Program facts and information
Degree: Master of Laws (LL.M.)
Standard period of study: 4 semesters (2 years)
ECTS credits: 120
Language of instruction: German and English
Language requirements: German and English; for further information see "Admission requirements and selection"
Program start: Fall semester (September)
Academic calendarSchool: School of Law and Economics, Department of Law
Semester fee: EUR 169 (more information)
Tuition fees for international students from non-EU countries: EUR 1,500
Tuition fees for a second degree: EUR 650Program overview
Competition law and regulatory law are becoming ever more important for practicing lawyers. An increasing number of competition proceedings, such as the one brought against Google by the European Commission, testify to this development. If you aim for a position in the area of competition law or in a regulated sector (i.e., energy, telecommunications, media, or transport), you are required to have a plethora of additional skills that you lack when you have pursued a conventional degree program in law. The master’s program in Competition Law and Regulation with its clear hands-on approach fills this gap.
To be able to apply competition law and regulatory law to real cases, you also need economic expertise. After all, knowing the applicable legal provisions is necessary, but not sufficient to successfully negotiate with engineers and economists.
That is why students will first attend courses in public law to lay the groundwork for further studies of regulatory law. At the same time, they will look more closely at competition law and economic methods. By choosing to specialize either in Digital Economy or Energy, they can develop their individual profile.
One of the program’s key features is its practical orientation, which is ensured by a six-week mandatory internship and by a selection of courses that are taught by experts from the private sector. Students also gain insights into state-of-the-art research by attending interdisciplinary seminars and by writing their master’s thesis on a topic they choose, possibly even in cooperation with a company or a public authority.
Why study Competition Law and Regulation at the University of Mannheim?
Students enrolled in this master’s program can combine law with economics, thereby acquiring a unique specialization and benefiting from being part of the two prestigious departments that together form the School of Law and Economics.
The Department of Economics has been awarded top spots in national and international rankings thanks to its excellent reputation for research and the quality of the courses it offers. Research and teaching activity at the Department of Law is clearly oriented towards business and economic law. The department has repeatedly received very good grades from the Centre for Higher Education (CHE) ranking. It did especially well with regards to teaching, and achieved top scores in categories such as including “overall study situation”, “organization of studies”, “teacher support”, and “career orientation” (take a look at the rankings).
The master’s program in Competition Law and Regulation is the first of its kind in Germany. Even though other higher education institutions have introduced master’s programs in these fields too, they are subject to a fee, offered on a part-time basis, and/
or have a period of study of only one year. The program at the University of Mannheim is a good choice for the following reasons: Due to the program’s interdisciplinary nature and the expert knowledge you acquire in law, economics, and technology, you are well-prepared for a career not typically pursued by students with a conventional law degree. By choosing to specialize in either Energy or Digital Economy, you can specifically work towards a position in the industries of the future.
Furthermore, the school has concluded a variety of cooperation agreements with renowned companies, such as Deutsche Bahn, EnBW, and Telekom, which, among other things, provide students with attractive internship opportunities.
Career opportunities
With their knowledge of two different fields, law and economics, graduates can choose from a variety of attractive options: They can find work in companies from the energy, telecommunications, media, and transport sectors, for example. They can also be employed by different authorities, such as the Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency), the Bundeskartellamt (federal cartel office), or the European Commission. As officers or experts for specific topics in companies and authorities, they supervise competition and regulation proceedings, systematically follow up on legislative processes, and analyze competition and market developments.
Of course, they can also pursue a doctorate and opt for a career in science and research.
As the program combines theory and practice, students can reach out to potential employers while still at university. They can discuss different career opportunities with adjunct lecturers from companies and authorities, enabling them to find out about the jobs situation early on.
Required interests and skills
Program structure
Module catalog
You can find further details on how the program is structured in the module catalog, which is only available in German.Studying abroad
The Department of Law has a large and comprehensive network of partner universities around the world, and can advise you on planning a period of study abroad. The ideal point in time to spend a semester abroad is the third semester. If you want to spend more than one semester abroad, it is also possible to integrate a longer period of study abroad into your program. Please contact the international coordinators at the Department of Law for further advice. Studying abroad is optional.Internships
According to the examination regulations, students have to complete a six-week internship during their studies. Ideally, students do this internship during the semester break after the second semester. You can choose to do an internship in Germany or abroad. It may have a legal and/or a business and economic focus. Sample course schedule
This is how your course schedule for the four semesters could look (only available in German).Continuing Education
Certificate programs
Strengthen your potential, deepen your knowledge, find solutions for challenges we will face tomorrow – there are many good reasons to think outside the box, get to know and try out new things even during your studies.At the University of Mannheim, you can do this in the “Studium Oecologicum” which focuses on sustainability. In our certificate program, you will acquire interdisciplinary expert knowledge which can help you to act ethically and to make holistic decisions.
Language courses
Making language learning easier: No matter if you want to learn Japanese, Hebrew, Spanish or Norwegian, take the Graduate Record Examination Test (GRE), The European Language Certificates (telc) or the TOEFL test – each semester, the University of Mannheim offers language courses and language certificates in more than 16 languages for students and non-university members, online and on campus!Doctorates
Students who wish to earn a doctorate from the University of Mannheim must have completed their master’s program with a final grade that meets the admission requirements. They must also find a supervisor.
For comprehensive information on pursuing a doctoral degree, please see the Department of Law's website and the general information on doctoral studies at the University of Mannheim.
Admission requirements and selection
In our selection process, we take numerous criteria into account. For more details, please check the selection statutes (see below). Be bold! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need advice. We are looking forward to receiving your application!
Admission requirements
If you have not yet completed your bachelor’s degree, you may still apply for a master’s program as long as will provide a proof that you have obtained at least 135 ECTS credits.
- Completion of a program in Law or a program recognized as equivalent by the admissions committee with courses in Law corresponding to at least 30 ECTS credits at a German higher education institution or abroad (also Berufsakademie), corresponding to at least 180 ECTS credits or a regular period of study of at least three years
- Proof of proficiency in English (may be submitted by 15 August)
- Proof of proficiency in German
Selection criteria
The selection criteria are irrelevant since this program of study is currently not selective.Selection statutes
Under “Admission requirements and selection” we have compiled the most important selection criteria of the program for you. For more detailed explanations of the selection process and the legally binding requirements of the degree program, please refer to the selection statutes.Application
I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Mannheim and knew right away that I wanted to stay for my master’s. The master’s program in Competition Law and Regulation combines law with economics, which enables me to analyze economic affairs from two different angles. Since the individual courses are made up of small groups, students can benefit from excellent support, too.
I chose the master's program in Competition Law and Regulation due to its ideal combination of law and economics. This enables me to gain insights into important sections of our economy which go beyond the legal sphere. With its elective courses Digital Economy and Energy, the University of Mannheim is leading the way into the future, which is why I decided to come here for my studies.
The master’s program in Competition Law and Regulation at the University of Mannheim not only focuses on questions of law, but also explores economic processes in depth. If you are interested in law, economics, and business administration, this program is the perfect choice for you. Personally I can say that all professors and teachers are committed to their courses and are very keen to pass on as much knowledge as possible to their students. As the number of students enrolled in the program is small, you can study efficiently and at your own pace while maintaining a high level of performance – a huge advantage in my opinion. So far, companies have always reacted very positively when I mentioned this program, so I expect to have excellent career prospects after I graduate.
The master's program in Competition Law and Regulation is particularly intriguing to me because it is so much more than just the combination of Law with Business Administration and Economics. With its modules in Energy and Digital Economy, it provides students with the opportunity to specialize in fields that are becoming ever more important in times of digitalization and changing markets. That is why the program allows me to deepen my legal knowledge and gain a better understanding of economic relations at the same time. I also like the mandatory internship, which enables me to learn more about relevant professional fields and to gain hands-on experience in Germany or abroad.
