Duration and overall structure
The LAWGID programme is a two-year academic programme (four semesters).
The programme consists of:
- 9 mandatory courses,
- 18 optional courses,
- and a Master’s Thesis prepared and defended in the fourth semester.
During the first three semesters, students attend:
- three mandatory courses, and
- three optional courses, selected from a list of six optional courses offered for that semester.
The fourth semester is fully devoted to the preparation, research, writing, and defence of the Master’s Thesis.
Mandatory and optional courses
A mandatory course is a course that all students are required to attend.
For each of the first three semesters:
- students choose three optional courses from a list of six optional courses offered in that semester;
- the three optional courses selected by the majority of students are then delivered during that semester;
- students who initially selected other optional courses consensually move to the three optional courses that are ultimately held.
As a result, each of the first three semesters includes three mandatory courses and three optional courses.
Semesters Overview
First, Second and Third semester:
Each semester
- all students attend three mandatory courses from the list of nine mandatory courses;
- each student selects three optional courses from a list of six optional courses offered in the first semester;
- the three optional courses receiving the highest level of student interest are delivered during the semester.
Fourth semester – Master’s Thesis
The fourth semester is fully devoted to:
- preparation,
- research,
- writing, and
- defence of the Master’s Thesis.
Students carry out their Master’s Thesis at the partner university of their choice, in accordance with the programme rules.
Programme Credits, Workload and Organisation
(In accordance with the programme rules)
ECTS structure
The LAWGID programme is structured in accordance with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
In each of the first three semesters, students complete:
- 18 ECTS from mandatory courses (3 × 6 ECTS), and
- 12 ECTS from optional courses (3 × 4 ECTS),
which amounts to 30 ECTS per semester.
Fourth semester – Master’s Thesis
The fourth semester is entirely dedicated to the Master’s Thesis and carries 30 ECTS.
The structure of the Master’s Thesis differs depending on the partner university, in accordance with national academic rules:
- University of Belgrade (UB):
the Master’s Thesis is defined by two courses:- 15 ECTS – study and research work and preparation of the Master’s Thesis,
- 15 ECTS – drafting and defence of the Master’s Thesis.
- LUMSA University and Örebro University (ORU):
the Master’s Thesis is defined by one single course, carrying 30 ECTS.
Total credits
Students achieve:
- 30 ECTS in each of the four semesters, and
- 120 ECTS in total upon completion of the two-year (four-semester) LAWGID Master’s programme.
Course workload and teaching format
- Each mandatory course consists of 60 hours of active work, comprising:
- 30 hours of lectures, and
- 30 hours of practical work.
- Each optional course consists of 45 hours of active work, comprising:
- 30 hours of lectures, and
- 15 hours of practical work.
- The Gender Equality Legal Clinic additionally includes 90 hours of mandatory vocational practice.
Courses are delivered over a period of three to five weeks, within blocks of concentrated academic work.
Additional courses
In addition to the regular curriculum, additional courses may be introduced in a specific academic year’s course schedule.
Students who attend and actively participate in such additional courses will receive a certificate of attendance.
Mobility scheme
The LAWGID programme is based on mandatory physical mobility and is delivered across partner universities as follows:
- 1st semester – University of Belgrade, Faculty of Law, Serbia (UB)
- 2nd semester – LUMSA University, Department of Law, Economics and Communication, Palermo, Italy (LUMSA)
- 3rd semester – Örebro University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sweden (ORU)
- 4th semester – Partner university chosen by the student for the Master’s Thesis