Application, admission & tuition

 

Application and admission

To apply for the Master's program in Comparative and Global Law, the following requirements must be met:

1. Academic requirements

• Applicants must have completed one or more relevant academic degrees with a total duration of at least eight semesters, such as a LL.B., a LL.M. or another professional qualification (e.g. state examination), at a recognized research university. The degree(s) must include a minimum of 240 ECTS credits (or an equivalent).
• Typically, applicants will have completed their degree in law. However, students with degrees in other programs that demonstrate sufficient legal knowledge are welcome to apply as well. If the first degree is not specifically in law, at least 120 of the required 240 ECTS credits must have been earned in that field.
• Degrees obtained from universities outside the European Union will be assessed for equivalency.
• Applicants who do not fully meet the above criteria, may still be admitted if they have completed a relevant degree program of at least 180 ECTS and can provide evidence of additional preparatory studies or equivalent credits amounting to 60 ECTS points.

2. Language Requirements

Since the program is completely taught in English, applicants must demonstrate advanced English language proficiency at the C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Proof of proficiency can be provided in one of the following ways:

• Completion of a degree program conducted in English
• A certificate from a standardized language test, such as:
  • TOEFL: at least 95 points (IBT), including a minimum of 25 points in speaking and 24 points in writing
  • IELTS: at least 7 points
  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): at least 180 points

3. Application Process and required documents

Deadline and submission 

Applications for the LL.M. program must be submitted through the university’s online portal. The application period has begun on May 4, 2026 and close on July 15, 2026. Only 20 students can be admitted to the program each year.

There will be an early admission round at the end of May, so we recommend submitting the application early. For the first admission phase, only applications that have been received in full (including the letter of recommendation) by May 31 will be considered. After this deadline, a number of offers will be made to outstanding candidates. The remaining places will be filled up in a competitive selection process after 15 July 2026.

It is strongly recommended to apply before the early application deadline. This is particularly important for applicants who may need time to apply for a visa to study in Germany. Further details regarding the application process and specific deadlines can be found on the university's website.

Application documents

As part of the application process at the University of Münster, applicants must upload the documents listed below in the official application portal. These documents are essential for verifying academic qualifications, language proficiency, and eligibility based on the selection criteria. Please ensure that all required documents are submitted correctly and on time to avoid any delays in the application process. 

Applicants must upload the following documents as part of their application:

Proof of a degree or professional qualification in accordance with the academic requirements, including all relevant academic transcripts. If the final certificate is not yet available at the time of application, a provisional certificate must be submitted, which includes at least the grades of the first six semesters (min. of 180 ECTS) or, in cases of alternative admission, at least the first five semesters (min. of 120 ECTS). If the university does not issue provisional certificates, an academic transcript will suffice. The final degree certificate must be presented at enrollment if admission is granted.

• Proof of language proficiency as outlined in the language requirements section.
• A curriculum vitae
• Any additional documents necessary to demonstrate fulfillment of the selection criteria.

Additionally, applicants need to provide one recommandation letter written by an academic member of staff (professor/assistant professor). The academic letter of recommendation must be submitted directly by the referee, not by the applicant. The letter should include the referee’s position at the university, the referee’s contact details for possible follow-up questions, and an explanation of how the referee knows the applicant. The letter must be sent by email to cglaw.llm@uni-muenster.de, with the application number indicated in the subject line. Applicants receive their application number after registering in the university's application portal. The application will only be considered once the letter of recommendation has been successfully submitted.

Tuition and scholarships

Tuition and semester fee

There is no tuition fee for this program; students are only required to pay the standard semester fee of the University of Münster. This semester fee of about € 350 covers administrative costs, student services, and access to public transportation. For further information, see the official information provided by the university. 
But please take into account in your financial planning that you may need to deposit funds in the form of a “blocked account” (currently €11,208 per year) for visa purposes. Please make sure to inform yourself in good time about the requirements for obtaining a German visa.

Scholarships 

The University of Münster does not offer its own scholarships, but various German foundations award scholarships to dedicated students with excellent academic performance. Some scholarship programs are specifically targeted at students from certain fields of study or countries. Some scholarships focus on even more specific groups, such as student mothers or non-academic backgrounds. In addition to academic excellence, other factors such as engagement in volunteering can also make a strong case for scholarship applicants. In exchange for the scholarship, recipients are usually required to complete their studies quickly and with excellent results, submit annual reports on their academic progress, and participate in seminars or workshops organized by the scholarship foundation.

As most scholarships are funded by German state, most scholarship programs primarily support German students and by extension, EU students. A complete list of foundations awarding scholarships can be found at the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt.

For international students, scholarships of the German Exchange Service (DAAD) are of particular interest. The DAAD offers scholarships for students in all fields of study and from all countries wishing to study in Germany. Please note that scholarship applications generally must be submitted from the home country. Students who have already been in Germany for more than 15 months are unfortunately not eligible to apply for a DAAD scholarship. For more information, please visit the DAAD contact points in your home country.

International students can also receive information on other scholarships and financial support options, including assistance in short-term financial emergencies, at the University’s International Office. 

Important: If you wish to apply for a scholarship, it is important to start early. Many scholarship organizations have fixed application deadlines, and the selection process usually takes several months.