Master of Comparative Business Law (M.C.B.L.) University of Mannheim

The Master of Comparative Business Law (M.C.B.L.) is an advanced academic programme providing an in-depth understanding of business law aspects of the European single market and the global market. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants have earned the M.C.B.L. degree.

The programme aims at providing students with competence in both comparative and business law, sharpening them in their careers as strategic decision makers in the public as well as the private sector. It offers a unique combination of traditional comparative law studies (legal methodology and the common/civil law divide) and studies in business law (e.g. competition law, contract law and company law) including trade-related aspects. Furthermore, it provides general and specific knowledge of the European Union legal framework and of the actors in international trade law.

The M.C.B.L. is a high-level demanding postgraduate programme in the fields of European and international business law. The programme is designed for law graduates or graduates with a sufficient background in law who wish to pursue advanced studies to specialise in the area of business law with a comparative perspective.

The M.C.B.L. is a full-time programme (one academic year) with daily classes. Courses take place (consecutively) over two semesters. The first semester focuses on European business law, whereas the second semester has an emphasis on international business law.

The programme consists of compulsory, intensive and elective modules designed to ensure the systematic development of both academic and professional competences.

The compulsory modules focus on comparative legal methodology as well as legal sources, actors and mechanisms. These subjects, rooted in European and international law, are essential for the practice of business law and therefore mandatory. At the same time, students can tailor their studies to their individual interests by selecting courses from a broad range offered in the intensive and elective modules.

These modules cover the key areas of business law, enabling students to gain in-depth knowledge. The programme places particular emphasis on practical application, reflected in its teaching methods and assignments. It combines legal theory with detailed case analysis, drawing on a well-established strength of German legal education.

Students must complete a total of 60 ECTS credits: 20 ECTS per semester as well as a Master’s thesis (20 ECTS) on a business law topic of their choice with a comparative perspective.

The following course structure is planned (subject to change):

Winter semester (September–December)

Compulsory Module: Introduction to Comparative European Law, including Comparative Law I – Methods, Problems & Traditions, Introduction to European Business Law, and European Union Law – Institutional Aspects

Intensive Module (choose two): European Market Freedoms, European Competition Law, European Private Law, International Arbitration

Elective Module (choose one): Digital Business,  Advocacy Skills, Introduction to German Private Law, European Tax Law

Summer semester (February–June)

Compulsory Module: Introduction to Comparative International Law, including Comparative Law II – The Common/Civil Law Divide, Introduction to International Economic Law, and International Trade Law

Intensive Module (choose two): International Investment Law & Arbitration, Regulation of AI, International Sale of Goods, Private International Law

Elective Module (choose one): International Business Transactions, Intellectual Property Law, European Communications and Media Law, Anti-Discrimination Law

There is no formal internship programme. Due to our well-connected faculty, we have previously been able to place students in global companies, in the internship programme at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law & International Law, and in a human rights organisation. Many courses are offered by legal practitioners, especially from international law firms. Students may apply for internships at their firms.

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Comparative Business Law programme, applicants must have a four-year law degree (at least 240 ECTS points or equivalent) from a foreign university or have a degree in a related discipline (e.g. business, economics, social and political sciences) if at least 20 ECTS or equivalent have been obtained in law classes (or similar, proving the ability to study law).

Applicants must also submit a transcript of their previous studies.

For further information on admission requirements, please visit Admission and Tuition Fees for the MCBL.

The semester contribution amounts to approx. 200 EUR per semester. There are several ticket options for public transport available in the Mannheim-Heidelberg metropolitan area. Each will incur different additional costs.

Approx. 850 to 900 EUR per month to cover all personal expenses

The University of Mannheim has one of the most differentiated scholarship systems among public higher education institutions in Germany, and it cooperates with a large network of partners and sponsors.

The International Office offers support in finding dorm rooms and private accommodation.
Student halls of residence are the ideal place to get to know not only German students but also fellow students from all over the world. Depending on the hall, you will live with two to eight fellow students in a shared apartment. Every student has their own room, but kitchen, bathroom, and toilet are communal. Additionally, the International Office offers a very limited number of one-bedroom apartments with a small in-room kitchen and bathroom. The kitchens are fully equipped with cooking facilities and a refrigerator.

For generations, the University of Mannheim has been preparing students to take on leadership roles in business, academia, and society. One of the university's strengths in this task is its profile, which is characterised by the economic and social sciences. It is in these fields that the University of Mannheim has repeatedly been ranked as one of the top 20 European research institutions.

Staff members at six schools and departments teach and carry out research in business administration, economics, the humanities, social sciences, law, business informatics, and mathematics.

Global Network

Researchers at the university collaborate with numerous national and international partners. The university has a particularly close relationship with the ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, one of the leading economic research institutes in Germany, the GESIS Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, and the Leibniz-Institut für Deutsche Sprache (IDS). The Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES) is the largest research institution for social sciences at a university in Germany, and it is one of the leading institutions of its kind on the international stage.

International Campus

The campus surrounding Mannheim's baroque palace is a place where bright minds from across the globe come together to learn, discuss, research, and prepare to make their mark on the world. Every fifth student at the university comes from abroad to pursue a Bachelor's, Master's, or doctoral degree in Mannheim. Students of the Mannheim Business School also come from overseas to obtain a management qualification at one of the top 25 MBA providers in the world.

Research that Benefits Society

The University of Mannheim is known for its practical orientation and its knowledge transfer with society. Numerous researchers are members of national or international bodies, or they work at institutes or associations that have an advisory role in business, society, and politics. Students are also active in society. The many organisations and associations on campus give them the chance to help make the world a better place.

Mannheim has more than 300,000 residents and is located in Baden-Württemberg at the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Neckar. The city impresses with its diversity: a successful mixture of shopping districts, industrial and service centres, places of cultural interest, art nouveau buildings, the large baroque palace which houses the university, and several extensive recreational areas. The beautiful regions of Odenwald and Palatinate, both of which are very popular for walking and cycling, are close to Mannheim. The symbol of Mannheim is its water tower, a 60-metre-high sandstone colossus next to the city centre, which is characterised by its chessboard-style street grid that is unique in Germany.

Thanks to Mannheim's central location and extensive transport connections, a variety of charming towns are within easy reach, and France and Switzerland are only a relatively short journey away. Frankfurt airport can be reached by train within 30 minutes.