Universität Fribourg Course offerings

Profile of the study programme

During their master programme, students gain deeper insights into distinct areas of law. The chairs and institutes allow students to specialise in a variety of fields with a view to their subsequent professional objectives. In many cases, the teaching staff know their students personally. The courses are taught as far as possible 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.

We offer more than 100 master's courses covering all areas of law. The five process subjects amounting to 25 ECTS credits are mandatory. For the remaining 65 ECTS credits, you can select from the range of freely selectable semester courses, block courses, seminars and special events. In addition, you can also give your studies a coloration to reflect your particular commitment to a specific field by choosing one or two of nine specific options: Human Rights, Europe, State and Public Service, Environment and Climate, Economy, Family, Religion, Penalties, Dispute resolution.

Distinction: «Bilingual curriculum, French/German»
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, French/German» 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 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 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.