LL.M. in German Law and Comparative Law
Standard duration of study
2 semesters / 60 ECTS
Programme format
Full-time and on-campus degree programme
Start of the degree programme
Always in the winter term
Allocation of places
through a selection process
Structure and course content
The Master’s programmes provide lawyers with a degree from abroad with a basic understanding of German law, including its foundations, and offer the opportunity to specialise in a specific area of positive law of their own choosing. They impart legal and methodological skills in a research-oriented manner through comparative law, with specific reference to the German legal system and legal doctrine. Upon successful completion, the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.) is awarded. The programmes offer students the opportunity to acquire relevant subject-specific research methodology skills (learning and practising specialised academic methods, producing academic papers, and mastering the necessary subject-specific and methodological foundations). Students are involved in the faculty’s research topics and current research projects (e.g. participation in ongoing research projects). As a programme is also offered in English, the aforementioned course content is made accessible to students without sufficient knowledge of German.
In addition to acquiring specialist knowledge and professional skills, the degree programmes contribute to a deeper understanding of academia. Lecturers will engage with students in a discourse on the role of academia in general and the specific characteristics of legal scholarship. The recommendations of the German Association of Law Faculties on academic integrity in the drafting of legal texts are taken into account within the course ‘Standards of Legal Research in Germany (2 LP)’.
‘Legal Area Studies’ are integrated into the degree programmes at both the teaching and research levels. In this way, they tie in directly with the existing research focus at the University of Regensburg, ‘Dynamics in a Global World’. The Faculty of Law’s research focus on legal transfer and legal transformation, which is currently under development, is also a key component of the degree programmes. The primary target group for the degree programmes comprises applicants from abroad who wish to pursue a PhD in law. Suitable graduates are given the opportunity to subsequently undertake a PhD at the Faculty of Law.
As part of the programme, personal development is fostered through a combination of independent individual work and group work. Working in groups, resolving conflicts, weighing up decisions, presenting academic findings and academic writing are taught in many modules. Intercultural and communication skills are developed through joint modules with international and local students. Graduates of these degree programmes are therefore capable of working in teams and are cooperative; they possess social and intercultural skills, are able to take on responsibility within a team, and can reflect on academic practice within an ethical, social and cultural context.
The degree programmes have an exclusively international focus. The University of Regensburg’s internationalisation strategy was taken into account when designing the degree programmes. International mobility, the internationalisation of the curricula, partnerships and collaborations, as well as the internationalisation of research, form an integral part of the degree programmes.
LL.M. in German and Comparative Law
standard duration of study
2 semesters / 60 ECTS
study format
Full-time, on-campus programme
Start of programme
winter term
Admissions process
via the admissions process
Structure and content
The Master’s degree programmes provide lawyers holding a degree from abroad with a basic understanding of German law, including its fundamentals, and offer them the opportunity to choose, on an individual basis, to deepen their knowledge in the field of positive law. They impart legal and methodological skills in a research-oriented manner within the field of comparative law, with specific reference to the German legal system and legal doctrine. Upon successful completion, the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.) is awarded. The degree programmes offer students the opportunity to acquire relevant subject-specific research methodological skills (learning and practising specialised (subject-specific) academic methods, preparing academic papers, and mastering the necessary technical and methodological foundations). Students are involved in the faculty’s research topics and current research work (e.g. participation in ongoing research projects). By also offering a programme of study in English, the aforementioned teaching content is made accessible to students without sufficient knowledge of German.
In addition to acquiring specialist knowledge and professional skills, the courses contribute to a deeper understanding of science. Lecturers engage in discussion with students about the role of science in general and the specific nature of law. The recommendations of the German Lawyers’ Faculty Association on academic integrity when writing legal texts are taken into account in the course ‘Standards of Legal Research in Germany (2 CP)’.
‘Legal Area Studies’ are integrated into the degree programmes at both the teaching and research levels. This ties in directly with the research focus ‘Dynamics in the Global World’ at the University of Regensburg. The Faculty of Law’s emerging research focus on legal transfer and legal transformation is also a key feature of the degree programmes. The primary target group for the courses includes applicants from abroad who are aiming to obtain a doctorate in law. Suitable graduates have the opportunity to pursue a doctorate at the Faculty of Law.
As part of the programme, personal development is fostered through a combination of independent individual work and group work. Many courses cover working in groups, resolving conflicts, weighing up decisions, presenting academic findings and academic writing. Intercultural and communication skills are taught through joint courses with international and local students. Graduates of the degree programmes are therefore able to work in a team and cooperate, possess social and intercultural skills, can take responsibility within a team, and reflect on academic activities within an ethical, social and cultural context.
The courses are exclusively internationally oriented. The University of Regensburg’s internationalisation strategy was taken into account when designing the degree programmes. International mobility, the internationalisation of curricula, partnerships and collaborations, as well as the internationalisation of research, form an integral part of the degree programmes.
Foto: UR/Julia Dragan
