Europe and the rule of law

CIVIS focus area: Society, culture, heritage
Open to: Bachelor's

Master's

PhD candidates/ students
Field of studies: Law

Social Science and humanities
Type: Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP)
Course dates: 2 March - 6 June 2025

The course aims to the critical analysis of several European legal systems and European law itself centering around the main topic: Europe and the Rule of Law. Students are invited to acquire basic knowledge of different areas of law (criminal, civil, public law etc) of different European countries.

They are also invited to work in groups to produce a common dissertation on the sub-topics, which shall be suggested by the professors, illustrate the current legal situation in their country of origin, and search for common grounds on a European level. Then students will have to discuss their dissertation with all the other students and defend it from possible critics. Therefore, the highlights of the physical component are the team work, the presentations of the students and the lively discussions following them.

Main topics addressed

Human Rights
European citizenship
EU fundamental rights
Business and Corporate Law
Rights of vulnerable groups
International transactions and litigation
Sustainable development in Europe

Learning outcomes

Following this course, the students will be able to:

analyse the different legal systems;
deepen their knowledge on current legal issues;
work individually and in groups;
interact with students from different universities;
enhance their knowledge of legal systems other than one's own;
present both oral and written expression of various legal issues.

Dates: 2 March - 6 June 2025	Total workload: 130 hours
Format: Blended	ECTS: 3*
Location: Athens, Greece	Language: English (B2)
Contact: vchristou@law.uoa.gr

*Recognition of ECTS depends on your home university.

Physical mobility

The physical mobility part will be running between 2-6 June 2025 at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Law School, in Greece. It centers around intensive academic cooperation and exchange of the students and the Professors who will have worked -by then- in online groups and lectures.

In the physical mobility component, students shall build on their online preparation through the courses and their working sessions and shall expand and deepen their knowledge and critical understanding of the sub-topics addressed in groups. Discussions in the real space and atmosphere of a classroom are expected to contribute to a proliferate view of the legal issues raised, expose students to real interaction with their fellow students from other European countries, and experience the lived idea of a European citizenship and of a civic friendship beyond boarders.

Virtual part

The virtual component will run between 2 March - 30 May 2025. It consists of online lectures in different areas of law of different European countries (civil, criminal, public law and social security law) and of European law itself. The lectures will be uploaded on the platform so that the students can attend them at their convenience. After attending the courses, students have to pass a written exercise. After the round of the online lectures is completed, students - guided by the professors - are expected to research, work and discuss in online groups on the assigned sub-topics to prepare for a most constructive physical mobility component part.

Requirements

This course is open to Bachelor's, Master's and PhD's students at CIVIS member universities, studying Law, Political Sciences and/ or Political Philosophy.

The participants should have excellent English skills (B2), critical thinking, analytical skills and team spirit.

NB: Visiting Students - Erasmus Funding Eligibility

To be eligible for your selected CIVIS programme, you must be a fully enrolled student at your CIVIS home university at the time you will be undertaking the programme. Click here to learn more about the eligibility criteria.

This course is also open to students with the same academic profile, who are enrolled at a CIVIS strategic partner university in Africa. Please check here, if you can apply and this particular course is open to applications from your university. Successful applicants will receive an Erasmus+ grant covering travel and subsistence costs during their stay. Applicants should be willing to extend their stay at the host university for 1-3 weeks for additional research and/or training purposes.

Application process

Send your application by filling in the online application form by 31 October 2024, including:

CV
Motivation letter
Level of English (According to CEFR)

Applications will be evaluated based on the level of English and the interests of the applicants.

Apply now

Assessment

In order to receive the certificate of attendance and the ECTS credits related to this course, students will be evaluated taking into consideration:

the participation;
the efforts to reach a common dissertation;
the final outcome presented to the stage.

Blended Intensive Programme

This CIVIS course is a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP): a new format of Erasmus+ mobility which combines online teaching with a short trip to another campus to learn alongside students and professors across Europe. Click here to learn more about CIVIS BIPs.

GDPR Consent

The CIVIS alliance and its member universities will treat the information you provide with respect. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information on our privacy practices. By applying to this course you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

All the professors, named by each faculty involved in the project, will bring their own cut to each topic (due to their personal legal system background and knowledge about the field of law involved in this matter), in order to assist any group in the preparation of the dissertation. The goal is always to create Europe through a mutual exchange of ideas, experiences and behaviours of students and professionals involved.