European Master's in Law & Economics (EMLE) University of Hamburg

In both law and in economics, modern young professionals are not only experts in their fields, but they are also able to work in an interdisciplinary fashion. So-called “transversal skills” that allow professionals to work in such an interdisciplinary manner are the key to success in today’s labour market. Attending the EMLE programme, which has been committed to delivering graduate education at the intersection between law and economics for over 30 years, will allow you to develop these skills. EMLE creates an atmosphere of internationality through its students and its universities, providing both a learning experience for its scholars and a desirable trait for future employers. The combination of law and economics fosters an atmosphere of idea sharing and introduces different techniques for examining and handling problems. EMLE is forging a path in producing future lawyers and economists equipped with an interdisciplinary background ready to handle the multidimensional challenges of European and international business and law.

The programme covers one academic year, for which successful students will receive 60 ECTS. The academic year is divided into three trimesters. It starts at the beginning of October and ends in September. Students may study at up to three different universities, but they cannot spend all trimesters in the same location.

Students can choose to follow one of three different tracks in the EMLE programme: 

• Economic Analysis of Markets, Corporations & Regulators (MCR)
• Economic Analysis of Public & International Law (Public)
• Economic Analysis of Innovation and Intellectual Property (IP)

Successful students will receive an official degree from every partner university at which they spend a trimester (LLM titles or Master's titles equivalent to an LLM / system of joint/multiple degrees).

In the first trimester, the courses are the same across all tracks and universities. Specialisation starts in the second trimester with two specialised courses per track and three courses that will be the same across the different tracks and university partners. The third trimester finalises the chosen specialisation with two courses that are unique to the chosen track and university.

In the first trimester, all first-trimester partner universities (Barcelona, Hamburg, Rotterdam) offer the same courses to about 25-35 students each: Introduction to Microeconomics, Introduction to Law, Concepts and Methods of Law and Economics, Economic Analysis of Public Law and Economic Analysis of Private Law.

In the second trimester (same group size), all second-trimester partner universities (Ghent, Hamburg, Rotterdam) offer three additional foundational courses: Competition Law and Economics, Corporate Governance & Finance and Empirical Legal Studies. Moreover, each university offers two specialised courses related to its specialisation track.

Each of the eight third-trimester partners (Aix-en-Provence, Arizona, Barcelona, Haifa, Hamburg, Rome, Mumbai, Warsaw) hosts five to 18 students, offering two complementary courses in its area of specialisation.

The main focus of the third trimester is the writing of the Master's thesis on a specific subject in Economic Analysis of Law. Each university offers thesis supervision in the subject areas of specialisation.

Universities of Aix-Marseille, Arizona, Barcelona (UPF), Ghent, Haifa, Mumbai (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research), Rome (LUMSA), Rotterdam, Warsaw (Warsaw School of Economics)

Students assigned to Warsaw as their third trimester university may complete an internship at an international law firm, consultancy, or company for a minimum duration of one month.

Moreover, all third trimester universities offer support for applying to internships, for example, at EMLE associated business partners.

We select students who have at least 240 ECTS (four years) of higher education. This can be achieved through one of the following:

• a three-year Bachelor's degree and a first Master's degree or through a four-year Bachelor's degree in Law, Economics or Business Administration
• a German "Diplom", First State Exam in Law, Economics or Business Administration
• degrees other than law and/or economics

The semester fee is covered by the programme. In Hamburg, this fee includes a semester ticket covering public transport in the Hamburg metropolitan area.

Without additional costs for further insurances, private vehicles, etc., you ought to expect the following expenses:

• housing: approx. 400 to 700 EUR per month
• living expenses: approx. 500 to 700 EUR per month

Are you looking for a part-time job? Stellenwerk, Hamburg's cross-university job platform posts attractive job and internship advertisements every day.

Part-time work, an internship, or self-employment—the Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs (BeSI) advises you on all aspects of social security.

Students from countries outside the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland are subject to special regulations for part-time work when studying. Contact the Counselling Centre for more information.

There are several job opportunities at Universität Hamburg. Many are offered exclusively to students. Check out departmental bulletin boards, websites, Stellenwerk, or ask directly in your department.

International full-time students may apply for merit scholarships or exam grants of Universität Hamburg. We also recommend contacting our colleagues in the Department of International Affairs for further guidance. More information can be found here.

The EMLE organises site visits to associated business partners as well as workshops and guest lectures on a regular basis. During and after these sessions, students have the opportunity to get in contact with partner representatives. Moreover, EMLE offers support when applying for internships, for example, at EMLE-associated business partners.

Are you searching for an apartment or a room? Although affordable housing in Hamburg is rare, please do not despair. Patience and luck will help you find suitable accommodation.

Start looking for accommodation as soon as you can. For more information on how to find accommodation, please visit: Finding accommodation in Hamburg.

For more information on how to find accommodation and how to plan your first steps in Hamburg, please see: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/piasta/beratung/doc/willkommen.pdf.

Universität Hamburg is the largest institution for research and education in northern Germany. As one of the country’s largest universities, we offer a diverse range of degree programmes and excellent research opportunities. The university boasts numerous interdisciplinary projects in a broad range of fields and an extensive partner network of leading regional, national, and international higher education and research institutions. Universität Hamburg is committed to sustainability.

All our faculties have taken great strides towards sustainability in both research and teaching.

Excellent research

As part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments, Universität Hamburg has been granted clusters of excellence for four core research areas: Advanced Imaging of Matter (photon and nanosciences), Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS) (climate research), Understanding Written Artefacts (manuscript research) and Quantum Universe (mathematics, particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology).

An equally important core research area is Infection Research, in which researchers investigate the structure, dynamics, and mechanisms of infection processes to promote the development of new treatment methods and therapies.

Excellent University

Furthermore, alongside ten universities and one university alliance, Universität Hamburg was named a University of Excellence and was deemed a "flagship university."

Outstanding variety: 180 degree programmes

Universität Hamburg offers more than 180 degree programmes within its eight faculties:

• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences
• Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement
• University of Hamburg Business School (Faculty of Business Administration)

Universität Hamburg is also home to several museums and collections, such as the Herbarium Hamburgense, the Geological-Paleontological Museum, the Loki Schmidt Garden, and the Hamburg Observatory.

History

Universität Hamburg was founded in 1919 by local citizens. Important founding figures include Senator Werner von Melle and the merchant Edmund Siemers. Nobel Prize winners such as the physicists Otto Stern, Wolfgang Pauli, and Isidor Rabi taught and researched at the university. Many other distinguished scholars also worked here, such as Ernst Cassirer, Erwin Panofsky, Aby Warburg, William Stern, Agathe Lasch, Magdalene Schoch, Emil Artin, Ralf Dahrendorf, and Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker.

With 1.8 million citizens, Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany and is also one of Germany's 16 federal states. Due to its location on the Elbe River linked to the North Sea, it has had a long tradition as the cultural and commercial centre of northern Germany. Commercially, the Free and Hanseatic City is known as the media capital of Germany. It is a leader in the shipping and transportation industries. Culturally, the city is home to, among other things, the leading ballet company in Germany, an opera house, numerous musicals, and annual film festivals. As far as action and fun are concerned, Hamburg is the place to be. The Reeperbahn, known not only to sailors worldwide as the "Mile of Sin", has numerous bars, cafés, and clubs as well as many other interesting sites not to be seen elsewhere. The "Kiez", as the natives call it, even gave the Beatles their start in the early 1960s. Fortunately, Hamburg's many parks and green areas provide the opportunity to relax and recover from the city's active side. Moreover, the city's innumerable canals invite you to spend some time sailing, rowing or kayaking. For more information on the city, please see: https://www.hamburg-travel.com/.