Best 12 Masters Law Universities in the Netherlands

There are 12 publicly funded universities in the Netherlands with masters law programmes on the CROHO register — research universities (WO) and universities of applied sciences (HBO). Between them they run 73 registered programmes.

University of Amsterdam

Location Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 10
QS World Ranking #55

Utrecht University

Location Utrecht
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 7
QS World Ranking #103

Leiden University

Location Leiden, Zuid-Holland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 5
QS World Ranking #119

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Location Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 10
QS World Ranking #140

University of Groningen

Location Groningen
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 11
QS World Ranking #147

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Location Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 6
QS World Ranking #194

Maastricht University

Location Maastricht, Limburg
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 7
QS World Ranking #239

Radboud University

Location Nijmegen, Gelderland
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 5
QS World Ranking #279

Tilburg University

Location Tilburg, Noord-Brabant
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 7
QS World Ranking #347

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Location Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Institution type University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes 2
Enrolments (2025) 42,484

Hanze University of Applied Sciences

Location Groningen
Institution type University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes 1
Enrolments (2025) 26,951

Open University of the Netherlands

Location Heerlen, Limburg
Institution type Research University (WO)
Matching programmes 2
Enrolments Not recorded

Frequently asked questions

How many universities in the Netherlands offer Masters Law?

12 of the Netherlands' 54 publicly funded universities have masters law programmes on CROHO, the Central Register of Higher Education Programmes. That count covers both research universities (WO) and universities of applied sciences (HBO).

How is this ranking put together?

Order comes from a published-figures-only composite: QS World position, breadth of recognised programmes, share of programmes taught in English and scale by DUO enrolments. No university pays for placement, and no judgement of teaching quality is invented.

What are the entry requirements for Masters Law in the Netherlands?

Entry is set by each institution. For a masters you will generally need the preceding qualification at the level the institution states, proof of English (or Dutch) for the language of instruction, and some programmes with a fixed number of places (numerus fixus) have earlier deadlines. Students from outside the EU/EEA may also need a residence permit, which the institution usually arranges with the IND.