Business Law in an International Context

  • Degree
    Master of Laws (LL.M.)
  • Type of study
    Full-time study
  • Standard period of study
    3 semester
  • Commencement of studies
    Winter semester (1 Oct)
  • Credits (ECTS)
    90
  • Language of instruction
    German / English
  • Department / Central Institute
    Department of Business and Economics

Degree programme

Companies, management consultancies, insolvency administrators and legal companies are always looking to recruit highly-qualified and experienced business lawyers with a specialism in International Law. The modern economy needs creative specialists who can fulfil the requirements of modern companies operating in an international environment.

The Master’s degree programme Business Law in an International Con- text seeks to attract students looking to acquire theoretical and practice-based expertise in German, European and international Business Law. Students will build on a foundation of Business Law, extending their understanding of the transnational legal context and company decision-making practice.

The course combines an academic approach to questions of Business Law with a close understanding of its practical context and the soft skills required for working in an international commercial environment. Selected students with the specialisation Finance can be entered in the double degree programme with ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

Applicants should hold a Bachelor’s degree in a Legal or Business Law discipline; admission will also be granted to those having completed the first German State Examination in Law or an equivalent.

Professional field

Graduates of the course can draw on comprehensive knowledge and expertise in International Company Law and a range of communication skills. They often work in Management Consultancies, in the legal or HR departments of companies, legal companies, receivers, lobby groups or in the social economy

Degree structure

The modules taught in the first semester provide students with the opportunity to attain 30 ECTS. In completing these modules, students deepen their knowl- edge in selected specialist areas. The modules taught in the second semester (30 ECTS) build on the insights gained in the first semester. Both semesters are accompanied by a tutorial seminar.

The third semester is reserved for the master's thesis and the oral master's examination, unless an internship or a semester abroad is completed. In this case, the study programme is extended from three to four semesters.

First semester

  • Corporate Management and Governance deals in detail with selected issues of Company Law (International Company Law, cross-border company formation and the principles of good company management).
  • International Contract Law and Contract Design comprises German and an International Debt Contract Law, the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and questions of prospective conflict management (with a focus on contract design).
  • Corporate Employment Law (taught in English) focuses on Labour Law issues in international companies including personnel decisions, CSR and Equalities legislation. The seminar Current Employment Law extends students’ understanding of Labour Management Regulation, Employee Participation and Collective Bargaining Law.
  • The project and research module provides students with the opportunity to work together with companies to resolve practical problems or conduct research projects.

Second semester

  • Corporate Transactions (English-language, elective) focusses on Mergers and Acquisitions, Initial Public Offering, Securitization, Take-Overs, Leveraged Buyouts and Project Financing.
  • Restructuring and Risk Management focusses on Risk Management, Insolvency Law, Capital Measures in Company Law and Restructuring Loans.
  • Contract Design in Labour Law concentrates on the design of employment contracts and working time and remuneration models.
  • European Competition and Intellectual Property focuses on questions of competition control, Public Procurement Law and the protection of Intellectual Property.

Students can also specialize in Human Resources or Financing in the first two semesters:

  • Human Resources: Students take one of the modules Performance and Reward Management or Training and Development and drop one of the three modules not related to Labour Law in the second semester.
  • Financing: Students take the module Financial Instruments and Markets and drop the module pertaining to Labour Law in the first semester.
  • An undergraduate law degree (Bachelor or German Diploma degree) with at least 210 credit points (applicants with 180 credits will be required to obtain the additional 30 credits, for example by completing a placement in the third semester - the programme will then last four semesters) or the first State Examination in Law or a comparable qualification from an accredited university
  • Evidence on having completed undergraduate courses in BGB, Law of Obligation, Property Law, Labor Law, Corporate Law, Constitutional Law (or equivalent topics)
  • English language skills on a high B2 level proved by a standardised test, e.g. TOEFL (iBT minimum score 83), IELTS (minimum score 6.0), TOEIC Four Skills (minimum score 1200), PTE Academic (minimum score 67), Cambridge English Scale (minimum score 170), Oxford Test of English (minimum score 126), UNIcert II; if you have studied in the higher education system a minimum of two semesters entirely in English, this can be accepted as equivalent (please provide proof with your application); you do not need to provide further English certificates if you hold a GMAT
  • German language skills, which applicants whose native language is not German or who have not completed an entirely German-language degree programme must prove by providing additional proof of German language skills in accordance with the regulations on proof of German language skills at the HWR Berlin
  • Curriculum vitae and letter of motivation (both in English)

Applicants with a degree from a German university:
15.04.-15.06.
Please, apply online through the HWR Berlin application platform (S.A.M.).


Applicants with a degree from an university abroad:
15.03.-15.05.
Students with a Non-German Bachelor degree apply at uni-assist e. V.

Programmakkreditiert durch den Akkreditierungsrat

Students who acquired less than 210 European Credit Transfer System [ECTS] points in their Bachelor course must obtain the missing credit points for example by way of an integrated period of practical training, for which 30 ECTS points are awarded. Students who have already gained 210 ECTS points in their Bachelor and completed an internship may do an additional voluntary internship. This internship semester is scheduled in the third semester, after the theoretical phase and before the completion of studies. The content of the internship has to relate to the focus of the master studies. Alternatively, the missing 30 ECTS may be gained through studies abroad during your third semester; more information will be given after the start of studies upon request. After enrollment you can place a request for accreditation of previous work experience or internships.

You will not have to acquire extra ECTS if your Bachelor programme was not accredited according to the ECTS point system. This generally holds true for non-EU-study programmes.

All information on the offered modules and lectures can be found on the online campus management system S.A.M. (Study Administration Management).

All regulations, forms and documents can be found in your faculty site.

Fees and grants

  • Tuition fees

    None

  • Semesterfee

    ca. € 300 per semester (incl. local transport semester ticket)

Information for prospective students

Student Counselling Services

Admission and enrolment

Office for Applications, Admissions and Enrolment

Office hours:

Mon 14.00–16.00
Wed 10.00–12.00
Thu 14.00–16.00

Student advisory service

Department of Business and Economics
Carolin Jannasch
Student Office

Academic Director

Department of Business and Economics
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Lorenzen
Professor of economic law, especially industrial law and social legislation