Comparative Business Law

The programme Master of Comparative Business Law (MCBL) is an advanced academic programme providing an in depth understanding of business law aspects of both the European market and the global market.

The programme aims to provide students with competence in both comparative and business law, offering them a competitive edge in their careers as strategic decision makers in both the public and private sectors. It offers a unique combination of traditional comparative law studies (legal methodology, legal traditions, and the common/civil law divide) and studies in business law (e.g., competition law, contract law, company law, and tax law) including trade-related aspects. It provides general and specific knowledge of the European Union legal framework and of the actors in international trade law. The programme addresses, in particular, the practical problems resulting from the co-existence of business law at different levels, i.e., the regional business law of the European Union and their respective Member States with the global (or near-global) trade law of the World Trade Organisation.

The programme is offered full-time (one academic year) with daytime classes. Courses are offered consecutively over two semesters, from September until June. The first semester focuses on European business law and is offered at the University of Mannheim. The second semester has an emphasis on international business law and will be completed either in Mannheim or in Adelaide, depending on the chosen study option.

Students who have obtained their first (undergraduate) degree outside Germany may study the entire programme in Mannheim and will in this case be awarded with the academic title of "Master of Comparative Business Law - MCBL ("Mannheim")". Accordingly, German-qualified students are obliged to study their second semester in Adelaide, whereas all other students can choose between the study options "Mannheim/Adelaide" and "Mannheim only".

Educational organisation

The programme consists of mandatory, intensive, and elective courses. The topics of the courses are chosen carefully. They have been put in a logical order which ensures the development of both academic and professional competences. The mandatory courses have a clearly defined focus on comparative legal methodology and the legal sources, actors, and means of action. Whereas these subjects of European and International Law are indispensable for business lawyers and thus mandatory, students can tailor the programme to suit their own interests by a respective choice of intensive and elective courses. They cover all main subjects of business law. They allow for depth of study, and their choice ensures the coherence of the competences gained. Without neglecting academic levels, the programme pays specific attention to professional applications, particularly through its teaching methods and assignments. To serve this purpose, the programme relies strongly on a combination of theory and the thorough study and analysis of cases, and thus takes advantage of an outstanding and well-developed characteristic feature of German legal education.

All students have to complete courses amounting to 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) points:

• each semester 20 ECTS points (respectively 12 credit units in Adelaide) by coursework
• a Master's thesis on a business law related topic of their choice with a comparative perspective (20 ECTS points)

In Mannheim the following courses are planned (subject to some changes):
Winter semester (September to December)
European & Comparative Business Law:

Compulsory Module: Introduction to Comparative European Law
(every student is obliged to choose these courses):
Comparative Law I - European Legal Traditions
Introduction to European Business Law
European Union Law - Institutional Aspects
European Legal Thinking: Meet Savigny & his Peers

Intensive Module: The Internal Market
(Two courses out of the following):
European Market Freedoms
European Competition Law
European Private Law
Cross Border Litigation & Arbitration

Elective Module: European Business Law
(Two courses out of the following):
E-Commerce & Internet
European Tax Law
EU Fundamental Rights
Introduction to German Private Law
Adelaide Guest Lecture

Summer semester (February to June)
International & Comparative Business Law:

Compulsory Module: Introduction to Comparative and International Business Law
(every student is obliged to choose these courses):
Comparative Law II - The Common/Civil Law Divide
Introduction to International Business Law
International Organisations: legal sources, actors, and means of influence
Law & Economics

Intensive Module: The Global Market
(Two courses out of the following):
International Trade Law
Corporate Governance II
International Sale of Goods
Private International Law

Elective Module: International Business Law
(Two courses out of the following):
International Business Transactions
Intellectual Property Law
International Labour Law
Behavioural Law & Economics


At the University of Adelaide, a wide range of Business Law courses will also be offered. For further information, check: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/course-outlines/search/?vs=law&search=Search&adv_acad_career=pgcw&adv_campus=0&adv_year=0&adv_subject=0&adv_course_type=stabex&adv_termid=0

Study abroad unit(s)

Participants who are enrolled in the "Mannheim/Adelaide track" spend the second semester of the programme at the University of Adelaide, Australia.

Internships

There is no formal internship programme. Due to our well-connected faculty, however, we have previously been able to place students in a global company, in the internship programme at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law & International Law, and in a human rights organisation. Many courses are offered by legal practitioners, especially from international law firms. Students may apply for internships at their firms.

Forms of assessment

Written and oral exams, essays, Master's thesis

Course objectives

The MCBL is a high-level, demanding postgraduate programme in the field of European and international business law. In just one academic year, it offers a thorough and focused education in European and international business law. The programme is designed for law graduates, or graduates with a sufficient background in law, who wish to pursue advanced studies to specialise in the area of business law with a comparative perspective. The programme is ideal for preparing for an institutional employment within the EU or domestic administrations and companies as well as preparing for private practice acting in the global market.

Language requirements

A good command of spoken and written English proven by:

For the "Mannheim" track:

• TOEFL iBT with a minimum score of 90; or
• IELTS with a minimum score of 6.5; or
• equivalent English language test; or
• a higher education entrance qualification acquired in an English-speaking country after at least one year of school there; or
• the successful attendance of a study programme held in English for at least one year.

For the "Mannheim/Adelaide" track:

• TOEFL iBT with a total score of at least 94 (27 in Writing, 23 in Speaking, 20 in Reading and Listening); or
• IELTS with an overall band score of at least 7.0 (7.0 in Writing and Speaking, 6.5 in Reading and Listening); or
• the successful attendance of a study programme held in English for at least one year

Academic requirements

General Information:

• Students have to choose whether they want to complete the entire programme in Mannheim ("Mannheim") or at both partner universities ("Mannheim/Adelaide").
• The favoured study option ("Mannheim" or "Mannheim/Adelaide") has to be selected at the time of application! The study option CANNOT be changed at a later stage.
• Please note that you have to submit certified documents when applying for the Master of Comparative Business Law!
• If the required documents are in a language other than German or English, you will need to include a translation done by a certified translator.
• Chinese, Mongolian, and Vietnamese applicants additionally require the original Certificate of the Academic Test Centre (APS-Zertifikat) of their home country. Contact: German Embassy in Beijing (http://www.aps.org.cn) or the German Embassy in Ulan Bator (http://www.ulan-bator.diplo.de) or the German Embassy in Hanoi (http://www.hanoi.diplo.de).
• Before you start with your application for a Master's degree course, please make sure to read the Master's Guide (available at the website of the admission office: http://bewerbung.uni-mannheim.de/english/downloads/master_s_guide/masterbroschuere_uni_mannheim_englisch.pdf).

Admission Requirements:

A. Master of Comparative Business Law ("Mannheim"):
To be eligible for admission to the Master of Comparative Business Law ("Mannheim") programme you should:

• submit your high school diploma or any other diploma that enables you to access a university in Germany ("Abiturszeugnis") or another country; and
• have a four year law degree (at least 240 ECTS points or equivalent) from a foreign university or have a degree in a related discipline (e.g. business, economics, social and political sciences) if at least 20 ECTS or equivalent were obtained in law classes (or similar which prove the ability to study law); and
• submit a transcript of your previous studies; and
• have a good command of spoken and written English proven by:

*TOEFL iBT with a minimum score of 90; or

• • IELTS with a minimum score of 6.5; or
  • equivalent English language test; or
  • a higher education entrance qualification acquired in an English-speaking country after at least one year of school there; or
  • the successful attendance of a study programme held in English for at least one year.
• submit a motivation letter (max. two pages);
• submit your curriculum vitae (max. three pages).

B. Master of Comparative Business Law ("Mannheim/Adelaide"):
To be eligible for admission to the Master of Comparative Business Law ("Mannheim/Adelaide") programme you should:

• submit your high school diploma or any other diploma that enables you to access a university in Germany ("Abiturszeugnis") or another country; and
• have a four year law degree (at least 240 ECTS points or equivalent) from a German or foreign university or have a degree in a related discipline (e.g. business, economics, social and political sciences) if at least 20 ECTS or equivalent were obtained in law classes (or similar which prove the ability to study law); and submit a transcript of your previous studies; and
• submit a transcript of your previous studies; and
• have a good command of spoken and written English proven by (please note that this revised policy applies to applicants applying for the MCBL Mannheim/Adelaide track starting 2015/2016):

' TOEFL iBT with a total score of at least 94 (27 in Writing, 23 in Speaking, 20 in Reading and Listening); or

• • IELTS with an overall band score of at least 7.0 (7.0 in Writing and Speaking, 6.5 in Reading and Listening); or
  • the successful attendance of a programme of study held in English for at least one year.
• submit a motivation letter (max. two pages);
• submit your curriculum vitae (max. three pages).

Enrolment fees

139.35 EUR per semester + Student Body Representative Committee (AStA) contribution: 5.85 EUR (per semester)

Costs of living

Mannheim: 500-700 EUR per month
Adelaide: about 900-1,200 AUD per month (about 600-800 EUR)

Funding opportunities within the university

Upon written request, to be submitted together with the application for the MCBL programme, particularly qualified applicants and applicants who cannot pay the tuition fees due to financial hardship can be exempted from fees completely or partially. The admissions committee decides case by case whether or not complete or partial tuition fee waivers are granted. Upon written request, the tuition fees can be paid in instalments.

One to two scholarships are available through the Baden-Württemberg foundation for students travelling overseas (students enrolled in Mannheim going to Australia for the Adelaide semester), which amount to about 2,400 EUR per student for the entire semester.

One scholarship titled the Ekkehardt-Foundation/DAAD Matching Funds Scholarship (worth 2,000 EUR) will be granted to one of our international applicants. No extra application for the scholarship is required; selection will be made from among the submitted applications.

For other scholarship opportunities at the University of Mannheim, see also the information provided by our International Office (link below). Please note: you can already apply for some of the scholarships mentioned below with your online admission application!
http://www.uni-mannheim.de/stipendium/english/

Arrival support

Your first stop after arriving in Mannheim should be our very experienced International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt), which will help you find accommodation and give guidance on other general issues to help you get settled in Mannheim as soon as possible.

In Adelaide, you will enjoy an equivalent level of support, provided by the International Office, and the Law School of the University of Adelaide itself.

Services and support for international students

As stated above, the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) supports you in the search for accommodation, with the opening of bank accounts and other administrative issues you may have.

For further information see:
http://www.uni-mannheim.de/io/english/international_degree_seeking_students/index.html

Our MCBL coordinator and her team are at your disposal, by phone or e-mail as well as personally, to answer your programme-related questions (e.g., advice on which subjects to choose or advice on how to prepare for exams/your Master's thesis). The same applies for your stay at the University of Adelaide.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Mannheim is available through the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) or on the private market.

Please note that places in our student dorms are highly competitive, so we recommend that you apply for a place in advance; no admission letter is needed for the application, so you can apply for student accommodation as soon as you decide to study in Mannheim!
Apply online at: https://www.stw-ma.de/Wohnen/Uni_Bewerbung-p-2906.html.

Rent for a single room in a student residence is approx. 350 EUR per month. Private accommodation can be found on the internet at http://www.studenten-wg.de or http://www.wg-gesucht.de.

The Accommodation Office of the University of Adelaide offers student accommodation for incoming MCBL students. See the information provided by the University of Adelaide on its websites.