This information has been last updated in 2014. See now an up-to-date version at www.thomas-schmitz-yogyakarta.id !

Introduction

Once upon a time lawyers only needed to know the law of their home country. They enjoyed a national legal education, worked with national law only and did not need to speak foreign languages. A sophisticated lawyer of the 21st century, however, must be prepared for the globalisation and its growing impact on his work. A young researcher, university lecturer, lawyer in an international law firm or civil servant in a ministry should have studied international and comparative law and the legal thinking in other countries with different legal systems. This will enable him to make valuable contributions to the development of the law of his home country. The best way to qualify is to pursue studies abroad, thus learning to know not only the foreign law but also the country, the culture and the people.

Studies in Germany are particularly attractive for lawyers from countries whose legal system is based on the continental legal tradition - including Vietnam. After Word War II, responding to the catastrophe of the Third Reich, Germany has focused eminently on building up a modern "Rechtsstaat" (state based on the rule of law) with a sophisticated legal system. For the foreign lawyers, not the details of the German law are interesting but the structures, the innovative legal concepts, the highly developed legal dogmatics and the advanced legal methodology. In many cases German law may serve as a source of inspiration for the legal development in their home country.

Many German universities have developed study programs for foreign law students. Due to the chaos brought by the Bologna process, the course offerings are heterogeneous and sometimes confusing. It is my task as DAAD lecturer to provide guidance for orientation. The following overview shall serve this purpose, redirecting you directly to the relevant websites of the universities. It is followed by an overview of scholarship programs and links to general information on studying in Germany. With regard to the great number of study and scholarship programs the overviews cannot be exhaustive. Course offering on a commercial basis with high tuition fees, including those of public universities, are not listed. Note that this overview is restricted to study programs in English. If your language skills allow you to follow study programs in the German language, please see my much more extensive overview on study programs in German .

Are you interested? Then, in a first step, you should inform yourself about the study programs that come into consideration. It may be a good idea to contact a relevant university in order to make sure that your participation in the program is in principle possible. Besides advanced language skills usually a master's degree (in some cases a bachelor's degree) and sometimes other qualifications are required. You should also acquaint yourself with the scholarship programs. In a second step you should see me for consultation (office: room no. B102 at Hanoi Law University, e-mail: tschmit1@gwdg.de). On closer examination, some course offers may be less interesting than they appear in the advertising of the universities. Others may not be well advertised but correspond better to your personal interests or promise a better individual support. Concerning scholarship programs, you may also get advice from the DAAD Regional Office Hanoi. - In a third step you may submit your applications to the German university and the scholarship provider. Note that there is limited time left. In Vietnam, the deadline for applications for DAAD scholarship is October 15. Furthermore, please take into account that Vietnamese students must pass the APS Test at the German Embassy before being admitted at German Universities.

Study programs for foreign law students in Germany

[A. Summer courses] [B. Erasmus program] [C. Complementary study programs] [D. General postgraduate study programs] [E. Specialised postgraduate study programs]

A. Summer courses (as advertised for 2013)

B. The Erasmus program

The Erasmus program of the European Union is the most popular exchange program for students in Europe. The studies abroad can be for one or two semesters, the access is easy and the foreign students are well supported and integrated at the guest university. In its 25 years history, the Erasmus program has provided an important contribution to a better mutual understanding and cooperation of lawyers in integrating Europe. However, the exchange is generally limited to students coming from and going to European universities. Only the Erasmus Mundus program that focuses on the sector of advanced studies and doctoral studies supports cooperation between European and non-European universities.

C. Complementary study programs (not requiring completion of a full course of legal studies) [→ see also complementary study programs in German]

German universities usually offer study programs for foreign law students  who have completed a full course of legal studies (of 4 to 5 years, including bachelor's and master's degree) in their home country. However, there are exceptions (a few even in English):

D. General postgraduate study programs (magister programs) requiring prior completion of a full course of legal studies (open only to foreign participants)

Most German faculties of law offer general postgraduate studies in German law for foreign lawyers who have completed a full course of legal studies (of 4 to 5 years) with a degree that must be equivalent to the German State Examination. These studies take 2 semesters, include a magister thesis and an oral examination and result in the degree of "Magister Legum" (LL.M) or "Magister iuris" (Mag. iur.). Often they precede doctoral studies at the same university. However, these studies require excellent knowledge of the German language, since the foreign students will attend the same courses as ordinary German law students.

E. Specialised postgraduate study programs requiring prior completion of a full course of legal studies (open to German and foreign participants) [→ see also specialised postgraduate study programs in German]

For some years, German universities are offering an increasing number of specialised postgraduate study programs, in particular in the fields of European Union law and business law. These programs are primarily designed for graduates of a full course of legal studies in Germany but are generally also open to foreign lawyers with equivalent degrees. Usually they last 2 semesters and result in a postgraduate master's degree (LL.M). They provide legal education at the highest level but also present challenges to foreign participants, since they build upon the knowledge from a full course of legal studies in Germany. Only a few of them are in English:

In addition, some universities offer specialised postgraduate study programs in the field of business law in English on a commercial basis with high or very high tuition fees.

Doctoral programs (open to German and foreign participants)

Foreign lawyers who want to obtain a doctoral degree in Germany, classically first have to complete general postgraduate studies in German law for foreign lawyers (magister programs). Special doctoral study programs are not common. However, some Max Planck Institutes offer in cooperation with local universities special doctoral programs for talented young lawyers (so-called International Max Planck Research Schools - IMPRS). Despite their English label, some require advanced German language skills, while others only require English language skills. Usually, free doctoral research positions will be especially advertised.

Scholarship programs for law students for studying in Germany

I. Overviews

II. Scholarship programs of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

III. Scholarship programs of political foundations (close to political parties)

IV. Other scholarship programs

General information on studying in Germany

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