Master in Theory and Practice of Constitutional Law

The courses taught in the first year of the program have two main aims. Firstly, the training is deliberately generalist, as the careers for which the students are destined require solid theoretical skills in all the disciplines of public law, taught by specialist academics. Secondly, the aim is to offer students courses designed to familiarize them with the disciplines that will be studied in greater depth in the second year, particularly constitutional law.
The courses offered in the second year of the program - in the form of lectures, case studies and practical exercises - correspond to a training program of excellence with an essentially research-based approach, with significant results in terms of thesis production and success in competitive examinations for higher education. Fundamental research in constitutional law can be carried out in CERCOP's main areas of research, namely legal theory and philosophy, constitutional litigation and comparative constitutional law.
The program includes a "Research Methodology" seminar, which trains students in the practice of constitutional law research. The seminar is taught by a CERCOP teacher-researcher. In particular, it provides students with tools and methods for writing their research dissertations.
Students also complete an internship in the laboratory. Working closely with the teacher in charge, students will participate in the day-to-day life of CERCOP. They are also expected to organize a "course study day" at the end of the academic year, on a theme chosen by all students.
The management team also maintains close links with the French Constitutional Council, as each year a team of students from the course takes part in the Vedel moot competition organized by the institution.
Lastly, the course also enables students to enter the professions by preparing for the major administrative competitions, in particular those for civil servants at the National Assembly and the Senate, most of which are held by candidates with a Master 2 degree in public law. For those wishing to become lawyers specializing in public law, the course provides a solid grounding in the QPC mechanism.

The Master's degree provides students with a high-level education in constitutional law, the law of fundamental freedoms and legal theory. It offers professional opportunities in the field of university research, and enables students who so wish to prepare for civil service entrance examinations, to become magistrates or to become public law attorneys.