Institute for Law and Finance

LL.M. Finance

The LL.M. Finance degree programme at the ILF will train you not only to deal with but also to excel in this increasingly important area where the worlds of international law and global finance meet. Up to about 50 students will be admitted in order to ensure academic excellence and direct, personal contact between students and the faculty.

LL.M. International Finance

Our Master of Laws in International Banking, Securities and Finance (LL.M. International Finance) program offers excellent interdisciplinary and practice-oriented training in the areas of international and European banking, securities and finance law. By studying at the ILF, you will be trained not only to deal with but also to excel in this increasingly important area where the worlds of international law and global finance meet.

Departments information: (for department profiles provide key details for subjects available)

Career prospects

Our growing alumni have progressed into varying career paths, in Frankfurt and internationally. Some of the most frequent career paths include our former students joining law firms, banking institutions and governing bodies such as:

• Linklaters LLP
• ING
• Latham & Watkins
• Scotiabank
• European Central Bank
• Hengeler Mueller

and many more.

Language requirements

Both our LL.M Finance. and LL.M. International Finance programs are conducted entirely in English.

For the LL.M. Finance program, your competence in English has to surpass a level of TOEFL 600, CBT TOEFL 250, IBT TOEFL 100, Cambridge CAE (grade C or above), or IELTS 7, unless your native tongue is English.

For the LL.M. International Finance program, your competence in English has to surpass a level of TOEFL 580, CBT TOEFL 237, IBT TOEFL 92, or IELTS 6.5, unless your native tongue is English.

We also provide an optional German language course, however this is not required for your degree.

Research Centre

Beyond teaching, the ILF also conducts research work in corporate, securities and banking law. The ILF has two foundation professors and three research associates. The ILF research team prepares working papers and issues publications, particularly in the areas of German and international securities and company law, corporate finance, and banking law on a regular basis. In addition, we have in place an ILF Series which complies the lectures and presentations made at the various conferences held at the ILF.

Living costs

Overall personal living expenses vary depending on the cost of accommodation and other personal choices. An estimate of €800 to €1,000 per month for general living expenses is a realistic calculation for the Frankfurt area.

ILF students receive a student card from Goethe University which entitles them to use the facilities of the University, which include the University’s refectories and cafeterias, where students can eat at reduced prices. The student card includes a free pass to public transportation in the Frankfurt area and certain regional trains.

Location (including: travel and transport, employment prospects in the area, safety and crime rates)

Location

Frankfurt benefits from outstanding telecommunication and transportation infrastructure. Frankfurt Airport is the leading airport in continental Europe and offers excellent connections within Europe and overseas. Frankfurt's dense transportation network ensures a seamless connection to all road and rail links to explore neighbouring countries.

Accommodation

There are several accommodation options available to students in the Frankfurt area. The ILF offers a limited number of dormitory rooms owned by the university’s student services. Since the demand for these rooms is usually greater than the number of rooms available, they are reserved to students from abroad and allocated by lottery. Students interested in one of these rooms should let us know that they wish to enter the allocation lottery.

Other options include student housing facilities offered by various church organizations and other non-profit housing facilities. We recommend strongly that students contact such organizations as soon as they receive notice of acceptance to the program, as these rooms are also very sought after. The ILF is able to provide a list of these organizations and further information to help you find private accommodation in Frankfurt.

Culture

Frankfurt is a diverse and cosmopolitan city with a range of social and cultural opportunities. With a growing international population and a large student population, a buoyant restaurant and nightlife scene has steadily grown over the years. It also offers many cultural attractions, among them two operas, concert halls, theatres, and a great variety of museums and art galleries.

Health insurance

All students are required to prove that they have adequate health insurance under German law before they can be matriculated as students of Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main.

How to apply

To apply please visit our website where you will find a list of the supporting documents you will need for your application. If you would like to send us your CV for a confidential eligibility evaluation, we would be happy to hear from you.

Applications will be considered on a “rolling basis”. Consideration of completed applications will begin on 1 November and candidates will generally be informed of the results of their applications within 6 weeks of receipt of the completed application by the ILF. No application fee is required.

The application period for the LL.M. Finance programme closes on 1 July for non-EU students, on the 1 August for EU students.

The application period for the LL.M. International Finance program closes on 15 May for countries where APS certificates are required (i.e. China, Mongolia and Vietnam) and on 1 July 2020 for all other Asian Countries.