Adeline Adrovic: karate champion pursuing a law degree at the University Luxembourg

Adeline Adrovic, a Belgian student at the University of Luxembourg, combines demanding legal studies with a competitive karate career.

***

Adeline divides her time between lecture halls and karate training sessions. At 23, the Belgian karate athlete, a gold medallist at the IBA European Cup, is also a first-year Master’s student in law at the University of Luxembourg.

Like many frontaliers, or cross-border commuters, she lives in Belgium but spends most of her days in Luxembourg, studying and training.

Discovering law at the University of Luxembourg

Adeline first came to the University of Luxembourg to study Bachelor in Law. What attracted her most was the programme’s bilingual structure, taught in English as well as French.

“Today, being fluent in English is essential in the professional world, and I genuinely wanted to improve what I considered one of my weaknesses, even if it was a bit challenging at the beginning.”

Beyond its multilingual environment, the programme’s transnational approach quickly proved valuable to Adeline. Students are introduced early to European and comparative law, providing a strong foundation for later studies.

While completing her Bachelor’s degree, she also had the opportunity to learn from what she calls leading figures in Luxembourg’s legal field, including Prof. Isabelle Riassetto, Gaston Reinesch (President of the Banque centrale du Luxembourg), Marc Thewes (President of the Conseil d’État), Paul Mousel and Pierre Hurt.

“I learned a lot from them, and I keep excellent memories of their courses. They are all very inspiring, and I truly admire them,” Adeline says.

Despite initially seeing English as one of her weaknesses and time away for international competitions, Adeline graduated from the Bachelor’s programme with distinction. Support from classmates and professors played a key role.

“Without a doubt, my classmates helped me the most. They also helped me catch up on the classes I missed when I was abroad for competitions or away for training during the week,” Adeline says. “The professors are also very accessible, genuinely attentive, and always ready to help whenever we need them.”

Florence and the Erasmus experience

The Bachelor’s programme at Uni.lu includes a semester abroad. Adeline spent hers through the Erasmus exchange at the Università degli Studi di Firenze.

“My Erasmus exchange was the best 6 months of my life, as it is for many other students. I would strongly encourage every student who has the opportunity to experience it to do so – you won’t regret it! I met students from all over the world who have remained very close friends.”

In Florence, she also took courses, including Italian Business Law and experienced a different academic environment.

“It was very enriching to see how the university works in another country and to discover a different academic environment.”

Stepping into the Master’s

After completing her Bachelor’s degree, continuing her studies at the University of Luxembourg felt like a natural choice.

“I feel very comfortable at the university, and the variety of Master’s programmes offered is particularly appealing.”

Adeline enrolled in the Master en Droit Européen. The first year forms a common core for students coming from different academic backgrounds, covering subjects such as Consumer Law, Space Law, Migration Law, Cyberlaw, Banking and Financial Law, and Tax Law.

The breadth of the programme, she says, allows students to explore several areas of European law before choosing a specialisation in the second year. Adeline plans to pursue Master in European Economic and Financial Criminal Law.

She also highlights the international environment of the Master’s programme.

“We have classmates from Peru, Turkey, Mexico, and many other countries – it’s amazing. We move forward together and are truly united, always supporting one another.”

The workload can be demanding, with twelve courses per semester, but she sees it as part of the experience.

Balancing sport and studies

Alongside her studies, Adeline has been practising karate for twelve years. She earned her black belt at 16 and later joined Karate Club Strassen in Luxembourg, where many athletes compete internationally. She now trains there every day and also competes for a club in France, where she trains every weekend, as well as for another in Brussels.

Her achievements include a gold medal at the IBA European Cup, a silver medal at the IBA Belgian Cup, a silver medal at the Campionato Nazionale di Karate in Florence, and a bronze medal at the International Rhein Shiai world-class kumite tournament, alongside multiple national and international podium finishes.

Daily training sessions often compete with study time.

“Sometimes it can be quite complicated. I have to admit that I spend most of my free time in the library, including on weekends.”

What helps Adeline maintain this balance?

“Perseverance – without any doubt,” she says. “Always trusting the process, giving the best of yourself, and not focusing on the failures that may come your way, because they are part of success.”

Looking ahead

After graduating, Adeline aims to work in international law enforcement, within organisations such as Europol or Interpol.

“I will try to combine sport and work, as I believe it’s very important to balance the mental workload of one with the physical effort of the other. It creates a healthy balance and contributes to overall well-being.”

For students considering studying law at the University of Luxembourg, her advice is simple.

“Study what you truly enjoy, work hard, and trust the process while appreciating every step of the journey.”

For Adeline, the University of Luxembourg has been a place where she can pursue both demanding legal studies and her karate career side by side.

“If you choose the University of Luxembourg, you definitely won’t regret it!”