Erasmus University Rotterdam - EUR
speciality: Law

Location: 5/5

Erasmus University Rotterdam has two main campuses in Rotterdam: one in the west, at the Erasmus Medical Centre, and one in the east, called Campus Woudestein. Medical studies are taught at the west campus, while other studies are taught at the east campus. Both campuses are easily accessible from the city centre. It takes less than 25 minutes by public transport and less than 15 minutes by bicycle or car.

Atmosphere and facilities: 5/5

The university is bilingual: everything is written in both Dutch and English. This creates an international atmosphere. Students from all over the world study together. The campus has a library where students can consult literature, both physical and digital. It also has many study spaces and even special quiet zones. There is a supermarket and many cafeterias where students can buy their food or eat it themselves. Last but not least, the campus has a sports centre where students can buy a membership and take part in different sports classes.

Education 4/5

I studied at the Erasmus School of Law and followed the Master’ of International and European Union Law. The Master’s was taught in English and therefore the ratio of Dutch and international students was 50/50.
The modules were taught by different professors, depending on their areas of specialisation. The first, third and fifth modules are general modules with European Union law and international law. For the second module, students can choose between European Union law and international law, and the fourth module consists of two smaller modules where students have a wider choice. The final module consists of the dissertation.

One thing everyone should know about the university is that nothing is handed to you. You have to have a hard worker’s mentality, which means that you have to make time in your daily life to dedicate yourself to your studies. My fellow international students considered the pace at which the modules were taught and the amount of assignments as the main difficulties. Each module consists of required reading, which includes detailed information on many topics. It can be difficult for a student to define the relevant parts in the limited time given. Fortunately, each module comes with a guide that outlines the main objectives of the module for the student to use. In addition, teachers are more than happy to answer any questions students may have. Students are even welcome to send in questions about the content in advance. This way teachers can incorporate the questions into their teaching.

Extracurricular 5/5

At the beginning of each year, the university organises a ‘Eureka Week’. The aim of this week is to introduce the new students to the university. There are also small stands where the student associations promote their activities. These range from sports clubs to music groups and student jobs. This is an ideal way to get to know fellow students outside of the regular study programme and also to discover the city of Rotterdam.

Conclusion

If you want to experience a high quality education in a multicultural city, I would recommend studying at the Erasmus University Rotterdam.

My time at Erasmus University School of Law from 2009 to 2013 was an incredibly enriching and transformative experience. The program offered a perfect balance of academic rigor and practical learning, which prepared me well for the challenges of a legal career.

What I appreciated most was the interdisciplinary approach to education. It allowed me to explore the connection between law, economics, and society, giving me a broader perspective that has been invaluable in my professional journey. The professors were not only highly knowledgeable but also brought real-world insights into the classroom, making the lectures engaging and relevant.

The curriculum was challenging, but it pushed me to develop critical thinking and analytical skills. Participating in moot court competitions and working on case studies were some of the highlights of my time there. The international focus of the university was another major advantage—I took courses in English and had the opportunity to interact with peers from diverse backgrounds, which enriched my learning experience.

Though the workload was demanding, the university provided excellent support, from modern facilities and well-equipped libraries to academic guidance. Career fairs and networking events were also instrumental in helping me build connections and understand the legal industry better.

Looking back, my years at Erasmus University School of Law were some of the most formative in my life. The education I received and the experiences I had in Rotterdam have been instrumental in shaping my career, and I would highly recommend the university to anyone considering a future in law.

I studied abroad at Erasmus University and had an amazing experience. Teaching is to a very high standard – you can tell professors care about the students and do everything they can to help us understand. The campus is beautiful and the facilities are amazing – the library and polak building has everything you need to study. There are so many international students and I found it so easy to make friends because the ESN (Erasmus student network) organised so many events and trips. Definitely would recommend this university.