Part-time Law studies

Abstract

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  Profile of the study programme

  Main features of the part-time course
  Students studying part-time complete a bachelor's degree in Law in four years. This consists of teaching formats requiring students' physical presence, and self-study. Teaching is concentrated into two weekdays: for each subject, either lectures or tutorials take place on these days.
  Students must study the content of the other classes on their own. It is recommended that you allow yourself enough time for this self-study.

  The particular feature of the part-time course is its focus on specific fields each year. The result is a clearly structured curriculum, which guides you through the wide range of subjects and helps you develop an understanding of the basics of law and sound knowledge of the different areas.

  Each year of study ends with examinations to enable you to get an idea of how your studies are coming along periodically. The bachelor's degree in Law entitles you to apply for the master programme.

  Structure of the part-time course
  To be a successful legal practitioner requires a broad, sound grasp of law – and no compromises are made even in the part-time course.

  • First year (Wed/Thur): Introduction to law, Law Enforcement, Swiss constitutional law, administrative law (general/special section), European law and international law
  • Second year (Wed/Thur): Criminal law (I/II), history of law, philosophy of law
  • Third year (Mon/Tues): Roman law, law of persons, property law, family and inheritance law, code of obligations (general/special section and tort law)
  • Fourth year (Fri/Mon): Commercial and business law, tax law and social law

  Our teaching sessions are designed to teach you the skills you need to be able to navigate the legal system with confidence and ease. You are consistently encouraged to critically analyse legally relevant texts (first and foremost laws and court rulings) in the context of the legal system, to recognise legal issues and develop viable solutions. Student participation in teaching is welcomed and students are encouraged to express themselves in writing and tutored in doing so. By the time you complete your studies, you will have acquired the knowledge and methods to allow you to address even new and unprecedented legal problems.

  Acquiring in-depth knowledge of specialist areas with distinctions and special credits
  Even at the bachelor level, you can acquire more in-depth knowledge of certain areas of law by obtaining distinctions and special credits.

  The distinctions add prestige to your degree certificate. You acquire these with achievements over and above the required curriculum. The following special distinctions are currently available:

  • European law
  • Religious law («Utriusque iuris»)
  • Bilingual curriculum, French/German

  The teaching sessions you need to attend to obtain the European law and Religious law distinctions do not necessarily take place on the same days of week as the part-time course.

  The special credits are added to the ECTS credits required for the master's degree. You can obtain these by taking advantage of the wide choice of supplementary courses that are open to you already after successfully completing your first year of study.

  International networking and student exchange semester (Erasmus)
  Since its beginnings, our Faculty has placed great value on international networking and practises exchanges with a large number of Faculties abroad. Part-time students also benefit from this. The exchanges that we offer in cooperation with partner universities include:
  – Centre for Transnational Legal Studies (CTLS) in London; student exchange in Shanghai (China);
  – «Galatasaray (Turkey) – Fribourg» and «Craiova (Romania) – Fribourg» international seminars;
  – Summer university of the Institute of Federalism at the University of Fribourg;
  – «European Private Law» summer school at Salzburg University (Austria)

  If they have the time, students can also participate in the Swiss European Mobility Programme, which is a one or two-semester international exchange at one of more than 100 European law Faculties, and acquire experience that will stand them in good stead including in their subsequent career. To which extent this prolongs your studies depends on your learning achievements abroad that we can add to your record in Fribourg.

  Learning outcomes and career openings
  The bachelor's degree at our Faculty gives students a solid grounding in law. We do not believe in early specialisation, as specialised knowledge becomes rapidly obsolete. Students who have a thorough understanding of the core fields of law are much better equipped.

  Many students who have obtained their bachelor's degree here opt to continue with a master's degree, making use of the strong practical focus and interdisciplinary nature of the courses on offer in Fribourg. A career as a lawyer is only possible with a master's degree, but a wide variety of careers are open to our graduates.

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

Admission