Social Law
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Study Programme Coordinator
Social Law – a study programme in Germany for the first time
For a long time, it was not possible to study social law as an independent subject in Germany. Fulda University of Applied Sciences recognised this gap in the education landscape and became the only academic institution in Germany to train students to become specialists in social law. Initially introduced as a Diplom programme, Social Law was transformed into a Bachelor degree programme in the winter semester 2007/2008. The conferred degree is now a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
Since the winter semester 2003/2004, we have offered students practice-based, application-oriented legal training for the social sector. In future, social law will no longer be a peripheral subject or a subsidiary part of various training programmes.
The Social Law programme was reaccredited in July 2012 for the period until September 2019.
Studying in Fulda
Conveniently located in the heart of Germany with good infrastructure and transport links, Fulda offers perfect conditions for studying, further training, research and conferences.
Find out more about Fulda here.
Social Sciences and Law – a demand-based training programme in Social Law
Basic social welfare and related legal issues are subjects of ongoing public debate and of great importance in terms of the national economy. However, there is still a shortage of qualified experts who have specialist training in social law.
As a university of applied sciences, we offer a study programme that combines legal theoretical training with practice-based experience. Social law specialists have a sound legal background, an understanding of the social sciences and economics as well as social skills.
Programme structure
The standard period of study is seven semesters and includes:
- Stage 1 studies in four semesters
- a practical semester
- Stage 2 studies with final module in two semesters
In Stage 1 you concentrate on the many different challenges you will face in future practice. WWe provide give with a multidisciplinary grounding, although the field of law will be covered by the majority of classes. This will be taught in combination with the fundamentals of social science and economics. You will learn to
- resolve legal disputes
- reach out-of-court settlements
- and make decisions in legal, social and business contexts.
A practical semester introduces you to later professional fields. You will be able to test and consolidate acquired theoretical knowledge in real-life situations. This is followed by Stage 2 studies with the final module.
You complete the Social Law programme at Fulda University by writing a Bachelor's thesis.
At the end of the programme, the following degree is conferred:
Social Law Specialist (LLB)
LLB stands for Bachelor of Laws
Study schedule and Examination Regulations
The structure and content of the study programme are set forth in the Examination Regulations. They form the basis of university examinations in the Social Law programme. The study schedule indicates the order in which modules should be taken.
- Examination Regulations for the study programme in Social Law (LLB) with module descriptions (in German)
- Study schedule for Social Law (LLB) (in German)
The terms of the General Examination Regulations apply to all modularised study programmes at Fulda University. The Examination Regulations of the Social and Cultural Sciences Department apply to the modularised programme in Social Law. The General Examination Regulations were amended on 23 January 2013.
Time tables
You can find current timetables here:
From the start page of the QISPOS portal, you can enrol for modules and exams. Click "Veranstaltungen" and then "Vorlesungsverzeichnisse".
Please watch out for notices at the start of the semester because last-minute changes can occur. Timetables displayed in Building 22 (P), opposite the Social Law Office 22 (P) room 120, provide you with an initial overview. Room changes are announced in QISPOS. This is where you will also be able to find the latest updates.
Placements Office
The fifth semester of your study programme is a work placement semester. Fulda University has compiled a set of Work Placement Regulations which you can download here. The study programme has numerous cooperation partners that offer students work placements. You can choose your own placement provider or take advantage of openings offered by the Placements Office. During your studies, you will be prepared for the requirements of the work placement semester. At the end of your placement, you will evaluate the experiences that you have gained.
Professional fields
Graduates of this programme are qualified to work in a variety of public institutions. These can include social organisations, independent welfare organisations and their associations, employment agencies, health insurance funds, pension insurance funds, district, municipal and local authorities and trade unions. Graduates are also qualified to work in social politics and business. All these areas need qualified, well-trained social law specialists with both legal and social qualifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "Social Law" a postgraduate degree?
No. It requires no previous programme of study, it is an undergraduate first university degree. Future students who already have a first university degree are welcome to join our programme, however they are required to start in the first semester like all other students (find out below whether periods of study or coursework completed elsewhere can be recognised).
What are the admission requirements?
To study Social Law, you need one of the following:
- General university entrance qualification or
- Subject-restricted university entrance qualification or
- Educational background considered by the Ministry of Education of Hesse to be equivalent to the general or subject-restricted university entrance qualification or
- Entrance qualification for university of applied sciences
- Educational background considered by the Ministry of Education of Hesse to be equivalent to the entrance qualification for a university of applied sciences
No previous work experience is required by the Social Law programme. However, we recommend you gain initial vocational experience in a social law-related institution before you start to study.
How does the admission procedure work?
To apply, please use the University's online application procedure.
You can find general application information under the following links. For more information about admissions, contact:
Hochschule Fulda
Studienbüro
Leipziger Str. 123
36037 Fulda
Tel.: 0661 9640-149
studienbewerbung(at)hs-fulda.de
Applications must be submitted by 15 July of every year. Places are then allocated and successful candidates receive notification approximately 2-3 weeks after the closing date for applications. This letter informs you when and where to enrol. Other applicants receive a letter of rejection by the end of July/beginning of August. However, these applicants still have a chance of a place. In our experience, not all successful applicants actually enrol for our programme because they are offered a place at a preferred university. If, as a result, places become available on the Social Law programme, other applicants may be admitted to the programme through the vacancy-filling procedure. Letters of rejection contain more detailed information about this procedure.
Where can I find information?
If you have any questions about the Social Law programme, please contact:
marek.liwoch@sk.hs-fulda.de
Koordinator Studiengang Sozialrecht
Herr Marek Liwoch
Hochschule Fulda
Fachbereich Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften
Leipziger Str. 123
36037 Fulda
Tel.: 0661 9640 4661
Fax: 0661 9640 453
When does the programme start?
The winter semester always starts in October of every year with an introduction to the study programme in the first week of the semester. Teaching begins on 16 October 2017. The next time it is possible to start the programme is the following winter semester. There is currently no new intake of students in the summer semester.
Which seminars and lectures do I have to attend in this semester?
The study schedule tells you which seminars and lectures are offered in which semester. The exact timetable indicating when individual classes take place is available at the beginning of the semester. You can view timetables on the QISPOS platform.
What kind of work placement do I have to complete during my studies?
A pre-study period of practical training is not required. However, we recommend that you gain initial vocational experience in an institution involved with social law before starting your studies. The fifth semester of your study programme is a work placement semester. Fulda University has prepared a set of Work Placement Regulations which you can download here. The study programme has numerous cooperation partners which offer students work placements. You can choose your own placement provider or take advantage of the openings offered by the Placements Office. During your studies, you will be prepared for the requirements of the work placement semester. At the end of your placement, you will evaluate the experiences that you have gained.
Are coursework and vocational practice completed elsewhere recognised?
Some applicants have obtained credits from a previous study programme, for example in law, social sciences, social education, economics, administrative sciences, or another programme of study. Some have vocational experience. These students want to know whether credit for these achievements can be transferred to parts of the Social Law programme (graded work or work placement semester).
Credit transfer is regulated by the Examination Regulations:
"Credit is given to periods of study, coursework and graded work insofar as these are of equal value. Periods of study, coursework and graded work are of equal value if their content, scope and requirements are largely equivalent to those of the relevant programme of study at the new university. To determine if this is the case, an overall review and assessment are undertaken, rather than a simplistic comparison."
What does this means in practical terms?
Find out first of all about the possibilities of transferring credit from your Study Programme Coordinator. If there is a chance that your academic records can be recognised, the module supervisor (usually a professor who specialises in the module subject) will then check comparability. Ungraded academic records will not be recognised. After submitting a written application, preferably with the written approval of your module supervisor, your case will be decided by the Examination Board for your study programme. This procedure is only possible if you have a place on the Social Law programme!
For coursework completed in a law programme in Germany, the following applies:
Credits received for a university programme in law in Germany may be recognised. This applies to the three beginners' exercises and advanced exercises. Credits are transferable on condition that the content is factually consistent with modules in the Social Law programme and graded work (in credits) has the same weighting. The same applies to credits in areas of specialisation.
For credits awarded in programmes in social welfare, psychology, sociology or political science, the following applies: Credits for sociology and political science may be transferred to Module 1 (Social Scientific and Economic Dimensions) if they have been graded. Any other coursework not mentioned here may be recognised by the Examination Board for the study programme and the responsible module supervisor after a statement is submitted. This also applies to credits from other study programmes not mentioned here.
Alumni
Information about all graduate-related activities is available on our Department's alumni page.
Application
The application deadline for the winter semester 2021/2022 is 30 September.
Studies begin in mid-October. Detailed information will follow.
If you have any questions about applying for a place on the Social Law Programme, please contact:
Claudia Baumann & Natalie Diehl
Social Law Programme Coordinator
Tel: