The Master's Programme in Law and Contemporary Governance offers a legal education built around real-world challenges. Rather than studying legal rules in isolation, you examine them in their social, political, economic and technological context — growing inequality, the climate crisis, pressure on democratic institutions, and the rise of digital platforms. This interdisciplinary approach develops the creative thinking and analytical depth that these problems demand.
The programme gives you the freedom to shape your own expert profile. You build your degree and specialise across four thematic streams, choosing a major and a minor that reflect your interests and ambitions. Graduates can go on to roles for example in the United Nations, the European Union and other international organisations, legal practice and expert positions across the public and private sectors, and legal academia.
The programme is a full-time, two-year degree worth 120 ECTS credits. It combines compulsory and optional modules, and culminates in a Master's thesis (30 ECTS).
The studies are organised around four thematic streams. You shape your own path by selecting courses from across them: one thematic stream becomes your major specialisation (25 ECTS) and another your minor specialisation (15 ECTS). You can also add optional studies in related disciplines, an internship and a student exchange period to your degree — giving you the freedom to tailor the programme to your goals while graduating with a coherent expert profile.
The four thematic streams are:
Students who have successfully completed the full-time study programme will be awarded the degree of Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL). The programme has a legal focus, corresponding to a LL.M. degree.
NB! The degree does not entitle its holder to practice law in Finland.
The language of instruction is English throughout the programme. Teaching is not limited to lectures and seminars: it also includes open online courses and internships in relevant organisations, giving you varied and practical ways to learn.
By the time you complete the programme, you will be able to:
The curriculum in the Master's Programme in Law and Contemporary Governance draws directly on the wide-ranging expertise of the University of Helsinki Faculty of Law, one of the most prominent centres of legal research in the Nordic countries. Research in the programme addresses the pressing global challenges — socio-economic inequality, climate change, the undermining of democratic institutions, and the governance of digital platforms and technologies. It also engages with major theoretical paradigms and methodological approaches from the humanities and social sciences, complementing the doctrinal study of law. As a result, you develop both a distinct expert profile and transferable scholarly skills grounded in current research.
Where your degree takes you depends on the path you choose within the programme. Graduates find employment in government, NGOs, the corporate sector and international organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union, as well as in legal practice and expert roles across the public and private sectors. An internship can be completed as part of your degree, helping you build experience and networks before you graduate. You can also pursue doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki, and an academic career in Finland or abroad.
Graduates are awarded the degree of Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL), which corresponds to an LL.M. degree. Note that the degree does not entitle its holder to practise law in Finland.
As a student in the Master's Programme in Law and Contemporary Governance, you benefit from the expertise of numerous inspiring scholars with solid teaching experience and broad research credentials.
The programme is built around four thematic streams. Rather than specialising in a single theme, you choose two at the start of your studies: one becomes your major (25 ECTS) and the other your minor (15 ECTS), so you graduate with both depth and breadth. This lets you combine, for example, environmental questions with technology, or governance with business, and build an expert profile that fits your ambitions.
The Master's Programme in Law and Contemporary Governance is particularly suited for students with an interest in complex global challenges such as democracy, human rights, sustainability and technology and a solid background in law.
The full programme-specific admission criteria will be published on the Finnish national education portal Studyinfo.fi by the end of October 2026.
Please note: The degree does not entitle its holder to practise law in Finland.
Please note that the programme only has one intake per academic year. You can only submit your application during the application period.
The application period for studies starting in autumn 2027 is from 5 to 19 Jan 2027.
You are eligible to apply if you:
The detailed programme-specific admission criteria can be found at the Studyinfo.fi.
All our students must fund their own studies and living costs. Make sure you have sufficient funds to cover the entire duration of your studies.
A tuition fee applies if you are not a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, and do not hold an exempting residence permit in Finland.
The University of Helsinki does not offer fully-funded scholarships. For Master's programmes, a limited number of tuition fee waivers (50% or 100%, mostly 50%) are available for high-achieving tuition-fee-liable applicants. Even with a waiver, you will need to cover your own living and other costs. You apply for a waiver at the same time as you apply to the programme.
If you have any questions about applying to the University of Helsinki, contact our admission advisers for guidance.
The Master's Programme in Law and Contemporary Governance is suitable for students with either a bachelor’s degree in law or with a bachelor's degree and a significant study of public international law or European law. Previous practical experience in international legal contexts is not required, but may be considered an asset in the admission process.
Read the admission criteria on Studyinfo. The admission criteria will be published at the end of October 2026.
You choose one of the four thematic streams as a major and another as a minor at the start of your studies. You cannot change your thematic streams later, but you may take advanced courses from the other streams as part of your studies.
The four thematic streams are:
Yes. Students can take courses from other programmes and faculties in line with the programme rules.
Students can add a student exchange period to their degree by taking advantage of the exchange opportunities offered by the University of Helsinki.
Start thinking about your destination and timetable early in your studies, so that a possible exchange period does not delay your studies or graduation.
An internship or placement in a relevant organisation can be considered to complement the studies. Credits may be awarded to students completing such an internship or placement.
The Faculty of Law and the Master's Programme in Law and Contemporary Governance are based at the City Centre Campus in the historic heart of Helsinki, within walking distance of the city's main libraries, institutions and student life.
The City Centre Campus is the largest of the four campuses of the University of Helsinki, housing also the Faculty of Educational Sciences, the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences, as well as the Swedish School of Social Science.
The housing situation in Helsinki is better than in many European capitals, and as a student, you have the right to apply for reasonably priced, high-quality student housing. That said, it is always important to start your search early.
Universities in Finland do not provide accommodation. Instead, non-profit organisations offer student housing, with HOAS being the main provider in the Helsinki region.
Student apartments are well-maintained and centrally heated, keeping you warm through the winter. Furnished and unfurnished options are available. The most affordable type of housing is a room in a shared apartment. Studios and two-room apartments are also available.
The University of Helsinki, one of the world's top 1% research universities, is a place where both personal and scholarly breakthroughs happen. Studying here means gaining skills, knowledge and experiences that go beyond a degree, and student life is an important part of that.