Double Degree in Law and Liberal Arts & Sciences
In the Netherlands, you need a Dutch Law degree to qualify for the so-called toga professions – notary, judge, lawyer (civil effect). But a Law programme at a Dutch university does not specifically cater to students with multiple interests, who wish to explore different talents and sample the diversity of the academic world. University College Utrecht and the Utrecht University School of Law offer a solution in the form of a double degree programme. After completion of this four-year programme you have two fully accredited bachelor's degrees, one in Liberal Arts and Sciences and one in Dutch Law. By doing both simultaneously you avoid paying the penalty for a second study programme.
The programme
The four-year programme encompasses 240 ECTS in course credits, of which at least 140 in Law. You spend the first two years taking required and elective courses at University College Utrecht, in which you focus on Law. This prepares you for a test you take before the start of the third year to assess your legal knowledge. Based on the test you are admitted to the double degree programme. During the third and fourth year you take courses at University College Utrecht and the Utrecht University School of Law. You conclude your programme with a 15 ECTS bachelor thesis. Upon completion you are qualified to apply to all master’s programmes in Law at Utrecht University, as well as many other universities in the Netherlands and abroad. To get access to the legal professions in the Netherlands you need a Master of Laws (LLM) in Dutch Law.
Enrolment in Studielink
While following the DDLL programme, you need to be simultaneously registered during your fourth year, in both degree programmes of the double degree: Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) at UCU, and Dutch Law.
You will need to do the following:
- Before 1 April in your third year at UCU, you need to enrol in Studielink for the UU bachelor's programme in Law, following your approval to join the DDLL programme by UCU.
- For the LAS programme at UCU, you need to re-enrol in Studielink (as you did in the years prior), following the instructions usually sent out by the Central Student Administration (CSA) during the summer after your third year at UCU.
Tuition Fees
You only need to pay tuition fees once for each academic year. For EU/EEA students this will be the prevalent (statutory) UCU tuition fee rate; for non-EU/EEA students this will be the institutional tuition fee rate.
Housing
Students enrolled in DDLL are not eligible for housing on-campus at University College Utrecht in year 4, although a request can be made and is subject to availability.
Registration for courses
- Courses that you take at UCU (courses starting with UC…) count towards your UCU degree (some will also count for your Law degree)
- Courses that you take at the Utrecht School of Law (courses starting with RGB..) count towards your Law degree
- There is no need to request Utrecht School of Law courses as Off-Campus Courses (OCC’s) at UCU, unless you need them for a specific UCU graduation requirement.
- You will register for the thesis at UCU; the thesis will count towards both degrees.
Testimonials
This is what our students say about the programme.
How to apply
Students apply to University College Utrecht just like any other student.