Vilnius University (Lithuania)

The Double Degree Master programme between two universities was initiated by Nino Lapiashvili, the Director of the TSU Institute for European Studies in 2019. The Faculty of Law of Vilnius University extensively supported the initiative. Prof. Tomas Davulis (Former Dean of VU Faculty of Law) was the key architect, the main driving force of the TSU/IES-VU/Law Faculty Double Degree Programme in European Studies and European Law, together with Prof. Haroldas Sinkunas - the greatest supporter of our initiative since 2019 and the newly elected Dean of the Faculty of Law. The same year the parties concluded the negotiations successfully and signed the Memorandum of Understanding. COVID-19 pandemic related situation halted a process for a while from an immediate implementation.

Starting from the academic year of 2022-2023 and based on the Cooperation Agreement signed in January 2022 by the Vilnius University (VU) on the one hand and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) on the other, the students of Master’s Programme in European Studies of the TSU Institute for European Studies obtained an unique opportunity to get enrolled in a parallel study at the Faculty of Law of the Vilnius University Master’s Programme (Master’s Study Programme International and European Law at VU), which will result in obtaining the Double Degree diplomas. The students who successfully complete each University’s Study Programme requirements and defend their Master Thesis will be awarded two diplomas – VU diploma (Master of European Law) and TSU diploma (Master of European Studies).

Only the students of MA programme in European Studies of TSU who have Bachelor diploma in Law( or an equivalent qualification of a jurist from the institutions of higher education) are eligible for enrollment in the Double Degree programme with Vilnius University.

A general deadline for the document submission to the Vilnius University is the 1st of June (if not announced by VU otherwise in a particular year) and the list of the documents is as follows:

Application form (template provided by VU);
Official certified copy of the documents confirming previous education (Bachelor Diploma) including grades (an academic transcript) confirmed by the governmental authorities with a translation into English;
Proof of English language knowledge on B2 level confirmed by the governmental authorities with a translation into English (standardized proficiency tests (IELTS, etc.), previous studies in English language, studies of English language, articles written in English language, etc. If necessary, an on-line interview may be arranged);
Copy of a passport or other document of identification with a translation into English;
Official confirmation of TSU about acceptance to the Master Study Programme European Studies at TSU;
2 recent passport size photos (3x4).

In order to be awarded diploma of the VU, the students of TSU start their education at the TSU Institute for European Studies (The first and the second semester), while they shall spend 2 (two) semesters at VU (i.e. the third and fourth semesters of the integrated study plan), pass the study courses listed in the Integrated Study Plan and defend the Master Thesis before a joint commission.

The students of TSU shall pay to VU the tuition fee as defined under the Integrated Study Plan of the Cooperation Agreements:

800 EUR (eight hundred Euros) for each semester at VU, i.e. the third and fourth semester and 200 EUR (two hundred Euros) for the semester of preparation and defense of the Master Thesis.

Tuition fee for VU is applied separately from the standard tuition fee for TSU.

Integrated Study Plan

FOR THE STUDENTS OF Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

1 semester (30 ECTS)

Place of delivery – TSU

Compulsory courses:

· History of Europe (5 ECTS)

· EU Law (5 ECTS)

· Economics of EU Integration (5 ECTS)

· EU Governance and Policy Making Process (5 ECTS)

Elective courses (2 electives to be chosen):

· Academic Writing (5 ECTS)

· Research Design (5 ECTS)

· Negotiation Skills (5 ECTS)

· Theory of Law (5 ECTS)

2 semester (30 ECTS)

Place of delivery – TSU

Compulsory courses:

· Population and European Development (5 ECTS)

· Theories of European Integration (5 ECTS)

· EU Law and Investments (5 ECTS)

· General International Law (5 ECTS)

Elective courses (2 electives to be chosen):

· International Investment Law and Human Rights (5 ECTS)

· European Cultural Mosaic (5 ECTS)

· Social, Economic and Cultural Rights - Universal, Regional (CoE, EU) and Constitutional (of selected jurisdictions) Protection (5 ECTS)

· International Human Rights and Minorities (5 ECTS)

3 semester (30 ECTS)

Place of delivery – VU

Automatic recognition by TSU

Compulsory courses:

· Global Law and Legal Ethics (10 ECTS)

· Human Rights in Global Perspective (5 ECTS)

· Advanced Issues in Public International Law (5 ECTS)

Elective courses (2 electives to be chosen):

· External Relations Law of the European Union (5 ECTS)

· FinTech Law (5 ECTS)

· Cybersecurity Law and Cybercrime (5 ECTS)

· Law on Competition in Digital Economy (5 ECTS)

· Health- and Biotechnology Law (5 ECTS)

· Consumer Protection Law (5 ECTS)

4 semester (30 ECTS)

Place of delivery – VU

Automatic recognition by TSU

Compulsory courses:

· International Dispute Resolution (10 ECTS)

· Sustainable Development and Environmental Law (5 ECTS)

· Protection of Human Rights in Practice (5 ECTS)

Elective courses (2 electives to be chosen):

· Employment Law in Global and Digital Economy (5 ECTS)

· Global Tax Law (5 ECTS)

· Intellectual Property Law and Technologies (5 ECTS)

· Social Networks and Media Law (5 ECTS)

· Legal Innovation and Entrepreneurship (5 ECTS)

5 semester (30 ECTS)

Place of delivery – VU and TSU

Mutual implementation

Compulsory courses:

· Master Thesis (including Master Seminar) (30 ECTS)