University of Mannheim
Our program with the University of Mannheim in Mannheim, Germany is designed to give students who are not fluent in German a chance to study Comparative Law in a German Law School.
- Eligibility
- Application Process
- Course of Study
- Cost
- The University and City
- Cancellation Policy
- Additional Information
- Mannheim Contact Persons
- Law School Contacts
- Student Contacts
Eligibility
The program is open to students matriculating at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Second year day division students are eligible to apply in their second year to study abroad during their third year. Evening division students and four-year students are eligible to apply in their third year to study abroad in their fourth year.
Application Process
The application process for all programs takes place once a year in February and decisions are made in March for the following academic year. Application forms are available at the Study Abroad Fair and online. Selection criteria include grades, faculty recommendations, essay and interview.
Course of Study
Students who wish to study abroad for one semester may attend school in Mannheim during the Fall semester. The Winter semester starts on September 1 and lectures end January 31. Exams are written before Christmas. UConn students are able to complete their course work in time for the beginning of Spring semester here in mid-January. Summer Semester runs from February 1 to August 31. Lectures begin in the middle of February and end in the middle of June followed by exams.
The University of Mannheim has a joint LL.M. program with the University of Adelaide, in Australia. The Australian students spend the Fall semester at Mannheim, consequently a number of courses are offered in English. UConn students select four of the courses offered in English or they may elect to take one of the courses in German if they are proficient in the language. UCONN students earn a total of twelve credits for a semester of work.
Students will be examined and graded as are all other students at Mannheim. Credit will be awarded for all courses in which a passing grade is received. Grades are not listed on the Connecticut transcript, but credit for those courses passed is noted. No mention is made nor credit given for failed courses. Credits are not averaged as part of the student's GPA. The UConn equivalency of the grading system at Mannheim is as follows:
| Summa cum laude (high distinction) | 15-18 points | A |
| Magna cum laude (distinction) | 10-14 points | B |
| Cum laude (credit) | 7-9 points | C |
| Rite (pass) | 4-6 points | D |
| Insufficient (fail) | 0-3 points | F |
There is also the possibility of studying in Adelaide, Australia during the summer semester and earning an LL.M. in Comparative Law from the University of Mannheim. . Please see the University of Mannheim website for more information. Due to the differences in academic calendars, UConn students will not be eligible to sit for the July Bar Exam.
Cost
Students pay tuition directly to the UConn Law School Business Office. You will be charged for 12 study abroad credits. In addition, you will be charged a Study Abroad Fee of $475 to help defray the administrative expense of the program. There is a possibility that Mannheim will offer a partial scholarship to a UConn student to offset expenses of living abroad. If this is not available, Mannheim and Connecticut are members of the Baden-Württemberg Exchange Program, and the Connecticut Department of Higher Education provides some funding. Applicants should see Blanche Capilos about contacting Renate Seitz for more information.
Costs for housing and other associated living expenses will be detailed as soon as the information is available. The Studentenwerk runs a number of University owned dormitories within Mannheim, most of them located not far from the University. Applications usually outnumber spaces, however, the International Student Office reserves a certain number of places in these dormitories. Early application is recommended. The Studentenwerk also has a private room location service. Renata Seitz, Coordinator of the Baden-Wurttemberg Exchange Program for the Department of Higher Education, is very helpful in making connections and finding housing in Mannheim for UConn students. Students can eat inexpensively in the University dining hall and cafeterias. The dining hall offers lunch every weekday and the cafeterias offer additional items. The central cafeteria also offers dinner during the semester.
The University and City
The city of Mannheim is located close to the French and Swiss borders and is less than 60 miles south of Frankfort and about 10 miles from Heidelberg. With a population of 325,000, Mannheim is the second largest city in Baden-Wurttenmberg and the economic and cultural hub of the Rhine-Neckar-triangle. The city can be reached by train and is close to Frankfurt's Rhine-Main Airport.
The University of Mannheim was originally the site of the Academy of Sciences of the Palatinate founded by Elector Karl Theodor in 1763. The University was originally established in the 1960's as a college of economics. The University is housed in an historic Baroque palace built between 1720 and 1760. It is the largest Baroque building in Europe, even larger than Versailles.
Nearly 14% of the student body comes from abroad and the total student population is around 13,000 students. Approximately 1,400 are enrolled in the Faculty of Law. The Law Department is one of the larger departments at the University and it has a rich tradition of Civil Law, Criminal Law, Public and Private Law.
The University Library (UB) consists of approximately 1.5 million volumes and about 5,000 periodicals and journals. All students and faculty have access to these materials. The library is organized into one large central library and ten additional libraries, serving the individual faculties. It has flexible operating hours, computerized book research, reading rooms, copying equipment, microfilm and microfiche equipment. Literature not available at the UB can be ordered through the interlibrary loan system.
Cancellation Policy
Foreign study in Mannheim will not be canceled due to lack of enrollment. Should the University of Mannheim decide to cancel the program, Connecticut students will then register for regular classes at the School of Law. In the event that cancellation occurs after the pre-registration period for the semester in question, every effort will be made to accommodate student preferences in registering for classes. No promise can be made that all desired classes will be available.
Additional Information
Check the Reserve Section in the Law Library for a notebook contain catalogues, course listings and other useful materials about the University of Mannheim. Additional information can be located on the website: www.jura.uni-mannheim.de
Blanche Capilos can answer many questions or direct you to helpful resources. Students concerned about handicapped access at Mannheim are encouraged to consult with the International Legal Programs Office.
Several Connecticut professors have visited Mannheim: Professors Janis, Jones, Macgill, McLean and Oquendo would be happy to answer questions about the university and town.
If you are an individual with a disability that requires accommodation in order to participate, please consult Dr. Jane Thierfeld Brown, Dean's Office, 570-5130.
Mannheim Contacts
Professor Dr. Hans-Joachim Cremer
Email: cremer@jura.uni-mannheim.de
Tel: 011 49 621 181 1418
Fax: 011 49 621 181 1419
Anne Suess
Email: ansuess@rumms.uni-mannheim.de
Tel: 011 49 621 181 1321
Fax: 011 49 621 181 1318
Cristoph Jacobs
Email: cjacobs@rumms.uni-mannheim.de
Fax: 011 49 621 181 1419
Law School Contacts
Blanche Capilos
Deputy Director
International Legal Programs
blanche.capilos@law.uconn.edu
570-5172
Hosmer 145
Professor Mark Janis
Director of Student and Faculty Exchanges
mark.janis@law.uconn.edu
570-5265
HS 283
Student Contacts
Ashley Schaefer
