Law – First Examination in Law

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Undergraduate study programme leading to the first state examination in law. You must complete this degree successfully in order to start practical legal training. The second state examination follows at the end of the practical training and rounds off the full qualification in law.

During your studies you will be dealing with the present-day system of law. You will learn how to understand and interpret it systematically and conceptually. At the same time you will study the historical, political, social and philosophical foundations of the legal system. The study contents focus on the fundamental regulations in civil law, criminal law and public law in scientific depth.
The programme also includes international and European law references, procedural law and a focus area of your choice are also included.
The aim is to legally deal with new facts in a constantly changing reality and to apply unknown legal norms safely.

Overview

Degree First Examination in Law
Programme start Winter semester & Summer semester
Period of study 10 semesters
Application period 9.5. - 15.7. | 29.11. - 15.1.
Admission restrictions yes
Number of places 274

Why study Law in the University of Konstanz?

  • Well-structured and efficient study plan
  • Teaching staff and our student advisory service provide excellent supervision
  • Outstanding support in preparing for the examination
  • Introductory lectures on international legal systems in the corresponding language
  • Numerous options for a study abroad stay
  • Uncomplicated semester abroad after the basic study period due to the structure of the programme
  • Joint seminars with international universities
  • Teaching staff with practical professional experience

Content

Prospects and opportunities

Career prospects

After completing the first state examination in law you will start your practical legal training (2 years). Successfully completing the second state examination is the pre-requisite for typical legal professions, for example:

  • judge or prosecutor
  • lawyer or notary
  • a job in the higher administration at the federal, state or local level


You can find out more about career entry in the interview series #dreamjob - Starting a career. Alumni of the University of Konstanz report on their very personal career entry.

Programme structure

Programme start

Winter semester & Summer semester

Academic structure

You can find an exemplary course of the study programme in this table.


Please check the Exam regulations (partly in German) for more information about the programme structure.

Internship and study abroad

Internships

You must complete an internship of at least 3 months during the semester break. Your department or our Career Service are here to help you find a suitable placement.

Study abroad

A period of study abroad is always highly recommendable. Our department offers you the opportunity to study at one of more than 50 partner universities. The university promotes study abroad via Erasmus+ and numerous other exchange programmes.

Impressions from students and lecturers

Requirements

What interests and skills should I have?

  • You enjoy working with scientific and very complex (legal) texts
  • Very good verbal skills
  • Logical and abstract way of thinking
  • Structured working methods, ability to work independently
  • You are interested in current affairs

Language skills

Foreign language skills
You do not have to proof any foreign language skills.

German language skills
International applicants need documentation of their German language skills, level DSH-2 or TestDaF 4. Alternatively, other language tests or school certificates recognized as equivalent can be used as proof of the required German language skills. The University of Konstanz does not offer preparatory German language courses or approved German language exams. For this reason, you must submit accredited proof of your German language skills along with your application.

Language(s) of instruction

German and English

Admission requirements

General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) or equivalent.

For details, please see the Admission regulations.

When applying for admission at universities in the state of Baden-Württemberg you have to take an orientation test. Please send in your certificate of participation together with your application papers.

Fees

Semester fee

All students enrolled at the University of Konstanz are charged a semester fee each semester, similar to all other German universities. Here you can find the current semester fee and its individual components.

Tuition fees for first degree studies for certain international students
Since winter semester 2017/18, the state of Baden-Württemberg has required some international students to pay tuition fees for their first degree studies. The following students are not required to pay tuition fees: citizens of a country within the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), doctoral students and certain “Bildungsinländer” (e.g. non-EU citizens with a German “Abitur”). More detailed information can be found here.

Each year, the University of Konstanz grants exemptions to a limited number of particularly gifted international degree-seeking students in accordance with the university’s “Begabtenbefreiungssatzung” (statutes governing the exemption of gifted students). More detailed information can be found here.

Tuition fees for second degree studies for all students
All students are required to pay tuition fees for their second degree studies. More detailed information can be found here.

Application and application documents

This study programme has admission restrictions.

An application is possible during the following period: 9.5. - 15.7. (winter semester) and 29.11. - 15.1. (summer semester). There may be other deadlines if you are applying for admission to a higher semester (for instance, if you are changing subjects or universities). For more information please consult the university website.

Application documents

During the online application process, you will need to enter various kinds of information (school grades, attendance periods, etc.) and upload various PDF documents.

Please make sure that you have the relevant documentation ready. This may include:

  • your Abitur certificate (German general higher education entrance qualification)
  • documentation of any volunteering you may have done (FSJ, FÖJ, etc.)
  • any documentation about vocational training you may have completed
  • any other required documents (medical certificate, etc.)

An electronic assistant will guide you through the application process. Required fields are marked by an asterisk (*).

Application Guide
The PocketGuide Application will guide you as you take all the steps towards submitting a successful application to your first-choice study programme at the University of Konstanz.

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