Most courses of the one-year Master's programme are held in English, some courses can be taken in German.
Starting from Wintersemester 2023/2024, the Europa-Institut offers a new structure in their Master's program.
Basic phase
Module 1: European Integration
The module focuses on the legal foundations and practical applications of European law and international law. Students become familiar with the main legal instruments, institutions and procedures of the European and international legal systems and deepen their understanding of the interrelationships between these two areas of law. Topics include the treaties, the institutions and procedures of the EU, as well as fundamental freedoms, the sovereignty of states and their accountability, and human rights. The focus is on the analysis and discussion of current developments and challenges in European and international law.
Track 1
Module 2: European Economic Law – Compliance - Regulation
This track provides an in-depth understanding of European Economic Law, Compliance, and Regulation, with a focus on the legal frameworks that underpin the EU's economic system. The track covers a wide range of topics, including EU competition law, financial regulation, EU tax law, compliance and enforcement, and EU energy and environmental law. The track also examines current issues in EU economic law and policy, such as Brexit, digital markets, and EU responses to global economic challenges. The track in European Economic Law, Compliance, and Regulation is a challenging track that provides students with a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the legal frameworks governing the EU's economic system, and to develop practical legal skills that will be invaluable in their future legal careers.
Track 2
Modules 3&4: Trade, Investment & International Dispute Settlement
Track 2 deals with international economic law in a global setting. It covers the legal framework for international trade, investment, and dispute resolution. A first pillar of the module examines the law of the World Trade Organization (WTO), in particular the main WTO agreements such as the GATT, GATS, TRIPS, and several more. A second pillar deals with international investment law, both at the substantive and procedural levels. A final pillar deals with the dispute resolution mechanisms in international economic law, in particular commercial and investment arbitration, mediation and negotiation.
Track 3
Module 5: International and European Protection of Human Rights
The focus of this track is on the main features, limitations and developments in human rights protection. Institutional, procedural and substantive aspects of human rights law are covered. Students will gain a sound theoretical understanding of human rights law, as well as its practical implications. A particular emphasis is put on the different levels of human rights protection, as well as the relationship between the European Union and the Council of Europe. The courses cover both past and pending case law which addresses current issues such as anti-discrimination, business and human rights as well as human rights challenges in a digital world.
Track 4
Module 6: Technology & Law
Track 4 with Module 6: Technology & Law (currently with German lectures only) deals with the legal regulation of new technologies and innovations, including aspects of data protection and IT security. It includes lectures on the technical foundations of the Internet, IT law, public information law, data protection law, and IT security. An important focus is the analysis of legal issues related to IT security, including cyber crime, data security, and network and information security. In addition, intellectual property and privacy issues related to IT security and information technology innovation are also considered. Students learn how to identify and analyze legal problems in the field of IT security and how to develop solutions to these problems.
Final phase
Master's Thesis
The Master's thesis constitutes an independent academic thesis in the fields of European or international law. The Master's thesis may be written in English or German. Students have a deadline of three months to write and submit their thesis. Pursuant to its successful completion, an additional amount of 15 credit points will be awarded. Students are free to choose when to start working on their Master's thesis. Thus, the Master's thesis can also be written at a later stage, for example when already working. Once it has been successfully approved and graded by a nominated lecturer, the title "Master of Laws" is awarded to the student.
Credit Points
Following the lectures, students have to either take a written or an oral exam; credit points are awarded for almost all of the courses. A total of at least 45 credit points must be attained during the course of the study program. 15 additional credit points are awarded after the completion and approval of the Master's thesis, making it a total number of 60 credit points that have to be reached for completion of the Master's program.
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