Public Law
| Degree | Bachelor of Arts |
| Application | not required |
| Course commences | winter semester |
| Standard course duration | 6 semesters |
| Focus option | 25% only |
| Language requirements | excellent proficiency in German |
| Language of instruction | German |
Course outline
Where it is studied as a minor subject in a Bachelor’s degree programme, Public Law (25%) consists of two modules. The first of these modules is Module I - Constitutional Law, the second is Module II - Administrative Law. Module I - Constitutional Law, focuses on German “Staatsorganisationsrecht”, including international aspects and fundamental rights. Lectures and seminars held as part of Module II - Administrative Law concern general administrative law as well as administrative procedural law. In addition, lectures and seminars address top-ics of central importance to specific administrative law. These topics include police law, building law and local law. Each semester, students are also given the opportunity to attend basic and advanced lectures and seminars to gain further insight into the material covered.
Students studying Public Law as a minor subject (25%) as part of a Bachelor’s degree pro-gramme are therefore able to acquire a broad knowledge of the foundations of German public law, and develop a critical understanding of the major theories, principles and meth-ods applicable within this field. Central questions and issues within the field of administra-tive law are discussed in light of actual cases and students practice developing a legal opin-ion. Following successful completion of the Bachelor’s degree programme, students are able to collect, analyse and interpret information to solve legal cases. This is closely associated with the ability to identify central issues, and develop solutions and specialist positions, pre-senting the arguments for these. Students become practiced in using a methodology which is independent of their major subject, and gain knowledge of an additional specialist area.
Course structure
At the beginning of Module I, students attend the foundation course Administrative Law I. In addition to these lectures, a working group will be offered, giving students the opportunity to gain practical experience of developing a legal opinion. The foundation course, Adminis-trative Law II is taken in the second semester and is the second part of the foundation course. As part of the foundation course Administrative Law II, students are given the oppor-tunity to take a mock written examination. Students therefore have the opportunity to apply the methods involved in analysing and solving a legal case in examination conditions, but without any pressure. Students may also attend a working group in the second semester. Module I - Administrative Law concludes in the third semester with the practice class, Public Law for Beginners. Examples of real cases are used as a basis for discussion of central issues within the field of public law. The final written module examination is taken as part of this practice class.
Module II is begun in the third semester with the lecture Administrative Law I (police law). Police law lends itself to providing a good introduction to administrative law. Lectures and seminars on general administrative law and administrative procedural law are taken in the fourth semester. In the fifth semester, students attend further lectures and courses from the field of specific administrative law; lectures for the module Administrative Law - Specific Part II (building law) and Administrative Law - Specific Part III (local law). In the fifth semester, a working group gives students the opportunity to recall and apply administrative law to legal cases. The second module concludes with an advanced practice class in public law. The final written module examination is taken as part of this practice class. The examination can be taken with different specialisms within administrative law.
Formal requirements
Admission
Admission to the course is not restricted. Click here for information on enrolment.
International applicants
There are special regulations for international applicants. For more information, apply to the International Relations Office of Heidelberg University (Seminarstraße 2). International applicants may participate in a preparatory course lasting one semester and taking place in the summer term prior to the start of the course proper.
Examination rules and regulations
The examination rules and regulations for Public Law as a minor subject (25%) in a Bache-lor’s degree programme can be found here.
Examination regulations B.A. (25 July 2007, last amended 18 July 2014)
Module Handbook
Further information on the modules offered can be found here.
Subject combinations
Potential subject combinations are listed in the catalogue of subjects.
Fees
Fees are payable at the beginning of each semester at Heidelberg University.
Academic advisor
Julia Kraft
Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 6-10, Office 016
Office hours in term time usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 am – 12 pm
phone: +49 (0)6221 547435
e-mail: studienberatung.nebenfach@jurs.uni-heidelberg.de
Contact
Faculty of Law
Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 6-10
D-69117 Heidelberg
Secretaries
phone: +49 (0)6221 547631
fax: +49 (0)6221 547654
e-mail: geschaeftsstelle-dekanat@jurs.uni-heidelberg.de
Internet: www.jura.uni-heidelberg.de/
Location
Student representation
phone: +49 (0)6221 547720
fax: +49 (0)6221 547654 (addressed to “Fachschaft”)
e-mail: fachschaft@juhei.de
Internet: www.juhei.de/index.php?new
