COURSES

Content

• Introduction: The internationalization and Europeanisation of the law of civil procedure
• Solving international & EU cross-border disputes through the courts
• Out-of-court dispute resolution: arbitration, mediation & consumer ADR
• Service of documents
• Taking of evidence
• The EU unified procedures
• Digitisation of EU civil procedural law
• Collective proceedings
• Access to courts, costs & funding
• The Influence of the case law of the CJEU on national procedural law

Learning outcomes

1. To have a good knowledge of the applicable treaties and legislation in the field of international and European civil procedure, including to the relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
2. To reflect critically on issues that arise in this field, taking into account the ever-advancing legal rules and case law.
3. To recognize and analyze problems that arise in the application of rules of civil procedure in a cross-border context
4. To build a legal reasoning with respect to a procedural issue
5. To solve specific cases in which various legal questions arise.
6. To apply (evolving) legal rules in new, concrete and complex situations.
7. To defend own solutions orally and in writing       

Teaching methods

Lecture, Independent work

Extra information on the teaching methods:

Guided self-study, Lecture, lecture: plenary exercises, short presentation by students.

Assessment

Assessment moments: end-of-term assessment
Examination methods in case of end-of-term assessment during the first examination period: Oral assessment
Examination methods in case of end-of-term assessment during the resit examination period: Oral assessment

Facilities for Working Students:
Possibility of exemption from attendance with substitute assignment after consultation with the lecturer Possibility of oral examination with written preparation at another time within the academic year.  Possibility of feedback by appointment during and after office hours. participate in all evaluations, the final score cannot be deliberated. Please also note that there is no second evaluation possible for the oral exam.

Lecturers

Vandenbussche, Wannes: lecturer-in-charge

Course dates

This course takes place in the second semester of academic year 2026-2027: 

• Educational activities: 08/02 - 15/05 
• Easter recess: 29/03 – 10/04 
• Catch-up activities: 17/05 – 22/05 
• Examination period: 24/05 – 03/07 
• Resit examination period: 16/08 – 18/09 

There will be one online lecture per week from February 8, 2027, to May 22, 2027. This will take place on Tuesdays from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm CET (to be confirmed). Lectures will be recorded.

Entry requirements: Good knowledge of the structure, core concepts and techniques of the law of civil procedure and private international law. 

How to apply

1. Check whether you meet the entry requirements listed above. You cannot apply if you don’t meet the entry requirements. 
2. Check with your home faculty or study programme to confirm whether this course can be included in your curriculum, so the ECTS credits will be recognized. If you are unsure who to contact, reach out to your home university’s ENLIGHT office (contact details below). 
3. Apply by completing the Ghent University form by January 18th. 
4. Register at Ghent University. Registration instructions will follow after application. 

Information per university

• University of the Basque Country: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
• University of Bern: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see application instructions for students at the University of Bern  
• University of Bordeaux: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.     
• Comenius University Bratislava: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , see application instructions for students at the Comenius University Bratislava 
• University of Galway: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    
• University of Groningen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see information about BIPs and application form  
• University of Göttingen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (for BIP’s) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (other courses)  
• University of Tartu: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see information about BIP’s and virtual courses  
• Uppsala University: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see application instructions for students at Uppsala University 

For information regarding the procedure to take part in this course: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For information regarding the course content: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.