Doctoral Studies

The Faculty of Law awards the degree doctor iuris based on a special academic qualification.

As a rule, acceptance as a doctoral candidate requires the completion of the First Law Examination or the Second State Examination with the grade “fully satisfactory”.

In addition, there are several further options for acceptance as a doctoral candidate.

• completion of equivalent university studies abroad
• successful completion of a postgraduate or master course of study at the Faculty of Law of the University of Bremen or comparable degree awarded by another faculty
• completion of university studies in a subject other than law, fulfilment of the respective requirements for acceptance as a doctoral candidate, two semesters of law studies at the University of Bremen, comparable to the time scope of studies in the area of specialisation, and submission of a seminar paper with the grade “good” or better
• completion of studies at a university of applied sciences with a focus on law, two semesters of law studies at the University of Bremen, comparable to the time scope of studies in the area of specialisation, and submission of a written seminar paper in the subject of law with the grade “good” or better

As a general requirement, the grades achieved must correspond to at least the grade “fully satisfactory” in the First Law Examination.

The required grade can be replaced by:

• submission of a written paper with the grade “good“ or better that was drawn up within the context of a seminar or Ph.D. colloquium of the Faculty of Law of the University of Bremen or passing of the university examination in the area of specialisation with the grade “good” or better
• presentation of a draft dissertation proposal
• favourable votes of two professors with the substantiated prognosis that the doctoral candidate is expected to acquire the special academic qualification

Acceptance as a doctoral candidate can also be granted to research assistants at the Faculty of Law of the University of Bremen or candidates who have carried out independent research for a year at another law institute associated with the University of Bremen or worked as jurists at another institute of the University of Bremen or within the framework of a third-party funded project directed by a professor of the Faculty of Law at the University of Bremen.