LLM in Governance and Law in Digital Society University of Groningen

How do governments influence the effects of digitalization, such as cybercrime and breaches of privacy? And how can governments make better use of the benefits that digitalization has to offer?

In the modern globalized world, privacy and security are two topics that do not lose their relevance. On the contrary, incidents demonstrate how they affect our daily life. This LLM program discusses the need to protect the privacy of citizens online, the influence of the private sector, and the effectiveness of law enforcement.

Our students have a variety of backgrounds. What they have in common is that they are interested in studying how governments deal with the challenges of digitalization. They use their background knowledge of the legal frameworks and governance structures in order to develop this interest.

Consequently, if you are a law student, in addition to your degree, you will need an understanding of governance theories and social research methods before you commence with the degree. If you do not have prior knowledge in this area, you can acquire it by following our online, premaster program offered between February and May. Successful completion of this program provides you with proven knowledge of these domains, making you eligible for this Master’s degree.

If you have a social science background, it might be necessary to develop a greater understanding of the law before the start of the Master’s program. You can acquire this knowledge by completing the premaster during the spring semester. After successfully completing the program you have proven knowledge of the relevant areas of law, such as European and international law, and will be eligible for the Master’s program. A similar premaster is offered for students of International Relations, which deepens the knowledge of governance structures and legal frameworks.

This master’s program degree offers you current academic insights to develop knowledge about the topics discussed. In addition, by means of guest speakers, excursions, internships, and research, you will gain practical experience with digitalization issues in a public sector context. After this study, you will have all the necessary skills allowing you to successfully pursue a meaningful career in this highly dynamic and complex environment.

This master responds to the increasing demand of the labor market since there is a great need for lawyers with knowledge of public administration to deal with the issues of digitalization. As a graduate of this program, you will be highly demanded by employers.

Why study this program in Leeuwarden?

The English-taught LLM Governance and Law in Digital Society combines two distinctive disciplines: Law and Public Administration in order to study the consequences of IT (including privacy, safety, and security), making it unique in the Netherlands.

Further, the LLM is taught at the University of Groningen's Campus Fryslan in Leeuwarden, offering a chance for a more personalized study experience within a small classroom setting.

Governance and Law in Digital Society is a one-year program, consisting of lectures, a seminar, an internship, and a master's thesis. The first semester comprises various courses on key themes of governance and law in a digital society, focusing on issues such as privacy, safety, and security, but also the construction of effective cooperation and efficient delivery through sharing and analyzing data.

The focus is not only on becoming familiar with theoretical concepts but also on developing research skills. During the program, you will become familiar with problems the public sector faces. You will gain practical experience through guest lectures and discussions about present-day topics of an organization such as the National Police Corps, Europol, consultancy agencies, or governmental organizations as broad as local authorities or the Immigration Services.

The second semester is aimed at deepening this knowledge. The semester starts with two additional courses. Furthermore, students will become familiar with the current practice through an internship. The final assessment is a master thesis, which is written for an organization of preference, that will answer a scientific question of practical importance by combining a juridical analysis and social scientific research.

Please note, course names and schedules in the overview below are occasionally subject to change. You can find the full course descriptions in Ocasys by clicking the link 'Course Catalog' in the schedule.

Courses

• Policy science in digital society (6 EC)
• Supervision & Enforcement in digital society (6 EC)
• Seminar Policy Analysis (6 EC)
• Modern Public Management (6 EC)
• Security & Privacy in Digital Society (6 EC)
• Cyber Crime (5 EC)
• Regulation of digital technologies (5 EC)
• Thesis Project (20 EC)

Study abroad

• Study abroad is optional
• For an average of 20 weeks
• Maximum of 30 EC

Job prospects

In the job market, there is a clear demand for graduates with an interdisciplinary profile capable of interpreting development in a digital society and responding to them accordingly. The Master's program is designed to meet the increasing demand and prepare students for a career within the field.

Graduates of this program go on to work in a variety of positions in the public sector. Career opportunities are not limited to traditional authorities such as ministries or subnational authorities but also found within organizations surrounding them, for example, the Public Prosecution Service, consultancy agencies, and the police organization.

Further, all students have access to the university Careers Services Law which can help them in finding and preparing for internships and employment.

Job examples

• Data specialist, coordinator of a shared data center or information manager at a subnational authority
• Consultant, for example of IT, risks, digital transformation, digital safety, or law enforcement in a digital society
• A specialist at a regulatory body, such as the Data Protection Authority