- Founded
- 2000
- Students
- 688
- Programmes
- 4
- Taught in English
- 3
About Bucerius Law School, Hochschule für Rechtswissenschaft
Bucerius Law School - Hochschule für Rechtswissenschaft is Germany's first private law school, founded in 2000 in Hamburg by the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS. It is a state-recognised, non-profit institution funded approximately 40% by the foundation and organised as a gGmbH. Enrolment is deliberately kept small (116 new students per year in the German law programme) to maintain a high student-to-faculty ratio.
The school offers three main programmes: a German-law degree (Jurastudium, leading to the LL.B. plus First State Examination) taught predominantly in German over 14 trimesters; a one-year Master of Law and Business (MLB/LL.M.) taught entirely in English in partnership with WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management; and short Bucerius Summer Programmes in English. Research is organised across five legal subject areas and nine institutes and centres, covering fields such as legal technology, IP law, dispute resolution, and family business law.
Admission to the German law programme is not based on Abitur grades alone but on a two-stage aptitude process (written exam + oral exam). The school reports that approximately 80% of graduates achieve Prädikatsexamen (distinction level) on the German State Examination.
Germany's first private, state-recognised law school, founded 2000 by ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS
No grade-based Numerus Clausus - admission via aptitude-based written and oral examination
Reverse generation contract: Jurastudium students pay no tuition during studies
Approximately 80% of graduates achieve distinction level (Prädikatsexamen) on German State Examinations
English-taught Master of Law and Business (MLB) co-offered with WHU, open to international professionals
Mandatory semester abroad for all Jurastudium students at 100+ partner universities worldwide
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 2000
- Students
- 688
- International
- Over 700 international alumni from more than 100 countries; MLB cohort typically includes students from 20+ nationalities
- Faculties
- 1
- Programmes
- 4
Study programmes
4 accredited degrees at Bucerius Law School, Hochschule für Rechtswissenschaft, 3 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–4 of 4 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Jurastudium: €5,600 per trimester (total approx. €70,000 over 12.5 trimesters); however, the school operates an 'Umgekehrter Generationenvertrag' (reverse generation contract) - students pay no tuition during studies and begin repayments only after entering the workforce. Approx. 30% of graduates make repayments. Various scholarships available including Deutschlandstipendium (€300/month) and full Jura-Stipendium grants. Master of Law and Business: €25,000 total (includes study materials and a semester transport ticket). Early Bird and Early Acceptance discounts of €2,000 each available. Bucerius Global Scholarship (full tuition + partial living costs) and Business Excellence Scholarship (50% tuition) offered for outstanding candidates.
Admission requirements
Jurastudium (German law degree): Requires German Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (Abitur or equivalent); strong German language skills (most teaching in German); English proficiency also required. Selection via two-stage process - written exam (June) and oral exam (July); no Numerus Clausus. APS certificate required for Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants as a prerequisite for the German student visa. Master of Law and Business (MLB): Open to international applicants. Requires a 3-4 year undergraduate degree (240 ECTS or equivalent; 210 ECTS acceptable with minimum 2 years work experience); at least 1-3 years post-graduate work experience; excellent English language skills. Application deadlines: October 31 (Early Decision), January 15 (Early Bird + €2,000 discount), March 31 (visa deadline for non-EU applicants), May 15 (final).
Application deadlines
Jurastudium 2026 cycle: Early-Bird deadline March 1, 2026 (€40 application fee); Final deadline May 15, 2026 (€80 fee); Written exam June 5-6, 2026; Oral exam July 10-11, 2026; Programme start September 7, 2026. MLB: October 31 (Early Decision); January 15 (Early Bird scholarship deadline); March 31 (visa deadline); May 15 (final deadline).
How international applicants apply
direct portal - listed as a cooperating institution in uni-assist's directory (#648), but every degree programme applies through Bucerius' own systems and no uni-assist step is documented anywhere on law-school.de: the LL.B./Staatsexamen programme uses the in-house Online-Bewerbungssystem with a two-stage aptitude selection (no NC, German fluency required); the English-taught Master of Law and Business uses a separate Salesforce application portal with rolling admission; the exchange programme requires nomination by the home university. Applicants need a Hochschulzugangsberechtigung or pass an entrance examination instead of the Abitur.
Languages of instruction
German (Jurastudium); English (Master of Law and Business, Summer Programmes, Visiting Students Programme)
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Bucerius Law School, Hochschule für Rechtswissenschaft
4 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Bucerius Global Scholarship
Full-tuition merit scholarship for talented young professionals applying to the MLB/LLM programme; includes partial living stipend...
Amount: 100% tuition (EUR 25,000) plus partial living-expense stipend of at le...
Deadline: 15 January 2027 (together with MLB application submitted by 15 January...
Master
Business Excellence Scholarship
Merit-based scholarship for young professionals with proven business success or outstanding academic results in a business-related...
Amount: EUR 12,500 (50% of tuition)
Deadline: 15 January 2027
Master
Early Bird / Early Acceptance Discounts
Automatic tuition discounts: Early Bird Discount for applications submitted by 15 January; Early Acceptance Discount for deposit p...
Amount: EUR 2,000 each (Early Bird / Early Acceptance); alumni/partner discoun...
Deadline: Application by 15 January (Early Bird) or deposit by 1 April / 1 June...
Master
Partial Tuition Waivers (MLB/LLM)
Merit- and/or need-based partial waivers of the MLB/LLM tuition fee, open to all admitted applicants.
Amount: Partial reduction of EUR 25,000 tuition (share not published)
Deadline: Within 4 weeks after admission
Master
Student accommodation
What Bucerius Law School, Hochschule für Rechtswissenschaft publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
From the university
No on-campus housing is provided; students rent privately in Hamburg.
Campuses & locations
Single campus at Jungiusstraße 6, 20355 Hamburg; 24/7 Hengeler Mueller Library; no on-campus housing
Living in Hamburg
Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city and its most important port and trading hub. The city is home to major law firms, global corporations, and a thriving media and logistics sector, making it a strong environment for law and business graduates. The historic Speicherstadt warehouse district and the HafenCity development reflect Hamburg's blend of heritage and innovation.
Student life & support
The single-campus setting in central Hamburg fosters a close-knit community. Students have access to a 24/7 library (Hengeler Mueller Library), campus jobs, a law clinic, and an active alumni network. All Jurastudium students complete a mandatory trimester abroad at one of over 100 partner universities in 37 countries. No on-campus housing is provided; students rent privately in Hamburg.
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