What are the rights and obligations of a tenant? Can an employee be fired because of a criminal offence? And how does a civil lawsuit work? If you are interested in these questions, this is the programme for you!
Students learn together
Image: Sebastian Reuter
Legal issues are far too abstract, right? Think again! If you look at some of the issues that fall under civil law, you soon realize how relevant they are in our everyday lives. For example, have you ever found a bargain on an online auction platform? You paid the purchase price but the goods were never delivered? Those situations are annoying, but you can exercise your rights. Some of the key issues in civil law revolve around claims arising from contracts (e. g. tenancy agreements or contracts of sale) and claims for damages or maintenance. Many consumers only become aware of the potential legal difficulties when complications arise.
In studying law at the University, you will learn how the German legal system and its laws work. In Civil Law, you will mainly grapple with the areas of law covered by the German Civil Code (BGB). In addition to the law of contract, liability for civil wrongs, property law, the law of succession, and family law, your timetable will also include lectures on legal history and philosophy of law. Tackling legal issues is a brilliant way to sharpen your analytical thinking skills. By practising this way of thinking, you will be well prepared for the world of work and able to follow a broader range of career paths.
Multi-subject bachelor’s programme
Picture: Sophie BartholomeA bachelor’s degree is the first professional qualification that can be obtained at a university. The standard length of the programme is six semesters, and different types of courses are offered for each module (e.g. seminars, lectures or practical classes).
A multi-subject bachelor’s programme consists of a major subject worth 120 ECTS credits (1 ECTS credit = 30 hours for attendance, preparation and follow-up work, private study, assessed coursework and examinations) and a minor subject worth 60 ECTS credits.
This degree programme focuses on just one area of law, but it does include some modules from other areas of law to broaden your basic legal knowledge. You can choose one of three areas of law as your focus: in addition to Civil Law, we offer Public Law and Criminal Law as minor subjects.
The following table shows the possible structure of your degree programme with ‘Civil Law’ as your minor subject:
| 1st semester | 2nd semester | 3rd semester | 4th semester | 5th semester | 6th semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic modules | Introduction to Legal Studies (3 ECTS) | Law of Obligations – General Part (15 ECTS) | ||||
| Civil Code – General Part (9 ECTS) | ||||||
| Advanced modules1 | Required elective module (15 ECTS in total)1 | Required elective module (15 ECTS in total)1 | Required elective module (15 ECTS in total)1 | |||
|
Supplementary modules2 |
Supplementary module I – Fundamentals (3 ECTS) |
Supplementary module II – Fundamentals (3 ECTS) |
Supplementary module III – Fundamentals (3 ECTS) |
|||
| Specialization modules2 | Seminar (9 ECTS)3 |
Abbreviations: ECTS = European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (credit points)
1 The advanced modules include Fundamentals of Family Law and the Law of Succession (6 ECTS credits), Law of Obligations – Special Part (9 ECTS credits), Property Law (6 ECTS credits), Practical Exercises in Civil Law for Advanced Students (up to 15 ECTS credits), and Basic Course in Public Law II (9 ECTS credits).
2 This includes the following courses: Fundamentals of Medieval and Early Modern Legal History, Fundamentals of Roman Legal History and the History of European Private Law, Fundamentals of Modern Legal and Constitutional History, Fundamentals of Legal Philosophy and Argumentation Theory, and Fundamentals of Legal Theory, Legal Methodology, and Sociology of Law.
3 You can choose one of the following seminars: German and European Business Law, German and European Labour and Social Security Law, International Law, or Administration of Civil Justice, or Contract Drafting.
You can find more detailed information in the module catalogue for the degree programmeExternal link.
The Faculty of Law is based at Ernst-Abbe-Platz – in the heart of the city. A modern building complex houses the administration team and the various professorial chairs and institutes. Most of the lecture theatres and seminar rooms used by the Faculty of Law are also located here.
Career opportunities:
Graduates in conversation
Image: Designed by gpointstudio / freepik.comBy practising legal modes of thinking, familiarizing yourself with the concepts and content of the discipline of law, and learning how to solve legal cases by applying law to problem scenarios, you will broaden your range of career paths. However, graduating in the minor subject will not qualify you to work in purely legal fields. Your career opportunities will depend on your major subject.
A university entrance qualification, such as a general secondary school leaving certificate, is required for admission onto the study programme.
More information on university entrance qualifications can be found here.
Admission and language requirements for applicants of foreign nationality and without German Abitur: www.uni-jena.de/en/study-orientation-international
Please submit an up-to-date and complete CV in tabular form. Please provide full details regarding your schooling and academic education to date. You can find more information hereExternal link.
Please upload the school certificate confirming your university entrance qualification to our application portal. You can find more information hereExternal link.
Please upload transcripts of records for all previous periods of study and degrees, as well as, if applicable, your degree certificate, to the portal.
Proof of sufficient German proficiency must be provided for all German-language degree programmes. The following certificates are recognized as proof of proficiency by Friedrich Schiller University Jena:
Please note: We strongly recommend that you submit the required proof of German proficiency at the time of your application.
If you do not yet have the required language certificate, you may apply for our DSH course starting from German level B1. This course ensures optimal language preparation and also gives you the opportunity to get to know Jena while benefiting from student status.
A translation into German or English must be submitted for every application document that was not originally issued in German or English. These translations must be prepared by an authorized translation office.
Applicants with university degrees from India, Vietnam, or the People’s Republic of China must submit an APS certificate.
Applicants from the following countries must provide proof of their university entrance examination:
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Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
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