Laws in European and Transnational Law of Intellectual Property and Information Technology — LIPIT

The LLM in European and Transnational Law of Intellectual Property and Information Technology is a postgraduate programme directed at providing the in-depth understanding of legal issues arising from the creation and use of literary or artistic works, mechanical or scientific inventions, digital information, and other intangible assets. It covers a wide variety of subjects, including copyright, patents, trademarks, telecommunications, electronic commerce, information security, and data protection.

Because it is more and more common for transactions with intellectual property and information technology products to transcend national boundaries, this LLM programme is conceived as distinctly international and comparative in nature. Solutions from various legal systems are often presented when examining modern problems of the Intellectual Property (IP) and Information Technology (IT) law, and cases spreading over two or more countries are regularly discussed and analysed. One consequence of such an approach is that this programme is suitable for lawyers and other professionals from different countries, rather than being limited to one particular jurisdiction.

The branches of IP and IT law lie at the intersection of the law with technology, science, and arts. Therefore, even though this LLM programme has been primarily designed for lawyers wishing to work with creative and innovative industries, it is also open to engineers, computer scientists, media managers, and other professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of legal regulation, policies, and mechanisms of protection in the fields of intellectual property and information technology. As a result, the programme's participants can benefit from exchanging opinions, engaging in group projects, and other forms of cooperation with graduates of a wide range of disciplines, helping them to better understand different angles and perspectives of the topics they study.

Besides the wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds, we also strive to achieve diverse geographic representation in the selection of each year's programme participants. Such diversity enriches classroom discussions and collaborative activities by ensuring the exchange and application of ideas and approaches from various legal systems and cultural environments.

Educational organisation

In order to gain your LLM degree, you will have to obtain at least 60 ECTS credits. Of these credits, 20 ECTS will be awarded for the completion of the individual Master's module, which involves the preparation and writing of a Master's thesis. The remaining 40 ECTS credits can be obtained by completing a sufficient number of group study modules, each of which equals to at least 5 ECTS. The list of modules can vary slightly from year to year, but the examples below generally provide a good idea of the available modules:
1. Fundamentals of Intellectual Property Law
2. Advanced Intellectual Property Law
3. Fundamentals of Information Technology Law
4. Advanced Information Technology Law
5. E-Commerce Law
6. Competition Law
7. Data Protection Law
8. Media and Telecommunications Law
9. Information Technology and Legal Informatics
10. Economic Foundations of IP and IT Law
11. International and Comparative IP and IT Law
12. Transnational Enforcement of IP and IT Law

Forms of assessment

Written exams

Language requirements

Applicants must provide proof of sufficient English language skills, for example TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), 79 (Internet-based), or equivalent. Other kinds of proof can also be accepted.

Academic requirements

Our admission requirements are a Bachelor's or higher degree in law, computer science, engineering, media studies, or another subject plus one year of relevant professional experience. If you are still finishing your Bachelor's studies or have less than one year of professional experience when applying to the programme, it will not impede your application. It is only important that you complete your studies and have one year of professional experience before the beginning of the programme.

Since our students come from various countries with different grading systems, we do not formally require that you achieve a particular average grade in your previous studies (e.g., British first-class honours), but your grades will certainly constitute an important criterion in the evaluation process of applications.

Though our most typical applicants are law graduates, we also welcome applications from graduates from other disciplines as a way to ensure the diversity of backgrounds, skills, and experiences leading to fruitful and mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and ideas. If your previous field of study is not law, please provide a short explanation of how your studies and/or professional experience are relevant to the specialisation of this Master's programme.

The professional experience requirement can be fulfilled through various practical activities, including internships and traineeships. For example, German law graduates' practical training (Referendariat) satisfies this requirement. However, if a practical activity constituted a mandatory part of your Bachelor's programme, it cannot be counted as professional experience. In certain cases, admission can be granted to applicants with professional experience of less than one year. If you are not sure whether your studies or practical experience satisfies the programme's admission requirements, please contact us before submitting the formal application.

Enrolment fees

300 EUR per semester
This fee includes a semester ticket covering Göttingen city buses and trains in the whole Lower Saxony.

Costs of living

Approx. 700 EUR per month to cover personal expenses

Job opportunities

Our LLM programme has built up a network of contacts with a number of law firms, companies, organisations, and authorities that might be interested in accepting our students and graduates as interns or employees from time to time. We cannot guarantee that you will be accepted as an intern or employee by any of these partners, but we can advise you on which law firm, company, or organisation might best suit your interests and facilitate your coming into contact with them.

Funding opportunities within the university

Each year, the Göttingen Law Faculty may award one or more scholarships in the form of partial or full tuition waivers to the best LLM programme applicants. Separate applications are not required, since all applicants are automatically considered for these scholarships if they tick the corresponding box on the programme's application form.

Accommodation

Higher or lower accommodation costs can make big difference in the total living expenses. Therefore, it is recommended to start looking for a room or apartment as soon as possible. If you apply early, you can get a room in one of the student dormitories, which is usually the cheapest option. A dormitory room can cost around 200 EUR per month or even less. By contrast, on the private market you are likely to pay around 300 EUR for a room in a shared apartment or around 500 EUR for a private apartment. This makes dormitory rooms very popular, so waiting lists are usually rather long. Thus, it is best to apply for a dormitory room at least half a year before the beginning of your studies in Göttingen. An overview of all the university dormitories can be found at http://www.studentenwerk-goettingen.de/wohnheime.html.