Double Degree

Students have the opportunity to achieve two LL.M. degrees in one year. The study phase at Leibniz Universität Hannover will be followed by a study period at Universitetet i Oslo. It comprises an integrated and modularised curriculum, supplemented by a jointly-taught seminar and a final exam (master thesis).

The programme, which is coordinated by the Institute for Legal Informatics at Leibniz Universität Hannover, is built upon the idea of transnational academic collaboration and aims to bring important educational benefits to individuals and academic institutions.

A double degree consists of two nationally-recognised diplomas issued by two institutions involved in an integrated study programme. It involves a student studying for two different University degrees in parallel. Typically in a double-degree programme, both of the participating institutions compress the workload required and thus enable students to complete their degrees in less time than it would take to earn them separately. Double degrees must not be confused with double majors, which usually consist of two majors attached to a single degree.

The double degree programme is of a duration of 12-months and commences in winter semester at Leibniz Universität Hannover. The Double Degree Students attend the basic and elective modules of EULISP in Hannover. In addition, a seminar held by German and Norwegian lecturers will be organised, which aims to examine the close links between European law and information- and communication-technology law.

The second semester starts in February at Universitetet i Oslo. It aims to provide the students with in-depth knowledge in European and international law in the field of information and communication technology. 

The students can choose from the classes offered within the modules. However, the following requirements must be met: Instead of the standard 60 ECTS, a total of 90 ECTS credits must be acquired. 60 credits of the total 90 must be gained in Oslo, for which 2-3 classes (depending on the number of credits awarded for each class) and the master thesis (30 ECTS credits) must be completed. In Hanover, at least 30 ECTS credits must be collected, including those from a seminar (6 ECTS). Each class must be passed with the ECTS mark E or above. Double degrees will only be awarded if a candidate gains the necessary ECTS at both Universities.

At Leibniz University, lectures and seminars will be held in German and in English. Lectures in Oslo will be held in English. The academic achievements will be accepted in Hanover and Oslo in the framework of the European Credit transfer system (ECTS), which is applied at both institutions.

Preparation of a thesis is a compulsory requirement which has to be completed during the second semester as this amounts to the final examination. After having submitted a thesis proposal by the end of the preceding year (31 December), in which students outline their topics and field of desired research, the allocation of topics is conducted at the end of the first semester. Topics must be within the field of Legal Informatics/ICT-Law or Intellectual Property Law. Double Degree theses must be submitted in English and will be evaluated by two competent professors, one from each participating faculty.

Once students have satisfied all requirements prescribed by each institutions' ordinances, which includes mutual recognition of study and examination results, the academic degree "Master of Laws" (LL.M.) will be awarded by each University. Degree certificates and transcript of records will also be issued separately by each University.