Εurope and the Rule of Law
Develop a foundational understanding of key areas of law across European countries and examine current legal issues in light of shared European legal principles.
← Back to courses- CIVIS focus area
- Society, culture, heritage
- Open to
-
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- PhD candidates/ students
- Field of studies
-
- Law
- Type
-
- Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP)
- Course dates
- 2 February - 4 June 2026
- Apply by
- 30 October 2025 Apply now
This course focuses on the critical analysis of various European legal systems, as well as European law as a whole, with a central theme: Europe and the Rule of Law.
Students will be introduced to fundamental concepts across key areas of law in different European countries.
As part of the course, students will work collaboratively in groups to develop a joint group work on specific sub-topics proposed by the instructors. These presentations will shortly illustrate the current legal situation in each student’s home country while seeking to identify common legal foundations across Europe.
The course concludes with group presentations, where students will showcase and defend their research outcomes before their peers and professors. These sessions aim to encourage active engagement, critical reflection and academic debate.
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
- 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 February - 4 June 2026 | Total workload: 130 hours |
| Format: Blended | ECTS: 5* |
| Location: Salzburg, Austria | Language: English (B2) |
| Contact: katharina.kurzboeck@plus.ac.at |
*recognition of ECTS depends on your home university
Physical mobility
The physical phase will take place between 18 - 22 May 2026, at the Paris Lodron University in Salzburg. It will focus on intensive academic exchange between students and professors, building on the prior online collaboration.
During this phase, students will deepen their understanding of the sub-topics through seminars and group work. Classroom discussions will enhance critical engagement, foster cross-cultural dialogue and offer a tangible experience of European citizenship and academic cooperation beyond borders.
Virtual part
The virtual phase of the course will start in February 2026 and it includes online lectures covering various areas of law in different European countries such as civil, criminal, public, and social security law as well as European law itself. These lectures will be made available on the platform, allowing students to access them at their own pace.
Upon completing the lectures, students will be required to complete a written assignment to demonstrate their understanding. Following this and under the guidance of the professors, students will begin working in online groups to research and discuss their assigned sub-topics.
This collaborative work is intended to lay a solid foundation for the in-person phase of the course and ensure meaningful, well-prepared contributions during the physical mobility component.
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
The programme is open to advanced level students at CIVIS member universities from all academic levels (Bachelor, Master, PhD), with strong command of English and familiarity with academic research methods
Also highly appreciated are skills such as:
- working collaboratively in teams;
- ability to organise individual tasks and group work effectively;
- confidence in speaking in front of an audience;
- critical-thinking and problem-solving skills;
- active participation and engagement in discussion.
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. Applications for this course are only available for the 11 CIVIS member universities in Europe.
Partner universities:
- University of Salzburg (Austria)
- Aix-Marseille Université (France)
- Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Germany)
- University of Glasgow (UK)
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece)
- Sapienza Università di Roma (Italia)
- University of Bucharest (Romania)
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
- Université de Lausanne (Switzerland)
Professors:
- Alexis Blouet, AMU
- Bernd Heinrich, UT
- Vassiliki Christou, NKUA
- Marco Consentino and Francesco Zarrilli, SUR
- Susana Alvarez de Neyra, UAM
- Radu Rizoiu, UB
- Jim Murdoch and Steven Mckinnon, UofG
- Johannes Michael Rainer, PLUS
- Damiano Canapa and Bettina Hummer, UNIL
- Erik Van Den Haute, ULB
Send your application by filling in the online application form by 30 October 2025, and also including:
- CV
- Motivation letter
- Level of English (According to CEFR)
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- academic level and progress (advanced stage of studies);
- proficiency in English (both written and spoken);
- motivation and interest in European law and the course topic;
- willingness to work collaboratively in international teams.
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.