Universität Fribourg Université de Fribourg Suisse | Universität Freiburg Schweiz Course offerings

 

Law

Abstract

During their Master's programme, students gain deeper insights into the distinct areas of law dealt with during their Bachelor. A wide choice is open to them here: the students compile their own programme from more than 100 Master courses covering all areas of law and choose their own specialist fields of study.
One such specialist field is European Law, which offers students a chance to specialise in EU law and the legislation surrounding the European Convention on Human Rights. Otherwise, students can choose to specialise in Religious Law, for example, which offers in-depth investigation of socio-political issues at the interface of law and religion.
In Fribourg, great emphasis is placed on personal mentoring and support: the teaching staff know their students personally and the courses are taught in small groups. Another advantage is the bilingual aspect – this is the only university in Switzerland where almost all the teaching is done in German and French.

Show the study programme profile

Profile of the study programme

During their Master's programme, students gain deeper insights into distinct areas of law. The renowned chairs and institutes allow students to specialise in a variety of fields with a view to their subsequent professional objectives. The teaching staff know their students personally. The courses are taught mostly in small groups, offering opportunities for in-depth discussions and personal support. What sets the faculty apart is the attractive range of seminars which it offers outside its own walls.

As a Master student, you have plenty of choice at Fribourg: we offer more than 100 Master's courses covering all areas of law. You compile your own programme, made up of semester and block courses, seminars and special courses.
You choose your own focal point and while still studying gain expertise in one specialist area.

Distinction: «European Law»
As is typical of the Faculty of Law, even at the foundation stage, the European Law distinction offers an in-depth look at European law. It enables students to have the additional or specific qualifications that they have obtained in the field of European Law (meaning first and foremost EU law and the legislation surrounding the European Human Rights Convention) mentioned on their diploma. European Law is one of Fribourg's specialities.

Distinction: «Religious Law (Utriusque Iuris
Religious law issues are regularly the focus of socio-political discussion. Switzerland has differing, complex rules governing the relationship between religious communities and the state. The «Religious Law» distinction takes an in-depth look at issues at the interface of law and religion.

Distinction: «Bilingual curriculum»
Legal professionals who work in Switzerland or at the European level need sound German and French skills. Fribourg is the only law faculty in Switzerland where virtually all the teaching is offered in both languages. By taking «Bilingual curriculum» as their specialisation, students can have the language skills that they acquired in Fribourg mentioned on their diploma.

«bilingue plus» course
Besides intensive vocational linguistic training in their second language of study, participants are taught awareness of multiculturalism and multilingualism issues. Unique in Switzerland, the «bilingue
plus*» course is held in collaboration with the Language Centre.
The course of study is organised around that of the Master's programme. The language training is carried out in groups of no more than fifteen students to guarantee best results. In addition, students receive personal mentoring and support during the entire duration of the course.

Fribourg profile
Our teaching system is ideal for efficient, ambitious students. You obtain your qualifications as you go and write your Master's thesis on a pre-defined theme within a clearly set period. This means that you really do complete your Master's degree within two to three semesters. Even if you do one semester at one of our numerous partner universities abroad, we count your results there towards your degree. We have the privilege of being able to teach our Master's students in small groups. That way, we know all of them personally and can take individual wishes into account.

Since its inception, the University of Fribourg's Faculty of Law has been keen to foster national and international networking. This is an advantage for students: we have numerous partnering agreements with law faculties in Switzerland and abroad and offer several joint courses with partner universities. For example:

  • Centre for Transnational Legal Studies (CTLS) in London;
  • Student exchange in Shanghai (China);
  • International seminars «Galatasaray (Turkey) – Fribourg» and «Craiova (Romania) – Fribourg»;
  • Summer University at the Institute of Federalism at the University of Fribourg;
  • Summer School «European Private Law» at the University of Salzburg (Austria).

At the Bachelor's level, you can already spend one or two semesters studying at another Swiss university or take part in the Swiss European Mobility Programme. You have the possibility of doing a stint of study abroad at one of more than 100 law faculties in Europe. The exchange programmes enable you to spend time abroad without prolonging your studies. Exactly which results are recognised is evaluated and the decision taken by an Equivalences Commission.

Highly ambitious students can attain a degree at the University of Fribourg and at the same time at the University Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) by taking advantage of the challenging cooperation offer «Double diplôme de Master Fribourg/Paris II».

Career openings
Exciting career opportunities are open to you as a legal professional. You can lead the prosecution in the role of public prosecutor, represent clients before the court in the role of lawyer, or pronounce judgement in the role of judge. You can work in key positions in businesses, administration or international organisations. Otherwise, you can pass on your knowledge by doing teaching and research.

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

90 ECTS credits, 2-3 semesters; no limit on study time

Curriculum

http://studies.unifr.ch/go/ffPQy (French)
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/jxstn (German)

Admission

Master's degree courses are built on the knowledge and abilities that were acquired when obtaining a Bachelor of Law's degree.
Only holders of a Bachelor's degree awarded from a Swiss University can be admitted to a Master of Law's degree course.