Study Law in Europe: How Legal Education Differs by Country
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Law is the least portable degree in Europe. Each country teaches its own legal system, in its own language, and the route to becoming a lawyer or judge is national. Choose the country first and the university second. Our catalogue lists 569 law programmes at 326 institutions.
Structure of legal education
- Spain. A four-year law degree, then a professional master's and a state exam to practise as a lawyer. 68 programmes; access scores at public universities ran from 5 to 11.56 out of 14. Double degrees of law with business or political science need the highest scores. Law in Spain.
- France. A three-year licence followed by a two-year master's. 313 programmes on Parcoursup, most of them non-selective by rule, with heavy first-year drop-out instead. Law in France.
- Italy. A single five-year degree in jurisprudence is the standard route to the legal professions; three-year degrees in legal services lead to other careers. 74 programmes. Law in Italy.
- Germany. The classic route is not a bachelor's degree but a programme of about four and a half years ending in the first state examination, followed by two years of practical training and a second examination. Grade limits where we hold official figures run from 1.6 to 2.7. Law in Germany.
- Portugal. A four-year degree. Only 15 public programmes, closing between 163.3 and 178 out of 200. Law in Portugal.
- Czechia. A five-year master's programme at a small number of faculties with demanding entrance tests. Law in Czechia.
- Switzerland. A bachelor's and a master's in law, taught in German, French or Italian depending on the canton. Law in Switzerland.
What it costs
Typical fees for EU students at public universities: €178 a year in France, €697 a year in Portugal, €757 a year in Spain, €2,395 a year in Italy before income-based reductions, and no tuition in Germany. Law is a classroom subject, so in countries that price by type of degree it sits in the cheapest band.
Language
11 programmes in the catalogue are taught in English, and they are mostly degrees in international, European or comparative law. They are a good base for work in international organisations or business, but they do not by themselves qualify you for the national bar. For that you need the national law degree, in the national language at a very high level.
Moving between countries
There is no automatic recognition of law degrees. A fully qualified lawyer from one EU country can practise in another under their home title and later join the local profession, but that applies after qualification, not to students. Master's programmes in European and international law are the usual way to add a second country to a national law degree.
Where to look next
Official sources
- Parcoursup
- Universitaly
- DGES
- European e-Justice Portal: legal professions and training in each EU country
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.