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Master’s Program in Competition Law and Regulation (LL.M.)

  • 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 calendar

    School: School of Law and Economics, Department of Law

    Semester fee: € 204,30 (further information)
    Tuition fees for international students from non-EU countries: €1,500
    Tuition fees for a second degree: €650

  • Program 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

    Students of Competition Law and Regulation should

    • be interested in interdisciplinary work combining law, economics, technology, and politics,
    • be open-minded towards other fields,
    • be interested in dynamic markets that are characterized by constant innovation and change,
    • have good analytical skills,
    • enjoy debating and be able to argue well.

    As you will also study Economics, you should be interested in this field, too. You should also, to a certain extent, enjoy math.

  • 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).

  • 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

    The master’s program in Competition Law and Regulation requires the successful completion of a first degree in Law or the successful completion of a degree recognized as equivalent by the admissions committee. A degree is considered to be equivalent if at least 30 ECTS credits have been earned in Law and provided that the admissions committee recognizes the overall program of study to be equivalent to a first degree program in Law. In its overall assessment, the admissions committee pays particular attention to the extent to which the program imparts knowledge in administrative law, civil law, commercial law, and corporate law that is equivalent in both breadth and depth to the knowledge imparted in a first degree program in Law.

    Selection is based on the (current) grade average achieved in your bachelor’s degree, i.e.

    • the final grade achieved in your first degree or the final grade you are currently expected to achieve (at least 135 ECTS credits).

    In addition, applicants must submit the following documents:

    • letter of motivation,
    • proof of any other previous experience relevant to the program of study, in particular vocational education and training or professional activities and/or a special educational background, practical activities or extracurricular achievements and qualifications that prove the eligibility of the applicant for the chosen degree program.

    Language requirements
    You must be very proficient in English. We accept the following as proof of language proficiency:

    • the successful completion of a program of study at a higher education institution with English as the language of instruction and examination and a duration of at least one year,
    • a higher education entrance qualification from a school with English as the language of instruction after at least one year of school,

    In addition, you must also prove that you have a good command of German.

    Conditional admission
    If you have not yet completed your bachelor’s program by the application deadline, you may still be admitted to the master’s program as long as you provide proof that you have obtained at least 135 ECTS credits. In this case, your admission to the program is subject to receipt of your degree certificate by a specified point in time (refer to selection statutes).

    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

    Application deadline
    The application deadline for fall semesters starts on 1 April and ends on 31 May.

    It is not possible to apply for the spring semester.

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.

Chantal Raab, student of the master’s program in Competition Law and Regulation / Photo credit: Ye Fung Tchen

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.

Tom Kranz, student of the master’s program in Competition Law and Regulation / Photo credit: Ye Fung Tchen

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.

Nadine Wendrowski, student of the master’s program in Competition Law and Regulation / Photo credit: Ye Fung Tchen

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.

 

Annkathrin Wiltz, student of the master’s program in Competition Law and Regulation / Photo credit: Ye Fung Tchen

Contact

Nafize Solak, Ass. iur.

Nafize Solak, Ass. iur.

Head of Program Manager and office of the Examination Committees of the Department of Law
University of Mannheim
Department of Law
Schloss Westflügel – Room W 220
68161 Mannheim
Consultation hour(s):
please make an appointment by e-mail
Simon Geier, Ass. iur.

Simon Geier, Ass. iur.

Program Manager and Assistant Manager of the Examination Committees
University of Mannheim
Department of Law
Schloss Westflügel – Room W 220
68161 Mannheim
Consultation hour(s):
please make an appointment by e-mail
Lidija Pfanzler (geb. Gerlein), Ass. iur.

Lidija Pfanzler (geb. Gerlein), Ass. iur.

Program Manager and Assistant Manager of the Examination Committees
University of Mannheim
Department of Law
Schloss Westflügel – Room W 221
Mannheim
Consultation hour(s):
please make an appointment by e-mail
Admissions Office

Admissions Office

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