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In today's global economy, lawyers and business people alike are regularly confronted with international issues that involve both legal and business aspects. The one-year curriculum of the Master of Law and Business (LLM/MLB) programme, taught entirely in English, is designed exclusively for lawyers, business people and graduates of other disciplines who strive to be at the forefront of these legal and business developments.
The LLM/MLB curriculum is unique in its structure. Throughout the entire academic year, all modules relate to one overarching theme: the founding and development of a business enterprise, from both the business and the legal perspective. Thus, the curriculum follows the enterprise through various phases, including the founding of the enterprise, transforming the firm into a publicly-held enterprise, going international, merging with or acquiring another firm, and restructuring a firm that is in financial difficulties. By using the development of an enterprise as its structural backbone, the programme creates synergies among its various modules. As a result, students study more efficiently and obtain a better overall understanding of the interrelationship between law and business. The programme links law and business within its individual modules. For example, the module examining the founding of an enterprise considers both entrepreneurship and the question of which legal form to use for the enterprise and how to finance the start-up company. Students analyse these topics not from the perspective of any one national system, but rather from a comparative perspective. This approach allows students to analyse various national approaches to the issues that arise in every business and legal culture.
In the second half of the programme, students have a choice of various elective modules, such as Intellectual Property, M&A/Corporate Finance, Distribution and Logistics, US Law/EU Law, Arbitration/Dispute Resolution Management, Restructuring and Insolvency, Corporate Governance/Legal Aspects of Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management and Leadership.
Students with a particular interest in arbitration can focus their studies on this area and receive an LLM with a Specialisation in International Commercial Arbitration.
Students with a particular interest in entrepreneurship can focus their studies on this area and be awarded an LLM or MLB with a Specialisation in Entrepreneurship.
The LLM/MLB curriculum is unique in its structure. Throughout the entire academic year, all modules relate to one overarching theme: the founding and development of a business enterprise, from both the business and the legal perspective. Thus, the curriculum follows the enterprise through various phases, including the founding of the enterprise, transforming the firm into a publicly-held enterprise, going international, merging with or acquiring another firm, and restructuring a firm that is in financial difficulties. By using the development of an enterprise as its structural backbone, the programme creates synergies among its various modules. As a result, students study more efficiently and obtain a better overall understanding of the interrelationship between law and business. The programme links law and business within its individual modules. For example, the module examining the founding of an enterprise considers both entrepreneurship and the question of which legal form to use for the enterprise and how to finance the start-up company. Students analyse these topics not from the perspective of any one national system, but rather from a comparative perspective. This approach allows students to analyse various national approaches to the issues that arise in every business and legal culture.
In the second half of the programme, students have a choice of various elective modules, such as Intellectual Property, M&A/Corporate Finance, Distribution and Logistics, US Law/EU Law, Arbitration/Dispute Resolution Management, Restructuring and Insolvency, Corporate Governance/Legal Aspects of Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management and Leadership.
Students with a particular interest in arbitration can focus their studies on this area and receive an LLM with a Specialisation in International Commercial Arbitration.
Students with a particular interest in entrepreneurship can focus their studies on this area and be awarded an LLM or MLB with a Specialisation in Entrepreneurship.
Educational organisation
The LLM/MLB curriculum combines numerous aspects of international business law with issues of international business and management. All students can study for the Master of Law and Business degree. Depending on the courses they complete, students with a first degree in law can receive an LLM (Law and Business) degree instead. All students in the programme study together, regardless of which degree they will eventually receive.The programme consists of 11 core and elective modules which link law and business topics, so as to enable students to gain insights into the countless issues that have both legal and business components. The programme takes a comparative law and business approach, allowing students to understand the similarities and differences between legal and business systems. Modules vary in length. Most academic modules consist of five ECTS credits, meaning 50 hours of classroom instruction plus 100 hours of preparation and debriefing.
From August to December, students take the obligatory modules that are structured along the life-cycle of an enterprise. In January and February students can select at least two electives to deepen their knowledge in these specific fields. The mandatory internship takes place in March and April. Upon their return to campus, students take two more obligatory courses in business/legal ethics and negotiation/contract drafting before they begin to write their Master's thesis.
Study abroad unit(s)
No study abroad units are integrated into the programme. However, students can choose to complete their internship or write their Master's thesis abroad.Internships
Participants complete an eight-week internship at a law firm, corporation or government office. The internship takes place in March and April. Through the internship, participants have the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and see the interface of law and business in practice. Because the internship takes place in the middle rather than at the end of the academic year, participants are able to bring the insights that they have gained from their experience to their summer trimester classes. In addition, the internship provides participants with insights that may be useful for selecting the topic of their Master's thesis. All students are invited to take advantage of the assistance offered by the Career Office in procuring an internship.Forms of assessment
All courses end with an examination. The examination can be in the form of written in-class exams, written take-home exams and presentations.Course objectives
In today's global economy, companies, law firms and organisations are regularly confronted with international challenges that require both legal and financial expertise.Launched in 2006, the interdisciplinary Bucerius Master of Law and Business programme is a one-year, postgraduate degree programme. The Master of Law and Business programme is a response to the increasing need in the global economy for legal and business professionals with a solid knowledge of international business law and international management experience. Alumni easily find permanent employment all around the world. Some alumni continue their studies with PhD or other advanced degrees and research programmes.
For more information about the Master of Law and Business programme, see: http://master.law-school.de.
Language requirements
If English is neither the applicant's native language nor the primary language of instruction of the first degree, an official report of results either from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), IELTS, CPE or ILEC has to be provided. Bucerius Law School's institution code for the TOEFL is 7181. Minimum TOEFL requirements are 600 points (paper-based) or 100 points (internet-based). Minimum requirements for the IELTS are 7.0, for the CPE grades A, B, or C and for the ILEC C1 or C1 with merit.German courses are offered at four different levels for students who wish to learn or improve their German.
Academic requirements
Enrolment is limited to around 55 participants in order to ensure individual attention, allow easy access to course instructors, and encourage intensive discussion.In order to qualify for admission, students must fulfil the following requirements:
1) First degree of four years' duration (preferably in law or business/economics; graduates of other disciplines can be admitted if they have a demonstrated interest in the fields of law and business)
2) At least one year of postgraduate work experience
3) Superior English language skills
4) Preferably some international experience
5) Extracurricular interests
Students who graduated from shorter Bachelor's programmes should contact the LLM/MLB Office to enquire about possible exceptions.
Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.
- ✔️ Flexible study schedule
- ✔️ Experienced teachers
- ✔️ Certificate upon completion
📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.
Enrolment fees
Included in the tuition feeCosts of living
750 to 1,000 EUR per month in HamburgJob opportunities
As the Master of Law and Business programme is very intensive, most participants do not have time to work in order to finance their stay while they are studying. However, many internships are paid by the company, law firm or organisation involved.Funding opportunities within the university
The Master of Law and Business programme offers some financial aid to selected students in the form of a partial tuition waiver; this includes some regional scholarships.More detailed information on scholarships and financial aid can be found on the programme's website.
http://www.law-school.de/master/admission/financing/
Arrival support
New students receive an information package with important information about life in Germany and especially in Hamburg after their admission. At that time, they can also apply for merit- and need-based scholarships.Current and former students are available as contacts for new students. Prior to and after their arrival in Hamburg, the LLM/MLB team actively assists new students with services such as accommodation, health and liability insurance, banking and visa applications. German buddies help foreign students adjust to life in Hamburg and pick them up from the airport if needed.
In order to prepare students for the intensive study year and guarantee very high teaching standards, preliminary courses in law and business are offered prior to the official start of the programme. During an Orientation Week, new students meet alumni, are officially welcomed by the schools, participate in academic advisory sessions, find help in resolving administrative issues and learn how to organise the year.
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