Accreditation

Since the Bologna reform came into effect, bachelor’s and master’s programs in Germany have been subject to accreditation. The Accreditation Council sets the requirements for the accreditation processes, and makes sure that reliable, transparent, and internationally recognized criteria are applied.

The program accreditation processes are overseen by accreditation agencies that have been specifically authorized to do so by the Accreditation Council.

At the beginning of each accreditation process, the Department submits a comprehensive self-evaluation report to the competent agency on the programs to be assessed. This report covers the following criteria:

• Concept of the study program
• Qualification objectives of the program     
• academic feasibility
• Examination system
• Program-related co-operations
• Facilities, equipment, human resources
• Transparency and documentation
• Quality assurance and development
• Special programs with a distinct profile
• Gender equality and equal opportunities

Each accreditation process is based on a peer-review assessment that takes place in multiple stages: Firstly, the accreditation agency surveys whether the formal criteria are met. Secondly, an review panel visits the university and reviews each program. Using the self-evaluation report as a guideline, the experts inspect each program as to whether the  academic criteria are met and whether they are reflected in the students' and teachers' everyday lives. The review panel is composed of students, professors from other higher education institutions, and practitioners from the corporate world.

The Accreditation Council decides on the accreditation of the study programme at the request of the higher education institution. The basis for the decision on the formal criteria is the formal report of the agency, the basis for the decision on the academic criteria is the experts’ report of the review panel.

Generally, all programs offered by the Department of Law are accredited in clusters because their subjects are closely related.

Details of Accreditation can be found here:

Kombinationsstudiengang Unternehmensjurist/in (LL.B./Staatsexamen) (accredited until 30 September 2029)

Master of Laws (LL.M.) (accredited until 30 September 2027)

Master Wettbewerbs- und Regulierungsrecht (LL.M.) (accredited until 30 September 2027)

Master of Comparative Business Law (M.C.B.L.) (accredited until 30 September 2027)