LLM in Germany for International Students: A Complete Guide

LLM (Masters in Law) in Germany is 1-2 year postgraduate program offered at some of the top universities in Germany. Fees for pursuing LLM in Germany range from 1,000 EUR per year to 18,000 EUR per year. Students are required to have an equivalent bachelor’s degree from a recognized university abroad or in Germany.

In this article, let us look at:

  1. Why Study LLM in Germany?
  2. Top Universities
  3. Admission & Eligibility
  4. Cost of Studying LLM in Germany
  5. Scholarships for LLM in Germany
  6. Jobs after LLM in Germany

1. Why Study LLM in Germany?

  • The top three universities providing LLM in Germany are among the top 50 universities in the world as per QS Law Rankings, 2020.
  • German universities charge low tuition fees as compared to the USA or UK, which makes it a prime location to pursue a master’s degree.
  • DAAD and Deutschlandstipendium are the conventional scholarship providers, which awards up to half of the grants on education costs and other allowances.
  • More than 300,000 students from all over the world studied in Germany last year.
  • Germany is the 4th largest economy with an unemployment rate of only 3.1%.
  • The average starting salary for the LLM graduates is around 124,800 EUR per year.

2. Top Universities

According to QS Law Rankings 2020, the top universities offering Masters of Law in Germany are tabulated below:

UniversityQS Rankings 2020Courses AvailableTuition fees (Yearly in EUR)
Humboldt University Berlin37LLM in European Governance and Administration (1 year)3,600
LLM in Intangible Property Rights and Media Law (1 year)8,800
LLM in The International Dispute Resolution (1 year)9,000
Ludwig-Maximilians- University of Munich (LMU Munich)43LLM in German Law (1 year)NA
LLM in European and International Economic Law (1 year)NA
University of Freiberg51-100LLM for Foreign Lawyers (2 years)2,886
Goethe University Frankfurt51-100LLM in Finance (1 year)18,000
LLM in International Finance (1 year)16,000
LLM in Legal Theory (1 year)7,200
LLM in Foreign Law Graduates (1 year)NA
University of Hamburg51-100LLM in European Legal Studies and International Economic Law (2 years)17,500
LLM in Insurance Law (2 years)10,700
LLM in Foreign Lawyers (1 year)2,886
Heidelberg University51-100LLM in German Law (1 year)1,000
LLM in Corporate Restructuring (1 year)8,000
LLM in International law (1 year)7,500
Freie University Berlin51-100Masters of Business, Competition and Regularization law (1 year)9,500
University of Cologne151-200LLM for Foreign Lawyers (1 year)2,886
Masters of Business Law (1 year)NA
LLM in Corporate Tax (1 year)9,800
University of Bonn210-250LLM in German Law (1 year)1,000
LLM in Corporate Restructuring (1 year)8,000
LLM in International Law (1 year)7,500

3. Admission & Eligibility

Students looking to apply for admissions into universities in Germany must apply before the deadline, applications are available for summer and winter semesters.

Admission Requirements

  • Equivalent bachelor’s degree in relevant subject with a minimum score of 60% or equivalent.
  • English language proficiency requirement: IELTS- 6.5 OR TOEFL- 95+.
  • German language proficiency requirement: Most of the law courses are delivered in the German language, which means you need to qualify German Proficiency tests. These include-
  1. DSH-2 or DSH3
  2. TestDaf with TON-4
  3. C2 Certificate from Goethe University with a minimum cut-off of B-2 level.
  • 1-2 years of legal experience
  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume
  • Letter of Motivation

University wise cut-off for English and German Proficiency Tests

Name of the UniversityTOEFL ScoresIELTS ScoresGerman Proficiency
Humboldt University Berlin1006.5DSH-2 or DSH-3
Ludwig-Maximilians- University of Munich (LMU Munich)B2 level German proficiency
University of FreibergB-2 Level- DSH-2 or DSH-3
Goethe University Frankfurt1007
University of Hamburg1007
Heidelberg UniversityDSH-2 or TestDaf
Freie University Berlin1006.5
University of CologneDSH-2 or DSH-3 or TestDaf with TON-4 or C 2 Certificate
University of BonnDSH-2 or TestDaf Level 4

Student Visa to Germany

Students intending to join German establishments for seeking their Masters in Law(LLM) need to have a student visa to Germany, which is arranged into two sections:

  1. Schengen Visa: Permits you to avail of a course in Germany for 90 days in particular. Visa Fee: 60 EUR
  2. National Visa: Permits you to remain in Germany for over 90 days, alongside this you need to have a residence permit too. VISA Fee: 75 EUR

Students from EU countries like Norway and Iceland do not need a visa to avail courses in Germany. Also, students from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea don’t need a student visa to study in Germany, but they need an occupant grant within about 14 days of their arrival to the nation.

Documents Required for German Visa:

  • Duly-filled Visa Application Form with your cover letter attached to it.
  • Passport along with recent photographs.
  • Letter of Motivation
  • Transcripts of academic records.
  • Financial Proof of bank balance of about 8,700 EUR per year to sustain yourself in Germany.
  • Proof of valid health insurance.
  • Proof of not having any previous criminal records.

German Student Visa Process:

The processing of German student visas takes around 20-25 days, therefore it is quite necessary that you apply for the visa 3 months before you move to Germany. The overall student visa acceptance rate is about 92%.

4. Cost of Studying LLM in Germany

Below mentioned is a detailed evaluation of the student expenses while studying in Germany that an individual has to spend during his stay in Germany and includes pre-arrival expenses as well as post-arrival expenses:

Pre-Arrival Cost

CategoriesCost (in EUR)
TOEFL Fees136
IELTS Fees204
German Proficiency Test Fee100
Visa ApplicationSchengen Visa: 60 EURNational Visa: 75 EUR

Fees

Program fees for availing Masters in Law(LLM) in Germany costs an average amount of 8,000 EUR per year, which varies from 1,000 EUR per year in the University of Freiburg to 18,000 EUR per year in Goethe University Frankfurt depending on the course you choose to study.

Cost of Living

CategoriesMonthly Costs (in EUR)
Accommodation (On-Campus)300
Accommodation( Off-Campus)400-420
Book and Stationery30
Food and Drink165
Internet and telephone35
Transportation82
Miscellaneous70
Total Monthly Average682-782

5. Scholarships for LLM in Germany

Mentioned below are some of the scholarships for the international students in Germany studying LLM:

Scholarship NameDetailsAmount (in EUR)
The Heinrich Boll Scholarshipfor international students with excellent academic records in their bachelor’s degree.10,966 (one time)
Mawista Scholarshipsprovided by Mawista Foundation on a merit basis to international students.6,000
Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarshipoffered to students from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe; selection is based on interviews conducted by the foundation.1,000
JN TATA Endowment Scholarshipone time loan scholarship for Indian students only; selections are based on screening tests and interviews.12,383(one time)
British Council IELTS Awardsawarded to some selected students having a minimum of 6.5 in their IELTS examination.10,970

6. Jobs after LLM in Germany

Average starting salaries of some of the popular job positions after completing Masters in LLM in Germany are:

DesignationAnnual Salary after LLM in Germany (in EUR)
Advocate115,800
Barrister101,640
Candidate Attorney141,600
Corporate Counsel146,400
Counsel146,400
Court Judicial Assistant123,600
Court Liaison Specialist129,600
Legal Advisor164,400
Legal Officer101,760 

Conclusion

Masters of Law (LLM) in Germany is a course for students who look for quick professional development in the law enforcement and legal sectors. It is necessary for the business or non-business fields . The most important part of going to Germany for Masters in Law is that you get to have various seminars held by well-known lawyers and judges, which teach you a wide practical knowledge. After doing your studies you will have to take a state exam that is given by the German Government and after that you can look for your job as a public judge or a lawyer. 

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