Curriculum Components

B. Master’s Thesis

Students must submit a thesis of approximately 60 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 weeks' 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 such unique internship opportunities. Internships are offered by leading international law firms in Frankfurt, major banks, accounting firms, the German financial regulatory body BaFin, 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). It is, however, possible to organize an internship during the summer break by prior arrangement.

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 student 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.