Law Studies for Foreign Graduates

Students may choose from the following areas of law: civil law, public law, criminal law, and basic subjects (such as Roman or German history of law or general political science). The broad spectrum of subjects offers the possibility of various specialisations: commercial and company law, criminology, international commercial law, intangible property rights, public international law, European law or international criminal law, to mention just a few examples.
The basic lectures are accompanied by tutorials of school-class size in order to apply the abstract subject matter of the lectures to concrete cases. Here, students learn methods of analysing cases in a juristic manner as well as how to work with the wording of law.
In support of and complementary to the specialist lectures, an introductory course on German legal terminology and methods and a variety of courses in key qualifications (such as: methods of negotiation and mediation, presentation techniques, legal terminology in German and foreign languages) are provided.

Educational organisation

The programme takes two semesters to complete.
With the support of their supervisor, students create their individual schedule which must comprise a total of 60 credits (C), divided between the required and optional courses according to the module catalogue in the study regulations:

• 33 C in law lectures and seminars (comprising 6 C in the required module "German Legal Terminology and Methods", at least 15 C in basic courses, and 12 C in advanced courses)
• 6 C in the area of professionalisation (key skills such as mediation, negotiation, foreign language courses, German language courses on C level)
• 21 C for the Master's thesis

For admission to the Master's thesis, students must have passed examinations in required and optional modules, achieving at least 24 C:

• 6 C in the required module "Introduction to German Legal Terminology and Legal Working Methods"
• at least 15 C in basic and advanced modules. Here, the student must attend courses and pass examinations, choosing at least two out of the four areas of civil law, public law, criminal law, and principles of law (such as history of law, constitutional history, general political science, legal philosophy).

The introductory course and the basic lectures should be attended in the first semester; participation in more specialised courses, such as seminars, is recommended for the second semester.
The programme ends with a five-month Master's thesis in German. Upon the student's request and mutual agreement between the student and the supervisor, the thesis may be written in another language, provided that the topic is of international interest.

Study abroad unit(s)

None

Internships

None

Forms of assessment

In the basic courses and advanced seminars, students must pass written examinations, one of which must be a seminar paper or semester paper.
Oral examinations can be taken in advanced lectures. Credits are awarded according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), depending on the workload.
The programme ends with the five-month Master's thesis. There is no final oral examination or defence of the thesis.

Course objectives

Holders of the LLM degree from the University of Göttingen will have acquired good skills in the chosen areas of German law and in juristic working methods.
In combination with the degree from the home university, the LLM degree can be a useful qualification for finding a job in the home country, in the European Union or in an international company.
Good results in the Master's thesis are a prerequisite for undertaking a PhD ("Doktor der Rechte") at a German university.

Language requirements

Applicants must provide proof of their German skills. DSH 2 or TestDaF 4x4 are recommended.
For enrolment, DSH 1 or TestDaF 4x3 is sufficient, but in this case, German courses should be added to the curriculum. The necessary language tests can be taken in Göttingen, where special preparation courses are offered.

Required DSH / TestDaF

Yes

Academic requirements

Bachelor of Laws or equivalent, generally a four-year study programme covering the three main fields of law: civil law, public law, criminal law, corresponding to 240 ECTS
A CGPA of at least 2.5 (according to the German grading system)

Enrolment fees

Enrolment fees are approx. 300 EUR per semester. Fees include a pre-paid semester ticket which entitles students to use regional trains free of charge within the federal states of Lower Saxony and Bremen as well as city buses. Students of the University of Göttingen receive discounts for cultural events. Meals and drinks are also available at reduced prices at all university canteens.
http://www.uni-goettingen.de/fee

Costs of living

The average cost of living in Göttingen is modest compared to other major university cities in Germany. Currently, expenses for accommodation, food, health insurance and books reach approx. 700-750 EUR per month. Please note that fees for health insurance may vary according to age. Living expenses might be slightly higher.

Job opportunities

The university supports students in finding part-time jobs in local industries and businesses. A number of student jobs are also available at the university. Please note that restrictions may apply with your scholarship or work contract.

Arrival support

The International Office provides a complimentary pick-up service ("Buddy Exchange Service") from Göttingen railway station to the accommodation. German students help newly arrived students to adapt to the university and the city during their first weeks. There is also an orientation week for new international students, which provides valuable information about Göttingen and the university.

Services and support for international students

The International Office assists international students with all administrative questions regarding their stay in Germany, e.g. enrolment, visa, foreigners' registration office, health insurance, and financing of their studies. Furthermore, it features a broad cultural programme, e.g. international cultural evenings, language workshops, theatre courses, films, dance classes, theatre and opera visits. Trips to various tourist destinations in Germany are offered throughout the year.
A study buddy project (InDiGU, short cut for "Integration and Diversity at Göttingen University") supports the exchange between German and foreign students.

Accommodation

The International Office, in collaboration with the student services organisation ("Studentenwerk"), helps students find adequate accommodation. Many international students live in student residences. These have single apartments or shared apartments with individual rooms. There are also apartments available for couples and families with children.
We recommend that applicants apply for a room in a student residence hall as soon as they have decided to study in Göttingen because the waiting lists are very long.
Accommodation is also available on the private market. Vacant dwelling places can be found on the internet at: http://www.studenten-wg.de.