Germany is many things — prosperous, highly developed, an example of engineering mastery — but is it a great destination for people who want to study an English-taught Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Law?
We’ve looked at the most relevant official information, and here’s what we’ve found out:
How many English-taught law schools are there in Germany?
We don’t have an exact number, but on our portals alone, there are over 50 English-taught Law programmes offered by German universities. Most of them are at Master’s level.
Find English-taught Law Bachelors in Germany
How do I know if a Law degree is taught in English?
We only list English-taught degrees; so, as long as you search for a Law programme on our portals, you should be just fine. You can even check out the specific English language requirements for each degree.
Of course, universities (or other websites) can list additional Law courses on their websites. In this case, you’ll have to do a bit of research to find out if those programmes are taught in English or if they’re open to international students. Should you struggle to find this information, don’t hesitate to contact the university directly.
To apply at most law schools in Germany, you’ll have to pass one of the following widely accepted English language tests:
Learn more about IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE Academic.
Free English-taught law schools in Germany
There are many reasons why Germany is one of the most attractive destinations for international students. And one of them is the fact that public universities don’t charge tuition fees — and this applies to all students, regardless of their nationality.
The only exception to this rule is the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, where public universities do charge tuition to non-EU/EEA students.
The best English-taught law schools in Germany
Based on data from the QS Rankings by TopUniversities, the following are the best universities in Germany that offer Law programmes taught in English:
- Humboldt University Berlin
- LMU Munich
- Heidelberg University
- University of Hamburg
- Goethe University Frankfurt
- Freie Universität Berlin
- University of Freiburg
- University of Tübingen
- University of Cologne
- University of Münster
Discover 90000 the top-ranked law schools in the full QS Ranking.
Application requirements for English-taught law schools in Germany
Law schools set their own admission criteria for candidates. More prestigious universities naturally have lower acceptance rates and higher expectations. But to give you an overall idea, these are some of the most common application requirements at law schools in Germany:
- previous diploma (high school or Bachelor’s)
- transcript of grades/records
- English language test scores
- previous work experience (only at some universities)
- application essay
How to become a lawyer in Germany
- Finish your university studies
- Pass the First State Exam (Erstes Staatsexamen)
- Complete a two-year legal traineeship
- Pass the Second State Exam (Zweites Staatsexamen)
- Register with the Bar
Overall, this entire process can take anywhere between 6 to 11 years, depending on your current higher education level and whether your previous studies are recognised (or not). And, of course, we should also mention the obvious:
You cannot (usually) work as a lawyer in Germany without speaking the local language. There are some exceptions if you can find a position at an international company where English is enough, but don’t rely on that.
Find English-taught Law Masters in Germany
Instead, if your mind is set on studying, living, and working as a legal professional here, you can already start learning the German language. Here are a few free resources to get you started: