German Law for foreign graduates, LL.M.
The LL.M. German Law for foreign graduates is a research-oriented degree programme that equips students with expertise in the German legal system. Unlike many other subjects, laws are specific to the societies that brought them forth, and therefore vary significantly from country to country.
Currently there is a steadily growing need for legal practitioners with in-depth knowledge of the German legal system. Building on a previous law degree earned abroad, this degree programme gives students essential skills and specific expertise in German law, while placing particular emphasis on research.
The Scientific Methods module enables students to leverage their methodological and systematic competences developed over the course of the programme when conducting independent research – skills they will apply when writing their master’s thesis, which forms part of the programme.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Laws (LL.M.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 semesters, 60 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Required German | B2 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.07 |
| Tuition fee | Set by the university for international students — the amount is on the programme's official page |
| Semester contribution | €104 per semester |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →What you study
The degree programme consists of three modules:
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
LL.M. German Law graduates typically work in international law firms in their home country, where they will advise their foreign clients on German law, either directly or by obtaining information from a correspondent law firm and presenting the response in a form that is readily understood by their clients. One example of such a client would be a foreign business enterprise which intends to sell its goods or services on the German market.
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Similarly, once you have graduated from this programme, you may advise German clients on your home country's legal system, as companies which intend to establish a subsidiary abroad, for instance, require legal advice on many issues, such as choosing the right legal form, tax laws, employment regulations and so on.
Cost of study
| Semester contribution | €104 |
|---|
Requirements and application
| Previous education | You are eligible for this degree programme if you have a good law degree from a non-German university, ranked among the 25% best graduates of your cohort. |
|---|---|
| Language | German B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.07 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2German up to B2 and a certificateDSH or TestDaF has to be passed before you apply.
- 3Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 4Application directly to the university until 15.07Send the documents well before the deadline — an incomplete application cannot be completed after it.
- 5Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Video about the programme
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Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.07.2027 (274 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.