LL.M. program in European Law, Department of Law, Baku State University
15/04/2014
Rector of Baku State University
Member of Parliament
Academician A.M.MAHARRAMOV
I am proud to introduce Baku State University – the notable scientific, educational and cultural center of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is the honorable intellectual and moral wealth of the nation, one of the very first universal higher educational establishments in the Eastern World.Baku State University has made great contributions to form and develop intellectual and scientific potential of the Azerbaijani people and train highly qualified national specialists. Furthermore, within its 90 year existence Baku State University has played a pivotal role in the establishment of a number of higher educational institutes and universities as well as Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. The university staff feels proud that many remarkable personalities, including the national leader of the Azerbaijani people – Heydar Aliyev – are the graduates and honorary doctors of Baku State University.I highly appreciate the development of new programs alongside classical fields of legal study in the Faculty of Law of Baku State University. In this regard, it is with gratitude that our University receives USAID support for development of a new Maritime and Energy Law LL.M. program within the Law Faculty. We look forward to working jointly with USAID, ABA ROLI, and Tulane University to build a strong, new LL.M. program.I would feel great gratitude to see each of you at Baku State University - at the temple of science.
General information about Baku State University
Baku State University is a public university known as a leader of educational institutions in Azerbaijan; it has a rich history and today it is known as one of the famous scientific and educational centers of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The University has been the center of national thinking. Azerbaijan's famous politician, Haydar Aliyev and thousands of well-known scientists, intellectuals, and outstanding diplomats graduated from this university.Every year, thousands of young people do their best to pass difficult competition in order to have a chance to study at BSU: the competition is 3 persons per place for each department; sometimes it reaches 10 persons per place for certain departments that are very popular in the country, including Department of Law. Every year 40 of the 100 best entrants (with highest admission score), are awarded by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan “Presidential Grant” on behalf of BSU.Today, Baku State University offers students 55 bachelor and 153 master degrees in
16 different majors. The University integrated its education system to European three stages education system (Bachelor, Master and PhD) in 1993. According to this system a student studying for Bachelor's degree (education period is 4 years) get a wide knowledge on certain fundamental specialties and this phase of education completes with preparation for and defense of a diploma work (thesis). The Master's level (education period is 2 years) is a pass way to science, and in order to get that degree, a student must
prepare and defense a dissertation (thesis) work on a more specific subject. The next step is a three-year “Aspirantura” institute and at the end of this stage, depending of the result of the research/dissertation work, PhD Degree is or is not granted to the nominee.This academic year 560 international students from Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Syria,Jordan, Libya, Yemen, Russia, Georgia, Belorussia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, China,Korea, Pakistan, Nigeria, Israel, Kosovo study at BSU and 15 of them are law students.University has newly rebuilt sport and health complex building. There are volleyball,soccer, basketball, badminton and other clubs/sections operating under the department of Physical Preparation. The indoor pool will be open for students this September.Students can benefit from these facilities free of charge.
History of Baku State University
Baku State University was established by Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1919; it was a new educational center where Europe and Asia jointed. The University started its first educational year with two faculties – Faculty of Philology and Medical Faculty with an initial enrollment of 1094 students. The first rector of BSU was V.I.Razumovsky, a well known surgeon and former professor of surgery at Kazan University.The leading teachers of the University during years of 1920-30 were Azerbaijani writer Abdurrahim bek Haqverdiyev,well known orientalist – Profesor P.K. Juze, Proffesor A.O.Makovelski, Professor A.O. Mishel and other well known scholars. During that period the administration of the university invited to Baku such teachers as N.Y. Marr, V.V.Bartold, the academician of the Eastern Science Academy Fuad bek Kuprulluzade. The well known fellow countryman,laureate of the Nobel award L.D. Landau was studying at the university in 1922-24.In 1945 the teachers of the University took active part in foundation of the Azerbaijan Academy of Science. Most of the universities functioning in the Republic right now, such as Azerbaijan Medical University, Azerbaijan University of Economy, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University and others were founded on the basis of our University.
DEPARTMENT OF LAW
The BSU Department of Law was established as a section of the Oriental Studies Department of the University in 1927, and since 1928 has operated as the Department of Law.Now 1933 law students are being trained as lawyers at the BSU Department of Law; 1021 of them are full-time and 471 of them are part-time students. A total of 1295 students study at the bachelor's level, and the remaining study for post-graduate law degrees.The Law Department has the divisions (cathedras) of Constitutional Law; Civil Law; Civil Process, and Commercial Law; Labor and Ecology Law; Criminal Law and Criminology; Criminal Process; Criminalistics and Legal Expertise; Theory and History of State and Law;Public International Law; Private International Law and European Law.The Legal Clinic was established in 2001 as an extracurricular program to provide Master's students of the Law Department with the practical skills necessary for actual client representation. The University recently incorporated the clinic program into its approved curriculum for the Department of Law. The program is now offered as an elective available to students seeking to improve their trial skills. The clinic director is a faculty member assigned to permanently oversee the law clinic.
Amir Aliyev,
Doctor of Legal Sciences, Dean
Welcome to the Baku State University Department of Law.
Our law school was founded in 1928 and has been the major and has been the biggest law school in the country since its creation. Baku State University law graduates are employed as judges and chief justices on the Azerbaijan Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, the European Court, and at important overnment posts and with the country's largest companies.
I am pleased to announce that starting in 2012 we have opened our doors to welcome local and international students who want to improve their knowledge and become legal experts in the field of EU Law. We are proud to create an LL.M. program in European Law, which will be taught in English and German, and thus will help to teach and prepare experts not only for practicing in Azerbaijan, but also for
serving as legal experts in European Law in other countries of the region.
Being a country which aims at European integration, it is important for Azerbaijan to have specialists in these fields, and I want to thank University of Wurzburg and DAAD for their support in the creation of this master's program.
I hope that the knowledge and skills obtained through this program will serve to develop your professional excellence and leadership and that our program will be one of the region's leading programs of advanced study in European law.
LL.M. program in European Law
The program was established in 2010 with the objective of training legal experts in the field of European Union Law. During 2010-2012 the program was offered only in English but since 2013 it is also offered in the German language.The program is a double-degree program run jointly with University of Wurzburg, Germany with support of DAAD. The students enrolled for the program:
- get enrolled in mandatory intensive German course
- can chose to study one of several semesters in Germany
- can make internship in University of Wurzburg
- are offered lectures by local as well as German professors
- gain access to most recent books on European Law at BSU library.
The main subjects offered are European Constitutional Law, Introduction to European Law,Legal Research and Writing, European Law v. National Law, European Union Institutions,European Finances Law, European Energy Law, European Environmental Law, and European Labor Law.In 2013 six graduates of the program obtained a double-degree master program in European law. Of them two remained on the faculty and currently teach several courses.
University of Wurzburg (UoW)
UoW founded in 1402 is one of the oldest German universities with a long tradition in research and teaching excellence.UoW with its
10 faculties enrolls some 21,000 students. More than 3000 academic staff members and 400 professors worked for the University.
International Students
International students are welcome to apply to the LL.M. in European Law. It is an unique opportunity for students from countries in this region of the world. The program will focus on EU law, which will help students to be successful in finding jobs at international organizations or law firms.The application period for international students starts in May and continues until the 15th of June. International students must send the required documents to the International Department (International Student's Office) by regular mail (Address: Ac. Zahid-Xalilov str., 23, Baku, AZ 1148; Baku State University,II Educational Building, International Department).The International Department will help international students to go through the
application process and support them during the application process and when they arrive in the country with consultations and information. For list of necessary documents for admission and for other information please visit the International Department's website:
Tel.: + 99412 5394652;
E-mail:
Web-site:
http://foreignoffice.bsu.edu.az/en/
[email protected];
[email protected];
http://foreignoffice.bsu.edu.az/en/
Visa information
There is a Migration center/office operating at Baku State University which helps students to get temporary residency permit upon their arrival to the country.Usually one year permits are issued to international students (for more information please see the website of the Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan:www.migration.gov.az). Students coming from a country that doesn't have an agreement with Azerbaijan on visa free travel (see the list of the countries not requiring visa:Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine) have to get a visa at the embassy (consulate) of Azerbaijan in their country or at the closest embassy or if there is not one in their country or at the time of entrance to the country (for more information about visa procedures please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan: www.infa.gov.az ).Housing Baku is one of the fastest growing and developing cities in the region; rent prices will vary depending on the district. You can find apartments (with 2 or more rooms) close to the University within the range of 300-400 AZN per month. A new dormitory at the University will be built in the near future, but at this time most students live in private housing near the university. Main classes start on the 15 of September. A pre-tacademic program will start earlier, on 1 of September. Students are asked to arrive earlier in order to have adequate time to find accommodation. There is a medical aid office operating at BSU for students.
Other Graduate Programs taught in English
Commercial Law LL.M. program was established in 2006 with support of USAID and the American Bar Association. The program's main objective is to prepare students for a career in the world of international business and to provide them with knowledge and practical skills required of attorneys working in the global market-place. Main subjects offered under this program are: Corporations, Contracts, International Business Transactions, International Banking Law, Intellectual Property Law, ECHR Case Law, and
International Taxation. All instructors are practicing attorneys in Azerbaijan's most prominent law firms, oil concerns, banks, and businesses. Classes at the law school are taught in Azerbaijani, Russian and English. There are currently three LL.M. programs and a Bachelor's program taught in English. LL.M. programs include the LL.M. program in Transnational Criminal Law, LL.M. in Maritime and Energy Law and LL.M. in European Law.The vast majority of the professors teaching at these programs are graduates of leading European and American universities.
Commercial Law LL.M. program was established in 2006 with support of USAID and the American Bar Association. The program's main objective is to prepare students for a career in the world of international business and to provide them with knowledge and practical skills required of attorneys working in the global market-place. Main subjects offered under this program are: Corporations, Contracts, International Business Transactions, International Banking Law, Intellectual Property Law, ECHR Case Law, and International Taxation. All instructors are practicing attorneys in Azerbaijan's most prominent law firms, oil concerns, banks, and businesses.
LL.M. program in Human
Rights Law
The main objective of the program is to help the implementation of human rights in Azerbaijan and bring the national education on human rights closer to European standards on human rights. Funded by The Soros Foundation, this program started in 2009. The main subjects offered under this program are: Current Issues of Human Rights, Minority Rights, European Convention on Human Rights, Migration Law, Humanitarian Law, Environmental Law, Economic and Social Rights Law, and International Human Rights Law.
LL.M. program in Maritime and
Energy Law
The program was established in 2010 with the objective of training legal experts in the field of European Union law. The main subjects offered are European Constitutional Law, Introduction to European Law, Legal Research and Writing, European Law v.National Law, European Union Institutions,European Finances Law, European Energy Law, European Environmental Law, and European Labor Law.
Student Life
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the heart of the country; the cultural, scientific,educational and industrial center of life in Azerbaijan. The city is growing quickly and ambitiously, with a focus on tourism, sports and the business world, with new stunning building rising over the ancient city center. Every year Baku hosts different types of regional and international events,conferences, exhibitions and festivals.Students will never get bored in this lively city.The University regularly conducts various cultural events and entertaining programs to encourage students and teachers to spend their free time worthily and usefully. Amateur groups of the university, as well as famous artists of the country give concerts at the big hall of the University. We have students' artistic groups such as: National dancing group,Instrumental ensemble, “Neysan” pop group and Fiction reading group that are popular among students.The broad information about masscultural events held at University is given via local TV channel and newspaper “Baku State University”. The University organizes “Graduation Day”, New Year and “Novruz” (Spring Holiday) celebration each year.
There are also students' organizations functioning at BSU. They organize different entertainment and learning activities for students and help them to interact and to know each other better.Student's Scientific Society gathers students of scientific profile by organizing Intellectual games and scientific workshops and conferences; holding inter-departmental Olympic contests; guiding well educated students to the departments for their desires.Student – Youth Organization helps students with guidance in their social problems, enlightening them about their rights and organization of circles, clubs,courses, services for providing intellectual development of interests and inclinations of the students.
Facilities, created in the garden of Baku State University, give chance to students to spend pleasant and favorable time. Students can have their dinner not only in canteen of the University, but also at the nearby cafés and restaurants. At the cafes around the University, an average price for lunch per person is 3-5 AZN.
