Ways to fund your LLM in Germany | Blog | LLMStudy.com
Studying an LLM in Germany will open up your legal career to Germany and the EU.
There are lots of funding options for those choosing a German law school for their studies, and if you are an international student, you should check funding opportunities within your home country as well. Many international organisations and charities sponsor international students to study LLM programs in Germany and a little bit of research into funding while you research courses could make a big difference to your finances. The cost of living in Germany is not as high as other European nations, so you might find that studying in Germany is not as expensive as you expect it to be. And don't forget that if you do get accepted onto an LLM or postgraduate law program in Germany you are eligible to apply for one of our x10 Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries worth £500 each specifically for postgraduate law students.
German law school funding
For both international and German students, most law schools in Germany offer a selection of scholarships and low cost loan options to help finance LLM studies. Some of the scholarships are included in the application process for the LLM program, whilst other scholarships will involve an additional application process often including a personal statement along with maintaining excellent grades. Most law schools – for example Bucerius Law School in Hamburg, Germany – have their scholarships and funding options available to view on their websites.
Government bursaries & loans
The German Government and different regional governments offer student loans and bursaries to German resident students. These are often not available for international students from other EU countries or those students from outside the EU who have just arrived in Germany. Often the cost of these loans is very low and close to 0% interest, which makes them a good financing option that many LLM students in Germany use. There is also the public-private partnership of the Deutschlandstipendium, which sponsors talented students from all over the world to study in Germany from donations by private companies that are administered by the German Government.
For EU and German students, working part-time while studying is a helpful way to fund their LLM studies. Working whilst studying will also add to your experience for your post-graduation career. International students from outside of the EU can work up to 120 days a year with a German student visa. Most German students work and study at the same time and during the holidays exemptions can be made for some international students to work more days. For international students, working part time or full time and studying part time may not be an option due to visa restrictions, but it is an excellent way to study an LLM program for domestic German or EU students to gain an LLM without leaving their current jobs.
For international students, savings are a vital part of proving that they are eligible to have a German student visa, because international students need to have €10,332 in a bank account as a minimum before applying for a student visa. Students from other EU students do not need to prove their finances, just international students coming from outside of the EU. Self-funding during an LLM program is the most cost-effective way to finance studies, but usually involves planning and saving over several years.
This table illustrates the estimated monthly living expenses for students in Germany.