Singapore Management University (SMU) has become the first Asian university to join the ranks of top European Universities as part of the THEMIS network, alongside Università Bocconi (Milan, Italy), Esade (Barcelona, Spain), Freie Universität (Berlin, Germany), Université Paris Est Créteil Val de Marne (Paris, France) and Maastricht Law School (Maastricht, The Netherlands).

THEMIS represents a network of institutions which have come together to create a new standard in business law in response to an ever-increasing demand for law professionals with international know-how and expertise.  SMU has been invited to become the sixth and only non-European member in the network.

The network’s THEMIS programme, offering joint international certificate, was launched in September 2006.  Outstanding students from the THEMIS network of universities who are selected to participate in the programme get the unique opportunity to go on an international exchange at a partner university, participate in international internships and attend specialised THEMIS seminars.  The THEMIS Seminars provide students with a chance to delve deeper into an area of international law relevant to their academic career and is held on a rotating basis by the THEMIS universities.

The THEMIS programme provides students with the opportunity to widen their intellectual and academic horizons, as well as strengthen their academic and cultural knowledge in an international context, giving them a competitive advantage that will stand them in good stead in their future legal careers.

Each partner university will select a few students each year for the programme through a process which is expected to be competitive and highly-selective.  Students who have successfully completed the programme will obtain not only their local law degree but also an international THEMIS certificate.