The law faculties of Istanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi and the University of Cologne have been offering the first joint, internationally oriented postgraduate study programme "German and Turkish Business Law" in Germany and Turkey since the winter semester 2010/2011. This programme was accredited in Germany in 2009 and approved by the Turkish Higher Education Council in Turkey. The law faculties of both universities are among the leading German and Turkish faculties.

The programme is to be completed in two semesters. Students start together in the winter semester at the University of Cologne and transfer to Istanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi in the summer semester. Of particular importance is the cultural-social experience associated with living and studying in both countries and integrating into the respective student body.

The international orientation of the programme, the bilingualism after completing the Master's year and the intensive training of the participants open up very good prospects for the future. The specialisation in European business law also prepares students for working as a cross-border business lawyer or corporate lawyer and is of particular importance for employment in international organisations that cooperate across borders.

Purposes

The aim of the programme is to provide students with special qualifications for legal work in commercial law on the international labour market through the training provided in Istanbul and Cologne. The programme offers four different areas of specialisation in corporate law, capital market law and consumer protection, competition and intellectual property protection and international business law. The courses in the focus areas not only teach students the relevant Turkish and German law, but also emphasise the European law aspects of these regulations. Practising methodological-analytical skills is also part of the core objective of the study programme, which is tailored to the German-Turkish legal practitioner. This is ensured by a specific compulsory module on "Methods and Techniques" with subject-related rhetoric courses and other events. Practice-related teaching content, such as contract drafting or alternative dispute resolution, is part of the curriculum. Another special feature is the teaching of business management skills in a separate compulsory module as well as the practical relevance through supplementary company internships, which the Türk-Alman Ticaret ve Sanayi Odasi/Turkish-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Cologne will arrange if the students are interested. The topic of the Master's thesis can be determined with reference to the internship in order to achieve the orientation of the Master's thesis to practical legal problems.

Tuition fee waiver and other funding

At the University of Cologne, a semester fee of approximately 300 euros is charged for the first semester of study, which also covers the costs for the NRW semester ticket.

Participants from the German side will have their tuition fees at Bilgi University waived (therefore no tuition fees are owed in Istanbul, so-called "fee scholarship").

Students selected via the University of Cologne are eligible for Erasmus+ funding for the duration of their stay at Istanbul Bilgi University. Information on the current funding levels can be found here.

There is also the possibility of DAAD funding.