Duration of the Program

The LL.M. Finance program at the ILF is a one-year postgraduate degree program. It is divided into two semesters, namely the winter semester (October to February) and the summer semester (April to July).

The program commences in October and teaching ends in July of the following year. The program also includes a 7 to 8 week internship which usually takes place in the break between the winter and summer semesters or following the completion of coursework. The Master’s Thesis is to be written within a 4-month period after the completion of the courses in July, during which period students do not have to be physically present in Frankfurt.

Curriculum Components

  Components (Total 90 ECTS Credits)  Credits

A)   

 

 

 

Coursework - 12 courses

If your first degree is in law: At least 4 of the 12 courses must be in the field of business or economics.

If your first degree is in business or economics: At least 10 of the 12 courses must be in the field of law.

60
B) Master’s Thesis 20
C) Internship 10

A. Coursework

In order to obtain the LL.M. Finance degree, students must have:

  • a minimum of 60 credit points through coursework. Credit points are obtained by fulfilling the requirements of each course (e.g. prepared attendance, presentations and exams)
  • a total of 12 graded courses for the year. To receive a grade for a course, you will have to attend the class regularly AND have to pass the appropriate examination(s)

B. Master’s Thesis

Students must submit a thesis of approximately 50 text pages on a subject agreed in consultation with the student’s thesis adviser. The candidates should show in the dissertation that they can carry out independent academic work and present the results appropriately. The final thesis will be reviewed by the student’s thesis advisor and by one additional examiner according to the regulations of the program.

Recent LL.M. theses have included subjects such as financial relationships in the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), legal and regulatory issues of credit derivatives and the structuring of venture capital or private equity funds for the German market. Theses could potentially be on any subject related to course and/or internship work.

C. Internship

The LL.M. Finance degree program includes a 7 to 8 week internship. The internship experience gives students an opportunity to test and deepen their understanding of the coursework. Thanks to our location in Frankfurt and the high caliber of our sponsors, students benefit from unique internship opportunities. Internships are offered by leading international law firms in Frankfurt, major banks, accounting firms, the German Bundesbank, and the ECB. Internships expose students to the working environment and professional expectations of leading firms and institutions. The valuable opportunity to form contacts for potential career development is also highly appreciated by students.

Internships are usually undertaken during the break between the winter and summer semesters (i.e., February/March) or during the period after the completion of the coursework and prior to writing the master's thesis.

Students, in consultation with the ILF, may apply to the law firm, financial institution or other organizations of their choice. The ILF assists students in finding suitable internship positions. Positions are awarded on a competitive basis, with students' initiative and interest being the primary criterion for placement. Internships are not necessarily restricted geographically and positions outside of Germany are possible if a student takes the initiative to organize such an opportunity.

Our Cooperation Partners for Internship Placements in Recent Years

Allen & Overy

Ashurst

Baker & McKenzie

BBVA

Bird & Bird

Clifford Chance

Commerzbank

Debevoise & Plimpton

Deloitte

Dentons Europe

Deutsche Börse

Deutsche Bundesbank

Deutsche Bank

DLA Piper

EIOPA

Ernst & Young

European Central Bank

Fidelity International

Fieldfisher

Finance in Motion

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Fried Frank

Hengeler Mueller

Hogan Lovells

ING DiBa

Intertrust Germany

Jones Day

K&L Gates

 

KPMG

Latham & Watkins

Linklaters

Mayer Brown

Noerr

Norton Rose Fulbright

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Rödl & Partner

Shearman & Sterling

Squire Patton Boggs

Taylor Wessing

Watson Farley & Williams

White & Case

Willkie Farr & Gallagher