ECTS of free option courses listed here or, alternatively, choose from any Master’s course taught at NOVA School of Law (subject to availability).
Magistracy: 22 ECTS of mandatory subjects in the Magistracy specialization; 4 ECTS of restrictive optional courses listed above; 4 ECTS of free option courses listed here or, as an alternative, choose from any master’s programme taught at NOVA School of Law (subject to availability).
| 2nd Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
Advocacy/Law |
|
| Mandatory | |
| Moot Courts | 4 |
| Oralidade na Advocacia | 4 |
| Processo Civil Europeu | 4 |
| Trabalho Extra-curricular | 2 |
| Optional | |
| Mediação – Técnicas e Processo* | 8 |
| Metodologia de Investigação Jurídica (Opção Livre) | 6 |
| Direito Penal Económico | 6 |
| Processo Penal Especial | 6 |
| International Commercial Law | 6 |
| Direito das Contraordenações | 6 |
| Direito Civil Avançado | 4 |
| International Commercial Arbitration | 4 |
| Direito da Família e da Criança | 4 |
| EU Criminal Law | 4 |
| Argumentação Jurídica | 4 |
| 2nd Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
Magistracy |
|
| Mandatory | |
| Processo Penal Especial | 6 |
| Direito Civil Avançado | 4 |
| Direito da Família e da Criança | 4 |
| Direito Penal Avançado | 4 |
| Simulação de Exames de Acesso ao CEJ | 4 |
| Optional | |
| Mediação – Técnicas e Processo* | 8 |
| Metodologia de Investigação Jurídica (Opção Livre) | 6 |
| Direito Penal Económico | 6 |
| International Commercial Law | 6 |
| Direito das Contraordenações | 6 |
| Processo Civil Europeu | 4 |
| International Commercial Arbitration | 4 |
| Argumentação Jurídica | 4 |
| EU Criminal Law | 4 |
*The successful completion of both curricular units, fulfilling the minimum requirement of class attendance, represents certified training, giving access to the list of certified mediators of the Ministry of Justice.
| 3rd Semester – Research | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | |
| Dissertation, internship at national or international institution or project work. | 30 |
+ 2022/2023
The taught component consists of 60 ECTS, of which 30 ECTS are mandatory (1st semester/common core).
| 1st Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | |
| Insolvência | 4 |
| Introdução à Mediação* | 8 |
| Introduction to Arbitration | 4 |
| Prática Processual Civil | 6 |
| Providências Cautelares | 4 |
| Recursos Civis | 4 |
In the 2nd semester (depending on the choice of specialization):
Advocacy/Law: 14 ECTS of mandatory courses; 8 ECTS of restrictive optional courses listed above; 8 ECTS of free option courses listed here or, alternatively, choose from any Master’s course taught at NOVA School of Law (subject to availability).
Magistracy: 22 ECTS of mandatory subjects in the Magistracy specialization; 4 ECTS of restrictive optional courses listed above; 4 ECTS of free option courses listed here or, as an alternative, choose from any master’s programme taught at NOVA School of Law (subject to availability).
| 2nd Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
Advocacy/Law |
|
| Mandatory | |
| Moot Courts | 4 |
| Oralidade na Advocacia | 4 |
| Processo Civil Europeu | 4 |
| Trabalho Extra-curricular | 2 |
| Optional | |
| Metodologia de Investigação Jurídica (Opção Livre) | 8 |
| Mediação – Técnicas e Processo* | 8 |
| Direito Penal Económico | 6 |
| Processo Penal Especial | 6 |
| International Commercial Law | 6 |
| Direito das Contraordenações | 6 |
| Direito Civil Avançado | 4 |
| International Commercial Arbitration | 4 |
| Direito da Família e da Criança | 4 |
| EU Criminal Law | 4 |
| Argumentação Jurídica | 4 |
| 2nd Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
Magistracy | |
| Mandatory | |
| Processo Penal Especial | 6 |
| Direito Civil Avançado | 4 |
| Direito da Família e da Criança | 4 |
| Direito Penal Avançado | 4 |
| Simulação de Exames de Acesso ao CEJ | 4 |
| Optional | |
| Metodologia de Investigação Jurídica (Opção Livre) | 8 |
| Mediação – Técnicas e Processo* | 8 |
| Direito Penal Económico | 6 |
| International Commercial Law | 6 |
| Direito das Contraordenações | 6 |
| Processo Civil Europeu | 4 |
| International Commercial Arbitration | 4 |
| Argumentação Jurídica | 4 |
| EU Criminal Law | 4 |
*The successful completion of both curricular units, fulfilling the minimum requirement of class attendance, represents certified training, giving access to the list of certified mediators of the Ministry of Justice.
| 3rd Semester – Research | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | |
| Dissertation, internship at national or international institution or project work. | 30 |
Objectives and Structure of the Curricular Units
Tuition Fees
National Student/European Union:
- Total Tuition Fees: 5.900€
- Annual Tuition Fees for the Academic Phase: 4.600€
- Annual Non-Taught Phase Tuition Fee: 1.300€
- Tuition Fees for Additional Non-Taught Semester: 1.000€
- Extension of deadline for submission of the dissertation by 90 days: 390€
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€
- Registration Certificate: 6.00 €
- Improvement grade exam: 15.00 €/enrolement
- Conclusion Certificate: 50€
-
Total Tuition Fee – National and International Student: 5900.00€
-
Annual fee for the taught component – National and International Student: 4600.00€;
-
Total Semester Tuition Fee for Non-curricular phase: 1300.00€;
-
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€
- Registration Certificate: 6.00 €
- Improvement grade exam: 15.00 €/enrolement
- Conclusion Certificate: 50€
Applications
2023/2024
Length 3 Semesters
90 ECTS
Places: 45 places
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
Applicants will be selected according to the following parameters:
- 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. Due consideration is given to: a degree in Law, for post-Bologna graduates, a degree corresponding to at least 240 ECTS; classifications obtained on subjects from the bachelor degree most relevant for the Master’s Course (areas of Civil Law and Criminal Law); Professional experience, giving relevance to internships in law firms, courts or similar institutions; Other relevant competency indicators for the Master’s Course, such as merit awards; participation in international competitions; Fluency in English;
- 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)
*Paypal payments are validated automatically; Multibanco payments will be validated up to 48 hours after the payment
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