Master program European and International Law (MEIL)

The most important facts at a glance

In the one-year international Master's program European and International Law (MEIL), which has been offered at Universität Hamburg as from the academic year 2022/23, students will acquire in-depth knowledge in the fascinating legal fields of international and European law. The English-language Master's program prepares legal talents for international careers in a world where an understanding of European and international concepts as well as intercultural competences and very good English skills are essential.

The Faculty of Law at Universität Hamburg is in overall charge of the academic implementation of the program. It is supported by ten European partner universities (Central European University, Vienna; Eötvös-Loránd-University, Budapest; Jagiellonian-University Krakow; KU Leuven; Lund University; Maastricht University; Manchester University; Universidad Autonoma de Madrid; University of Bologna; Université de Strasbourg).

Management of the program

Head: Prof. Dr. Hinrich Julius
Coordination: Malin Späth/Grisenta Qosja

Duration

2 Semesters, starting beginning of September each year

Degree

Master of Laws (LLM)

Contents

International Law, EU Law and European Business Law

Schedule

Students study together in the winter semester in Hamburg and in the summer semester either in Hamburg or at one of the European partner universities. In the first semester, the introductory module and three compulsory modules from the areas of public international law and human rights, EU law and European business law are taught. In the second semester, specialization modules are offered at Universität Hamburg and at several European partner universities in the areas of international human rights law, EU law, European and international business law and IP & IT law. Courses are taught by a “Flying Faculty” from the partner universities.

The language of instruction is English.

Tuition fees

7,000 euros, plus semester fee of Universität Hamburg (approx. 335 euros per semester)

Application

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

a first qualifying degree from a higher education institution in the field of law amounting to 240 credit points (LP); and
have the English language skills required for the program and the examinations. A sufficient level of spoken and written English must be demonstrated by a TOEFL score of 90 or IELTS 6.5. Equivalent evidence may be accepted on a case-by-case basis with special justification. Applicants who speak English as their native language or have successfully completed a university degree offered in English are exempt from this requirement.

Contact

Please address your enquiries to MEIL-master.jura"AT"uni-hamburg.de.

MEIL-Programm (Master of European and International Law)

Application

Applicants are admitted annually only for the Winter Semester (September). The “early bird” application deadline is 31 January 2024. In case places are still available, applications are welcome until 31 May 2024.

To apply, please fill out the online form!

Conception of the study program

The degree program goes back to a cooperation with European partners within the framework of the EU-funded project "China-EU School of Law" (CESL). Since 2008, this project has offered a European Master's degree from UHH in Beijing in cooperation with the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL). From the winter semester 2022/23, the program will be continued as a degree program of the Faculty of Law at UHH together with the European partners. The program is aimed at international students, primarily from non-European countries, who wish to deepen their legal studies from their home country with a specialization in European and international law, such as business law or human rights. The special feature of the program is that lecturers from all European legal traditions convey a picture of European law that cannot be taught in this way by a single university. The aim of the MEIL Master's program is to qualify students for a professional career in law as lawyers, civil servants or academics.

Curriculum

The Master's program lasts 12 months from September to August of the following year and comprises 4 compulsory modules, as well as 2 to 5 elective modules which are assessed with a total of 60 credit points according to ECTS. Students study together in the winter semester in Hamburg and in the summer semester either in Hamburg or at one of the European partner universities.

The program begins with an orientation unit on methodology, academic work and legal traditions followed by three compulsory modules:

Public International Law
European Union Law,
European business law.

These are followed by specialization modules. In total, there are ten different elective modules to choose from (for the year 2024/25):

Human Rights from an International Perspective (Lund University)
International Human Rights (Central European University, Vienna)
International Business Law (University of Hamburg)
International Business Law (Central European University, Vienna)
International Relations of the EU (University of Hamburg),
European Business Law (University of Hamburg)
European and International Business Law (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest)
European and International Law & Justice (University of Bologna)
Corporate and Commercial Law (Maastricht University)

In the summer semester, students also write an academic Master's thesis, for which for which they have four months to complete.

Academic degree

Upon successful completion of the individual modules and the writing of a Master's thesis, the University of Hamburg awards the academic degree of "Master of Laws (LL.M.)". A wide range of professional fields is open to graduates.

MEIL Guide

The most important facts at a glance (PDF, english)