Master Programme "European and European Legal Studies (M.A. or LL.M.)"

The two-semester Master Programme "European and European Legal Studies (M.A. or LL.M.)" is offered by the Institute for European Integration at the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg in cooperation with the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences at the University of Hamburg. Its successful completion leads to the award of either the academic degree "Master of Arts (M.A.)" or "Master of Laws (LL.M.)".

The Europa-Kolleg Hamburg is an internationally recognised institution for education and research in the field of European integration. The Master Programme in its current form is built on a series of similar previous postgraduate study programmes, which have also been held at the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg since 1994. The newly designed programme is structured into modules according to the requirements of the Bologna Process. After positive evaluation and decision of the accreditation commission of the accreditation agency AQAS the programme has been accredited on 22/23 November 2010.

The Master Programme follows the "College Model". The Master Students have the opportunity to both "live and study under one roof". Lectures are held at the Europa-Kolleg’s lecture halls, and the students may find accommodation at the Europa-Kolleg’s apartment house. In the past, most students from more than forty countries favoured this choosing to live at the Europa-Kolleg as well. The Europa-Kolleg is located in a charming and quiet neighbourhood in the western part of Hamburg close to the city centre, the so called "Elbe-Suburbs". This College Model indisputably enhances the communication among the students and the integration of students into the group of participants. Besides, living at the Europa-Kolleg entails a number of other advantages as well, such as having the opportunity to visit at your own convenience the extensive library with about 25,000 publications relevant for research in the field of European integration which is housed at the Europa-Kolleg.

It is worthy of note that the studies at the Master Programme are guided by an interdisciplinary approach; lectures combine aspects of law, economics and political science. Yet another special feature of the Master Programme is to be seen in the unique curricular design of the programme. At the beginning of the programme students are instructed on the general foundations of European integration. After common ground has been laid, equalising all students' knowledge on the EU, the specialisation modules follow. Students have the opportunity to study one of the following four special fields in greater depth: "The EU as a Political Actor"; "External Relations of the EU", "Companies as Economic Actors" and "Law of the EU", depending on the offered programme of the respective academic year.

The time schedule of the Master Programme allows for four phases: lectures on the foundations of European integration (ten weeks), specialisation in of the four aforementioned fields (16 weeks), practical training at European or national institution or enterprises (four to six weeks) and preparing a master thesis (four months).

The Master Programme is primarily run in English, in parts also in German as a secondary course language. It is however possible to study the entire programme in English.

The Master Programme aims at educating a select number of highly qualified graduates from all over the globe preferably with a first degree in law, economics or political science on the highest academic level on issues of European integration. The students are provided with the knowledge and the skills necessary to pursue high level careers in international organisations, national ministries, enterprises, law firms or other professional activities.

The Master Programme takes ten months – from October to July of the following year.

The Master Programme is subdivided into eight modules, of which five have to be studied during the winter term whereas two during the following summer term. A practice module which is scheduled for the period between the winter and the summer term consists of doing an internship at an institution of the EU, representations of the German Foreign Office in foreign countries, ministries, governmental agencies, law firms, companies etc. Due to its good national and international relations, the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg is in a position to offer assistance to students looking for a proper place for doing their internship.

At the start of the Master Programme three basic modules which are devoted to the legal, economic and political aspects of European integration have to be followed by all students jointly.

During the specialisation phase students have the opportunity to study one of the following fields in depth:

• The EU as a Political Actor
• External Relations of the EU
• Companies as Economic Actors
• Law of the EU

Each specialisation field consists of four modules The range of specialisation fields may vary from academic year to year due to the interests of the applicants.

After the lectures of the witer term come to an end, an academic master thesis is to be written for which a period of four months is provided.

Each module is completed with an examination, the form of which may vary (oral exam, exam written in class, exam to take home, written paper analysing a topic or a case, presentation etc.). For each successful exam a certain number of credit points (CP) according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) will be awarded. A total of 60 CP can be earned; the credit points are allocated to the different elements of the Master Programme as follows: basic modules 15 CP, modules of the specialisation phase 25 CP, internship 5 CP, master thesis 15 CP. The successful passing of an examination requires the minimum grade "sufficient" (4.0); the same applies to the master thesis.

In case of successful completion of the relevant modules and a master thesis marked at least with a grade of "sufficient" (4.0), the University of Hamburg awards the degree of "Master of Arts (M.A.)". The degree "Master of Laws (LL.M.)" can only be obtained by students who possess a law degree before taking up their studies at the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg. Furthermore, the award calls for predominantly legal studies. This condition is met per se in specialisation field "Law of the EU"; in specialisation fields "The EU as a Political Actor", "External Relations of the EU" and "Companies as Economic Actors" only if the master thesis is written in law.

Besides participation in the courses which form part of the curriculum of the Master Programme, students have the opportunity to attend or participate in various symposia, workshops and guest lecturers organised by the Institute for European Integration of the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg on a regular basis.

During the summer term a week long excursion to the institutions of the EU in Luxembourg (Court of Justice of the European Union) and Brussels (Commission, Council and European Parliament) as well as to Strasbourg (Council of Europe, European Court for Human Rights) is organised.

As regards alumni activities of graduates of the Master Programme and its predecessors, the Europa-Kolleg maintains an extensive Alumni Programme. Regular alumni meetings are organised, taking place in the weeks after Pentecost, at various locations (Hamburg, Prague, Budapest, Timisoara, Zagreb, Warsaw, Vilnius and Sofia). The meeting mostly lasts for three to four days; combined with a symposium, broad information and a visiting programme are arranged as well as ample opportunity to catch up with dear friends and to make new acquaintances.

The requirements for admission to the Master Programme are:

• A degree from a German or foreign institution of higher education (university level) with a grade above average, preferably in law, in economics or in political science representing 240 credit points (CP). Applicants who have been awarded their first degree qualifying for a professional career with a total of 180 CP have to make up for the missing 60 CP by a good performance in additional educational or practical training programmes relating to the fields covered by the Master Programme. Proof of this may be submitted in the form of professional experience, further studies, research activities, publications or the like;
• Very good English language proficiencies;
• Very good German language proficiencies are required in case the students do not wish to study the entire programme in English.

Please see for details.

The tuition fees for participation in the complete Master Programme amount to 8,500.00 EUR per students. They cover all reasonable amounts of services including teaching materials, excursions, attendance of symposia and conferences, participation in tutorials, examinations and supervision of master theses.

The costs of renting an apartment at the Europa-Kolleg (or elsewhere in Hamburg) as well as living expenses are not covered by the tuition fees. The same holds true for the social contributions (around 260.00 EUR) to be paid to the University of Hamburg twice an academic year. The social contribution is to be paid to be given student identification, for the so called "Semesterticket" which makes it possible for students to use public transport in Hamburg, for the cafeterias to be used at a reduced rate, for the libraries of the University to be used and the like.

Applicants should apply for a grant covering the tuition fees and costs with institutions gener-ally known for providing financial assistance. The Europa-Kolleg has only limited funds at its disposal for students from Central and Eastern Europe; these funds are granted by private and public sponsors on a case by case evaluation.

The faculty consists of professors and personalities, who are also engaged in research at the Institute for European Integration, as well as of visiting professors and guestlecturers from other academic institutes and organisations.

• Prof. Dr. iur. Peter Behrens, University of Hamburg, Europa-Kolleg Hamburg
• Associate Professor Dr. Marten Breuer, Europa-Kolleg Hamburg
• Prof. Dr. iur. Thomas Bruha, University of Hamburg, Europa-Kolleg Hamburg
• Prof. Dr. Cord Jakobeit, University of Hamburg
• Dipl. Pol. Andreas Grimmel, University of Hamburg
• Prof. Dr. iur. Armin Hatje, University of Hamburg
• Prof. Dr. iur. Meinhard Hilf, Bucerius Law School
• Assistant Professor Dr. iur. Matthias Klatt, University of Hamburg
• Dr. sc. pol. Konrad Lammers, Europa-Kolleg Hamburg
• Prof. Dr. Gert Nicolaysen, University of Hamburg, Europa-Kolleg Hamburg
• Dipl.Vw. Georg Koopmann, University of Hamburg
• Prof. Dr. iur. Stefan Oeter, University of Hamburg, Europa-Kolleg hamburg
• Prof. Dr. iur. Carsten Nowak, Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
• Prof. Dr. h.c. Christa Randzio-Plath, former MEP
• Prof. Dr. Matthias Ross, Fachhochschule für Ökonomie und Management hamburg
• Prof. Dr. sc.pol. Wolf Schäfer, Helmut-Schmidt-Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg, Europa-Kolleg Hamburg
• Prof. Dr. iur. Bernhard Schloh, former legal counsel, Council of the European Union, Brussels/Hamburg
• Dr. iur. Jörg Philipp Terhechte, University of Hamburg
• Prof. Dr. phil. Rainer Tetzlaff, University of Hamburg