Law undergraduate programme (state examination)
Degree awarded: | Erste Juristische Prüfung (First Examination in Law) |
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Duration: | 10 semesters |
Starts in | Winter semester |
Language of instruction: | German |
A world-class law programme
Would you like to study law at a university with an excellent reputation? Then the University of Passau is the right place for you: it regularly performs very well in rankings.
The law programme teaches you how the German legal system works and what influence it has on people's day-to-day lives. The aim of this programme – which is taught in terms of the three broad areas of civil, public and criminal law – is to provide students with a thorough understanding of how law works and to give them the ability to analyse practical problems and solve legal cases.
Studying law is particularly fun if you are enthusiastic about logic and systematic thinking, the German language and our society and current affairs. This law programme is highly relevant to everyday life. Studying law does not mean merely engaging with abstract theory; law as a discipline is always in tune with the times.
You can find detailed information in our infosheet on the programme [German content].
Features
- In Passau you will receive a world-class legal education. People come from all over Germany to study in Passau.
- The University of Passau has a familiar atmosphere: distances are short and contact with lecturers is direct and personal.
- Right from the start and throughout your studies, we offer you many tutorials and exercises in small groups that accompany your lectures. You can choose courses with the teaching style that suits you best. Choose out of 29 different specialisation areas.
- Want the world to be your oyster? At the University of Passau, you can give your law studies an international orientation (this is entirely voluntary and not a fixed component of the law programme).
- The University of Passau offers its students a free one-year exam preparation course ("Repetitorium").
- Passau's law students regularly attain above-average grades on their state examinations: This is why we are recognised nationwide for our excellent legal education, which finds its way into our ranking results and student surveys.
- Participate in an international Moot Court to gain valuable practical experience.
- There is a very well-equipped library with numerous desks on campus, which many students like to use to prepare for exams.
- Obtain an English Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of London (UoL) while you study this law programme.
- Gain sought-after information-systems competencies to boost your employability by studying a unique joint-degree programme: the Bachelor of Laws in Legal Tech or, upon completion of the First State Examination for Law, the one-year postgraduate Master of Laws in Legal Informatics.
- In Passau, you study in a beautiful student town picturesquely situated amid three rivers with a high quality of life. Our campus directly on the banks of the Inn river was once named as "Germany's most beautiful campus" in a nationwide university magazine competition.
We offer you many opportunities to (voluntarily) give your studies an international dimension:
- Legal language courses offered in Chinese, Czech, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish. You will acquire knowledge of the legal system of your chosen language area, giving you a significant edge on the labour market.
- Study at one of our numerous partner universities abroad. (The "Foreign Law" specialisation is offered at selected partner universities.)
- Gain an international double degree in law.
- As part of your degree studies at Passau you can gain the Certificate of Higher Education in Common Law (CertHE) and the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of London.
- Certificate of Studies in European, Comparative and International Law (CECIL)
The Erste Juristische Prüfung is followed by a two-year civil-service traineeship at a court of law, administrative authority or other official body. This stage of your training concludes with the Zweite Juristische Prüfung (Second State Examination in Law).
Following that, you will be qualified for legal careers in the civil service(as a public prosecutor, judge or administrative lawyer), as legal counsel (as a solicitor/lawyer or barrister). You will also be qualified to work in an official certifying capacity as a civil notary or in business organisations (insurance companies, legal departments, advisory staff) and in associations.
Basic study stage
The basic study stage is designed to lead you to an intensive study of the law and to critical thinking. In addition to foundational courses, the focus is on basic courses in private law, constitutional law and criminal law. By learning the general principles, you are introduced to the various areas of law, such as constitutional law, fundamental rights, contract law or general criminal law. You will apply the knowledge you gained in the lectures in small groups by practising on real-world cases in the exercise courses, which are offered in conjunction with the lectures. At the end of the basic study stage you will sit an intermediate examination ("Zwischenprüfung") .
Main study stage and specialisation
In the main study programme you will deepen your knowledge gained in the basic study stage. The focus is on studying specific areas of law, such as special administrative law (building, police and municipal law), liability law, civil and criminal procedural law and special criminal law. This will familiarise you with specific areas of the law and provide an overview of the entire legal system in a national and international context. The main study stage is also where specialisation area begins, which gives you free choice of 29 different areas. This is where you have the opportunity to shape your study profile to suit your interests.
Final study stage
At the final study stage, you will revise and consolidate what you learned in the previous stages, interlinking your knowledge acquired during the preceding basic and main study stages. The University of Passau has won multiple awards for its free exam preparation course with mock exams and individual coaching sessions, which come into play at this stage of the programme. You will conclude the programme when you sit the First (State) Examination in Law ("Erste Juristische Prüfung"). This examination actually consists of two parts: one set by the University (the university law examination or "Juristische Staatsprüfung" in German), in which you are tested on your chosen specialisation, and the other is the First State Examination in Law, or "Erste Juristische Staatsprüfung".
You can find detailed information in our infosheet on the programme [German content].
Infosheet on the degree programme
For details, please consult the Academic Advice Service's infosheet [German content].
This degree programme starts in the October (winter semester) each year.
With abitur or European qualifications
Prospective students with a higher education entrance qualification from Germany or the EEA region (e.g. German abitur or the Austrian matura) can enrol directly for this degree programme during the enrolment period.
Prospective students with non-EEA qualifications
German language requirements
You will need German language skills at level C1 CEFR or higher to study this degree programme, as that is the main language of instruction for this programme. Therefore, you will have to provide a recognised German language certificate such as DSH-2 or TestDaF 4×4 with your application, unless German was the language of instruction for your secondary school education (e.g. Abitur at a German international school).