Application & General Information

Required language certificates:
As a general rule, you should have at least a sufficient, and preferably good to very good, command of the language of instruction for a study period abroad. Furthermore, knowledge of the local language is strongly recommended, particularly in France, Italy and Spain. You can find the specific language requirements in the list of partner universities (only available in German).

When applying for a place on a study abroad programme, you must submit to us an official language certificate for the national or language(s) of instruction of your chosen university(ies), which must demonstrate the required language level. The more cost-effective DAAD language certificate is also sufficient for this purpose, although it is not available for all languages. The FFA certificate is also sufficient as proof of language proficiency. Language proficiency can no longer be demonstrated via your A-level certificate! An overview of language tests and certificates can be found on the International Office’s website, with more detailed information available on the DAAD’s website, as well as in our overview (only available in German).

Please note the following:
Some host universities require specific language certificates (e.g. TOEFL, DELF, DELE). Please check directly with your chosen or host university to find out whether a specific language certificate is required. If the relevant language certificates are not submitted with the application to the partner university or are not submitted at a later date, the partner university has the right to reject the student.

Important note regarding language proficiency:
In principle, according to the EU Charter, proficiency in the language of instruction is sufficient for a study abroad placement. If you wish to study at one of our partner universities in a country whose language you do not speak, please note the following: In accordance with § 25 II Nr.3 JAG-NRW, in order for a semester abroad to be recognised as a leave of absence, you must provide evidence to the Examination Office that you have attended legal courses in foreign law totalling at least 8 contact hours per week and have obtained at least one academic credit per semester. The International Coordination Office cannot guarantee that the partner university will actually offer a sufficient number of English-language courses when you commence your studies abroad. Students bear the risk of not being able to attend the required number of law courses in foreign law on site, as stipulated in § 25 II Nr.3 JAG-NRW.

Specific requirements for the University of Oxford:
To study at the University of Oxford, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency through an official language certificate when applying for a UK visa. You can find further information here.

You can find options for refreshing or improving your language skills here:

• At the department
• At the University of Bonn Language Learning Centre
• The Rosetta Stone programme

Bei der Auswahl der möglichen Orte für einen Auslandsaufenthalt können Ihnen die Erfahrungsberichte anderer Studierender helfen. Diese finden Sie auf e-Campus.

Alternativ finden Sie die Erfahrungsberichte bei e-Campus über Einrichtungen > dezentrale Einrichtungen > Rechts- und Staatswissenschaftliche Fakultät > Rechtswissenschaftlicher Fachbereich > Auslandskoordination > Erfahrungsberichte der Studierenden.

Eine Auswertung der Erfahrungsberichte finden Sie in dieser Informationsübersicht.

When choosing potential destinations for a study abroad placement, you may find the testimonials from other students helpful. These can be found on e-Campus.

You can find an analysis of the testimonials in this information overview (only available in German).

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a letter of acceptance or rejection from the International Office by the end of February at the latest.

• Please let us know within the deadline specified in the letter whether you wish to accept the place offered.
• If you have received a rejection, you can apply to other universities as part of the waiting list procedure.
• To this end, applicants will receive a further email following the rejection, containing a list of places still available and all other important information regarding the next steps. This email will specify new deadlines by which you must confirm your acceptance. Applications submitted before these deadlines will not be considered.
  Please refrain from making enquiries regarding the waiting list procedure and the current status of places before receiving this email. We will contact you in good time.
• We strive to enable all students to spend a semester abroad. Provided there are places available, an offer can usually be made to everyone.
• If necessary, a second waiting list process may be carried out following the first.

• The International Coordination Team will nominate you to the partner university abroad (you cannot apply directly) once you have accepted your place on the study abroad programme and registered with the International Office.
• The Erasmus Coordination Office at the partner university will then contact you directly by email and send you the necessary information materials. You will often also receive a registration form, which you must complete immediately and return to the university by the deadline.

This overview of partner universities (only available in German) has been compiled for your information.

The state-examined law degree programme is not subject to the Bologna framework and, due to its national focus, offers only very limited opportunities for the recognition of credits earned abroad.

• As a rule – subject to very strict formal requirements – credits can only be recognised for courses with an international focus within the specialisation phase of the programme.
• The application for credit transfer and registration for the examination at the University of Bonn must be submitted before the examination is taken abroad!
• Under SPB-PO 2023, all three compulsory examinations in the specialisation area (2 core area examinations and 1 elective area examination) may in principle be taken abroad. However, it is recommended that you limit yourself to a maximum of two examinations. In accordance with SPB-PO 2023, the seminar component must be completed at the local department in Bonn.

Credit transfer is only possible following consultation with the Law Examination Office. Please note the Examination Office’s guidance on taking parts of the specialisation programme examination at a foreign faculty!

Please remember to submit your application for a leave of absence for your semester abroad to the Student Registry in good time. In this case, you will only be required to pay the reduced semester fee, but you will not receive a semester ticket.

Please note: Even if you are spending a semester abroad, you must re-register by paying the (reduced) semester fee, otherwise you will be de-registered!

Scope of courses to be taken:

In accordance with the guidelines of the International Office Bonn and the faculty, the planned study programme must comprise at least 20 ECTS credits per semester. If the planned study load is less than 15 ECTS credits per semester, funding cannot be provided through the Erasmus+ programme.

Recognition of credits

The state-examined degree programme in Law is not subject to the Bologna structure and, due to its national focus, offers only very limited opportunities for the recognition of credits earned abroad.

• As a rule – subject to very strict formal requirements – only credits for internationally oriented courses within the specialisation area may be recognised.
• The application for credit transfer and registration for the examination at the University of Bonn must be submitted before the examination is taken abroad!
• Under SPB-PO 2023, all three compulsory examinations in the specialisation area (2 core area examinations and 1 elective area examination) may in principle be taken abroad. However, it is recommended to limit this to a maximum of two examinations. In accordance with SPB-PO 2023, the seminar requirement must be fulfilled at the local department in Bonn.

Credits may only be recognised following consultation with the Law Faculty Examination Office. Please note the Examination Office’s guidance on sitting parts of the specialisation examination at a foreign faculty!

Requirements for sabbatical semesters (§ 25 II Nr. 3 JAG NRW)

The following requirements apply regarding the exclusion of semesters from the free attempt:

• a maximum of three semesters permitted
• per semester, legal (!) courses totalling at least 8 weekly hours in foreign law. This means, for example, that language courses are not counted towards the free semester.
• At least one assessment in foreign law per semester

To have these semesters excluded, you must submit a corresponding application to the relevant Examination Office, which you can find on the relevant page.

In accordance with Section § 7 I Nr. 3 JAG NRW, admission to the state compulsory subject examination requires the successful completion of a law course taught in a foreign language or a law-oriented language course with a final examination.

Anyone who has studied law for at least one semester at a non-German-speaking university is exempt from this requirement; in other words, the foreign language certificate with a final test is replaced by the semester abroad.

However, it is recommended that, in preparation for the period abroad, you attend the legal terminology course offered as part of the Faculty of Law’s foreign language programme, if possible.