Masterprograms

  • Master Society, Law and Religion

  • Master of Canon Law (JCL)

Master Society, Law and Religion 60 ECTS

What is the Master of Society, Law and Religion all about?

The program aims at enabling students to gain solid and critical knowledge on key issues such as the place of religion in the public sphere, the debate on secularism, the role of the state vis-à-vis religion, church and relationships, human rights and religion, European and international law and religion, and domestic and international politics of religious freedom. Taught at the Faculty of Canon Law, the programme is particularly sensitive to the autonomy of religions, religious self-government, and religious laws.

While all students receive a basic training in the law of the Roman Catholic Church.

The master's degree in Society, Law and Religion leads to a full academic master's degree, but not to a canonical degree.

Admission requirements

  • Academic Bachelor degree

  • Professional bachelor degree after following a bridging program and after approval by the faculty

  • Certificate for completion of training for the priesthood (major seminary)

    To be admitted applicants have to prove a satisfactory level of proficiency in English. As proof of this level are accepted:
    - a TOEFL score of minimum 79 (internet based)
    - an IELTS-score of 6.5.

The full program of the master's degree in Society, Law and Religion can be found on the university's website.

 

Master of Canon Law 120 ECTS

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The master of Canon Law is an advanced master program in which the focus is on the study of the law of the Roman Catholic Church. You deepen and broaden the knowledge you’ve gained during your previous education in the master's degree in Society, Law and Religion. The combination of both programs entitles you to the ecclesiastical recognized degree of Juris Canonici Licentiatus.

The two-year programme focuses on the study of canon law and provides an introduction into the law of other religions (comparative law) and the study of capita selecta. The skills obtained will be applied during the internship and improved through personal research. This general experience will be reflected in a research paper.

Juris Canonici Licentiatus

The program leading to the canonical degree of Juris Canonici Licentiatus  (JCL) consists of two programs according to Flemish decree law: the Master in Society, Law and Religion and the Master in Canon Law.

Students who wish to obtain the Canonical degree of Juris Canonici Licentiatus always start with the Master in Society, Law and Religion. Only then can they start the Master in Canon Law.

Admission Requirements

To be directly admitted to the master's degree in Canon Law, students must cumulatively meet the following conditions:

  • Have obtained a bachelor's degree in theology or proof that they have completed priesthood.

  • Have obtained the degree of Master in Society, Law and Religion (with graduation option 2A: preparation for the Advanced Master in Canon Law).

After approval by the faculty, an adapted track can be provided for students with a bachelor's degree in civil law.

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

Students who have obtained the Master in Society, Law and Religion in the academic year 2022-2023 or earlier, take the following courses instead of the specialization courses in Church Law that they have already successfully completed:

a) for Students with a bachelor's degree in theology and religious studies:

  • Introduction to Secular Legal Systems (B0B40B) – 6 ects.

  • Roman Law Reader (B0B79A) – 6 ects.

  • Introduction to Common Law (C03I1B) – 3 ects.

b) for all other students:

“Other students take at least 15 credits of theology course units in consultation with the study career counselor and with the approval of the program director. They take these courses at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies of KU Leuven”.

The full program of the master's degree in Canon Law can be found on the university's website.