IES Abroad: Amsterdam - Law & Criminology

You’re considering attending law school after graduation—wouldn’t it be helpful to get a glimpse of what law school is like before you go and also figure out what type of legal career you’re looking for? This program offers you that opportunity. Learn about comparative law in an international context while studying abroad with us in the Netherlands, where local students start their law degree at the Bachelor’s level.

By enrolling in this program, you add international law and criminology experience to your transcript—a great talking point when interviewing for law school or your first job. Enroll in an IES Abroad-taught core course on law, and three to four law- or criminology-related courses at the renowned Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). With Dutch and international students as your peers on assignments like case briefs and moot court, you gain a valuable international perspective that only comes with studying abroad.

The Netherlands will be your classroom. Observe some of Europe’s most progressive laws in action and have access to the professionals and experts who can help you put them in context. Imagine visiting the International Court in The Hague, sitting in on the arbitrations in a Dutch court, or talking to professionals at NGOs who work on human rights. From field trips that take you off the beaten path to places like Rotterdam, Maastricht, or the Island of Texel to course-related excursions in and around Amsterdam, you’ll also gain valuable insight into what you’re learning in the classroom.

We want you to feel at home in Amsterdam, so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From housing on the VU campus to cultural events, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible.