Hanse Law School is an international Law study programme, organised by three co-operating universities, (Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Bremen University and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (Netherlands). The Hanse Law School offers two similar Bachelor study programmes: Comparative and European Law (Oldenburg and Bremen) and Law in Europe (Groningen). The master study programme Comparative and European Law which is jointly organised by those three universities and which offers students to be awarded both a German and Dutch University degree, started in the winter term 2005/2006. This is the first time that three universities from two different EU Member States co-operate in offering a Law programme with a combined double degree.
The Hanse Law School offers the possibility of gaining profound knowledge in German and Dutch Law and the Law of the European Union. Additionally, the most important areas of English common law that are necessary for business practice and law are taught. Main characteristics of the study programme are:
Comparative Law, integrated teaching, gaining a profound knowledge of three legal systems German and Dutch Law as typical civil law systems and the most relevant basics of English common law
integrated language learning
integrated studies abroad (one academic year)
integrated internship of at least three months
integrated studies of business/economics or political science
This concept specifically prepares students for future work in European companies, international law firms, governmental and non-governmental organisations or for an international academic career.
After four years of study at Bremen University and Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, successful students are awarded the degree "Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)".
The following bachelor modules are offered:
ECTS-Points |
|
| - Introduction to Hanse Law School | 8 |
| - Business and Labour law | 17 |
| - Private law | 27 |
| - Public law | 30 |
| - Criminal law | 11 |
| - EU law | 18 |
| - Language and Economics | 36 |
| - Studies abroad | 60 |
| - Bachelor Thesis and Internship | 33 |
| Total ECTS-Points | 240 |
The Hanse Law School also offers a post-graduate Master study programme. The students spend 6 months in Groningen to attend the four below listed compulsory modules. They will continue their studies in Oldenburg and Bremen where they can choose from a range of optional modules which qualify for judicial vocations in business companies, national or international organisations, administration or research programmes (PhD). After one further year of studies, successful students are awarded the degree "Master of Laws (LL.M)".
The following Master modules are offered:
ECTS-Points |
|
| 4 compulsary modules: | |
| - Company Law (Comparative and European) | 6 |
| - International Contract Law | 6 |
| - European Competition Law | 6 |
| - Legal Skills Law in Europe | 6 |
| 3 optional modules, e.g. | |
| - Labour, Commerce and Competition in the EU | 6 |
| - Transnational Relations and Law – International Economic and Commercial Law |
6 |
| - E-Governance and Public Management | 6 |
| - Intellectual Property | 6 |
| - International and European Criminal Law | 6 |
| - International and European Criminal Law | 6 |
| - EC Consumer Law | 6 |
| - International and European Environmental Law | 6 |
| Master Thesis | 18 |
| Total ECTS-Points | 60 |
Given the international orientation of the study programme, a compulsory period of study at a foreign university is a crucial part of the Hanse Law School programme. Already during the Bachelor programme, one forth of the study records must be received from a foreign partner university. For the Master programme this ratio will be one out of three.
In their fourth and fifth semester, students spend one year at a European university co-operating with Hanse Law School. We especially recommend our Dutch partner university, the Rijskuniversiteit Groningen but other partner universities, including Madrid, Sheffield, Salamanca, Toulouse or Geneva are also available. Due to the integrated and compulsory Dutch language courses, students are able to follow lectures and courses in Groningen without any problems.
The Master students can achieve the common Dutch degree "Master of Laws/Meester in de Rechten" in addition to the German "Master of Laws (LL.M.)" if they spend their obligatory year in Groningen. If a student furthermore chooses a special combination of Dutch law courses, which is specified by the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, after consultation with Bremen and Oldenburg, the so-called "effectus civilis" can be awarded. After three years of work experience in a Dutch law firm ("advocaat stagiaire"), this effectus civilis enables the students to work as a lawyer. Under the conditions of the European freedom of establishment (in Germany §§ 2,11 EuRAG), this path makes it possible for our graduates to get the authorisation to work as attorneys in Germany as well as in other EU Member States.
With a view to the European and comparative law elements of the Hanse Law School, and in particular, the integration of issues in common law, robust knowledge of the English language is essential. Therefore, a high level of proficiency in English is prerequisite to be admitted to the Hanse Law School in the first place. Right from the beginning, parts of the curriculum are taught in English. Some oral and written examinations are in English. To this end, a course in English Legal Terminology is integrated into the programme.
Within the study programme of Hanse Law School, a broad variety of different types of exams is applied. These include group work and seminar presentations. Generally, and this is a major difference to traditional German legal education, each course is examined. In contrast, there is no overarching final exam. An examination guideline which can be found in the intranet (Campus Virtuell) informs the student briefly and concisely about all relevant questions concerning examinations of Hanse Law School.
The major part of the Bachelor and Master programme is offered in special Hanse Law School lectures. This allows (depending on each particular subject) relevant aspects and problems of Common Law, European Law and Public International Law in their relation to German Law to be included in each lecture.
Regular lecture blocks where lecturers from the Netherlands come to Hanse Law School Bremen and Oldenburg to teach Dutch Law comparatively and have discussions with our German lecturers will be integrated.
Although you will study at both universities only Oldenburg is responsible for the application procedure and the service center uni-assist provides assistance with applications by prospective international students. After having received your letter of acceptance, you can decide whether you matriculate in Oldenburg or Bremen.
The international student office in Oldenburg and Bremen offer information and advice, if you are interested in studying at Hanse Law School, they will make sure that you receive excellent support during the time of your studies in Oldenburg as well as in Bremen.
As an international student you apply by using the Service and Coordination Agency for International Applications, called uni-assist e.V. This means in case you received your final degree at a non-German speaking institution you have to address your application to uni-assist. Please find the application form at:
uni-assist you may as well apply online at uni-assist.
To obtain admission to any programme you have to prove linguistic requirements by showing the successful participation of one of the following tests:
German language diploma of the minister of education stage II (Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz Stufe II)
testDaf (min. Niveau 4 in all four sections)
DSH German language test for admisison to university (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang)
Mini or major german language diploma (Kleines oder Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom)
Centralised High school examination by Goethe Institute (Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung des Goetheinstituts)
For those who are not native speakers, they will have to prove English language skills by one of the following test:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Internet-Based: min. 79 Punkte.
Cambridge-Sprachtest: Certificate in Advanced English
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Band 6
Test (C1) des Fremdsprachenzentrums Bremen
Hanse Law School asks students to dedicate a great deal of determination not only in the lectures but also on the further development of the concept of Hanse Law School. Upon initiation of Hanse Law School collegiate representatives for the Hanse Law Schoolbodies the Committee and the examination board were elected by the first semester students of the three universities. Student representatives participate in those committee meetings with voting power.
As the Hanse Law School gives the students great challenges we feel that it is important to support and accompany them. The first persons to be contacted by the students from all universities is the teaching staff and the coordinators of the Hanse Law School.
As the Hanse Law School places are limited to 25 students, we have ideal conditions to support all of them carefully. The courses basically show a both-way communication structure.
Furthermore, co-operative and helpful students team work is cultivated. The small number of students makes it possible for the students get to know each other very quickly. Students team work during examinations is deliberately accepted for colloquiums as well as for term papers and presentations.
Finally, the advanced students support new students in their first weeks to get to know Hanse Law School. Small groups of new students advised by advanced students are helped in getting familiar with the three universities and the new location and they will also get answers to their first questions concerning the study programme from the student perspective.
One of the declared goals of Hanse Law School is to provide students with an internship that will contribute towards creating a basis for students later professional life. This requires establishing, maintaining and ensuring links between academia and professional practice during the degree programme itself. An advisory practice council was set up in January 2004 as a first move towards achieving this. This advisory council gives advice on the content and focus of the curriculum, as a means of ensuring that the content reflects the demands of practice. A network of mentors is to be established, thus making it possible for European-minded companies, law firms and public authorities and students to mutually develop active professional relationships.
LL.B. and LL.M. students who graduate have access to Hanse Law School's broad base of alumni working in European law-related careers. We are proud to report that the School is strengthened by the participation of its alumni in numerous activities. Please visit our website: Alumni.
The study programme of Hanse Law School is supported by an internet platform Campus Virtuell. Here, students find course materials. Some of them are updated on a weekly basis. Students can also make available their own study results to other students or create their own virtual rooms. A separate Hanse Law School information point informs students about their exams, important dates and about other important questions concerning the study programme. Furthermore the platform announces interesting lectures and congresses. By means of Campus Virtuell, students can evaluate the lectures at the end of each semester. Hanse Law School has its own web site (www.hanse-law-school.org) which informs everybody interested in Hanse Law School about its concept, the three universities involved and their co-operation, their visions but also about the course schedule, the conditions of study and the admission requirements.
Hanse Law School students founded The Hanse Law Review, which is a unique and innovative project in Germany. It follows the well-established tradition of the Anglo-American legal world where university law journals have come to represent some of the most influential and honoured legal publications within their countries. The journal was first issued in 2005 and has since been published two times per year. Due to the fact that the Hanse Law School is a law school focusing on European and Comparative law, the journal itself focuses on various issues relating directly or indirectly to the comparison and application of distinct legal aspects within different legal systems and places a further objective on the development of the law of the EU which, in itself, represents an extraction of the best approaches of the legal systems of the Member States. The publications include legal works from all over the world. They are edited by an editorial board represented by students of the Hanse Law School. The Hanse Law Review is thus an excellent platform for legal comparison, which by itself is the basic characteristic of the modern development of law.
