Master of Intellectual Property Law and Data Law (MIPDaL) Dresden University of Technology

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)
University of Strasbourg (UNISTRA)
Tallin University of Technology (TalTech)
Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)
University of Exeter (UoE)

All courses at TalTech, QMUL, UoE and TUD are taught in English, while courses at UNISTRA/CEIPI will be taught in French and at UC3M are taught in Spanish. The thesis has to be written in English if not agreed on otherwise.

The Erasmus Mundus MIPDaL programme is a high-level and integrated international study programme at Master's level aimed at providing top level graduate students from all over the world with advanced training in IP & data law. Six high-level universities from Germany, France, Estonia, Spain and the UK acting as the MIPDaL Consortium set up the programme in an international partnership.

The programme is based on a strong interaction between research and education.

By the cooperation between the consortium partners, it delivers a top quality and broad multidisciplinary basis as well as a top-level individual specialisation in one of three disciplines:

• IT & Data Law
• Creative Industries
• Industrial Property Law

In accordance with the EACA programme guidelines, the programme leads to a jointly awarded dual degree diploma (dual degree) from each of the two consortium partners where the student has studied.

MIPDaL can be your future if:

• You have obtained a job qualifying degree of at least 240 ECTS in law or at least 80% of the credit points of such a degree
• You count to the top-level students of your class
• You feel a strong motivation to learn about the subjects related to MIPDaL focuses
• Your proficiency of the English language corresponds to C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

MIPDaL students will:

• learn the main concepts, methods, legal enforcements and regulations of different areas of IP & data law
• become familiar with “the state of the art” in the major fields of IP & data law
• learn to grasp and assess the differences and similarities between national legal systems from a European perspective in a number of specific areas of IP & data law, especially with regards to the area of their particular interest

Teaching languages:

• The teaching and examination language is English exclusively at TUD, TalTech, QMUL and UoE.
• The teaching and examination language is also French (at UNISTRA/CEIPI) and Spanish (at UC3M).

Begin: September at one partner
Online induction session second week of September

Transfer period: Mid-January
Second semester: End of January until beginning of September at second partner

• Scholarship applicants: 15 January each year
• General application deadline: 15 March each year
• Late applications (if decided by the admission committee): 15 April to 15 June each year

Tuition fees are calculated on the basis of one academic year.

The tuition fee for “European students” (EU member states; UK and third countries associated to the programme) is 9,800 EUR.
The tuition fee for “non-European students” (third countries not associated to the programme) is 11,800 EUR.

General Information

Students can choose to follow one of three different tracks in the MIPDaL programme: the IT & Data Law track, the Creative Industries track and the Industrial Property Law track. While in the first semester the basic learning outcomes are the same across all tracks and universities, specialisation starts in the second semester with specialised courses per track and university partners.

Students can choose tracks as to their study interest upon application. However, they need to follow the general mobility rules of the programme. All students need to study at two different universities, which have to be different from the country of residence of the student at the time of enrolment.

MIPDaL provides a student-centred curriculum, based on a strong interaction between research and education. By the cooperation between the consortium partners, it delivers a top quality and broad multidisciplinary basis as well as a top-level individual specialisation in one of three disciplines:

• IT & Data Law
• Creative Industries
• Industrial Property Law

During the first semester, it is assured that students from different educational backgrounds will receive the necessary foundation of IP & data law, provided by a virtual introductory session on EU law, followed by lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials in modules with regards to patent law, trademark & design law, IT & data law and copyright law in order to continue with more specialised subjects in the second semester, according to each student’s choice and his or her professional and academic interests in the three disciplines / specialisation tracks.

Duration

The programme covers one academic year, for which successful students will receive 60 ECTS. The academic year (September to August) is divided into two semesters. The first semester starts in the beginning of September, and it lasts until the 15 January. The second semester lasts from January until the very beginning of September. The thesis deadline is at the end of August each year. The unique international character of the MIPDaL programme is secured through an intensive co-operation between six European universities and also non-European partners.

Students study at two different universities. In the first semester, students can choose among four teaching universities. In the last semester, students have the choice of five different locations.

The first semester courses are introductory courses as well as core courses on the major topics in IP & data law. In the second semester, students take specialised courses according to their individual career plans and write their Master's theses.

MIPDaL is an international partnership of six prestigious academic institutions spanning the European continent forms the MIPDaL consortium. Specifically, this consortium includes the following partners:

• Institute of International Law, Intellectual Property Law and Technology Law (IRGET), Dresden University of Technology

• School of Law, University of Exeter

• Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University London

• Faculty of Civil Law, Private Law Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

• Centre d’études internationales de la propriété intellectuelle (CEIPI), Université de Strasbourg

• Department of Law, Tallinn University of Technology

One year of study programme = studies at two MIPDaL partners!

Integrated internships are provided.

4,900 EUR

Tuition fees are calculated on the basis of one academic year.

The tuition fee for “European students” (EU member states; UK and third countries associated to the programme) is 9,800 EUR.
The tuition fee for “non-European students” (third countries not associated to the programme) is 11,800 EUR.

At TU Dresden, the administration fee is included in the tuition fee and includes a ticket for public transport and regional trains in all of Germany. Additionally, students can use a bike rental service all over the city for free for 30 minutes. The contribution also assures concessions in the university cafeterias and offers benefits (e.g. price reductions) for many cultural and leisure activities in Dresden.

Dresden offers high quality of living at very moderate costs. Currently, students should expect to pay around 850 EUR per month including rent, food, insurance and basic expenses. This figure is relatively low compared to other big German cities.

COMMON ADMISSION CRITERIA

All MIPDaL, consortium partners have the following admission criteria:

• The two countries of study are not identical to the student’s country of residence at the time of enrolment.

• Successful applicants have obtained a job qualifying degree of at least 240 ECTS (four years) in law, according to the regulations of the country where they have obtained their degree(s) and which is recognised in all countries of the participating partners: Estonia, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom (e.g. a three-year Bachelor’s programme + a first Master’s degree, or a four-year Bachelor’s programme).

• If at the time of application, proof of the first university degree is not yet available due to candidates currently studying the said degree, the applicant will also be included in the assessment procedure if 80% of the credit points attainable through the university degree are already proven by means of completed module examinations or the final thesis and, if applicable, the colloquium by means of certification from the university of origin. The requirement of submitting all other proofs mentioned with the application remain unaffected by this. A conditional offer will be made to meet the requirements by a specified date.

• Successful applicants count to the top-level students of their class. They should hold a law degree, or a degree with substantial law content, that the admitting partner institutions deem equivalent to a UK Bachelor's degree with Upper Second Class honours. 

• Successful applicants show their motivation for the subjects related to MIPDaL focuses.

• Students must provide evidence that they have met the following language proficiency: For degrees delivered in the English language, proficiency is required at C1 level (in exceptional cases B2+) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. For degrees delivered also in French (students choosing a study track including studies at UNISTRA/CEIPI) or Spanish (students choosing a study track including studies at UC3M), proficiency is required at C1 level (French) and B2 level (Spanish).

Application documents should be submitted by the applicant to the MIPDaL coordinator using the MIPDaL application portal. The following documents have to be uploaded (PDF preferred):

• Transcripts and certificates of all study at higher education/university level
• Officially certified copy of university transcript of records (including English translation)
• Statement of purpose
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of English, and if applicable, French or Spanish proficiency (officially certified copy)
• Copy of identification card

Applications that are not received in full, in due form or in due time are excluded from further proceedings. An academic reference letter is highly recommended.

LANGUAGE CERTIFICATES

All applicants must prove their language skills with official certificates (see below for exceptions).

English:

You need English language proficiency at C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. In exceptional cases, we accept B2 level.

The following language tests are accepted:

Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency (min. 176 overall, 169 in all sections), IELTS (min. 6.5 overall, 6.0 in all sections), PTE Academic (min. 67 overall, 64 in all sections), TOEFL (min. 90 overall, 21 in all sections), Trinity College of London: ISE (min. merit in writing, pass in all other sections), West African Examinations Council (WAEC) (min. grade C5)

Level C1 is a strict condition for studying at QMUL. This means, for example, the following minimum values for the IELTS test: 7.0 overall + 6.5 in all sections.

Please note that only the listed language certificates can be accepted. In particular, we do not recognise the following tests/evidence: Duolingo tests, President English Short Course, TOEFL Essentials.

French

In order to study at Université de Strasbourg / CEIPI, you need French language proficiency at C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

We accept the following language tests: Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) at C1 level, Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF) at B2 level, TCF certificate at C1 level.

Spanish

In order to study at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, you need Spanish language proficiency at B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The following language tests are accepted: Diploma de lengua española (DELE) at B2 level, Diploma del Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española (SIELE) at B2 level.

• Scholarship applicants: 15 January each year
• General application deadline: 15 March each year
• Late applications (if decided by the admission committee): 15 April to 15 June each year

• Erasmus Mundus scholarships
• Erasmus+
• Partial fee waiver

The MIPDaL is a full time programme. As such, we discourage taking a side job, since you have to be available for classes during the week. Class attendance is highly recommended (if not obligatory), except in case of absence for documented medical reasons or other exceptional circumstances.

In order to top up their budget, some students may want to look for temporary work in Dresden. If so, different regulations apply for students from EU member states, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, and students from outside the European Union and the EEA area. In addition, restrictions on the duration of employment may apply. Professors, lecturers and group leaders involved in the Master's programme may offer students the possibility of working as academic assistants. However, living expenses can be financed only partially through a job as an academic assistant.

It is still relatively easy to find affordable accommodation in Dresden. Accommodation is available either via the "Studentenwerk Dresden" or on the private market. Rent for a single room in a student residence is approx. 250 EUR per month.
Private housing can be found online. We recommend that you move into a hall of residence at the beginning of your stay in Dresden. Subsequently, you can look for a place on the private market or in a shared apartment, which is known as a "Wohngemeinschaft" in German.

Dresden University of Technology offers plenty of counselling and training within its Career Service to help students with finding professional orientation. They offer workshops to equip students with professional skills and aid to optimise their CVs. Moreover, they support students who want to connect with potential employers.

Additionally, there are special workshops for international students to get to know the German and Saxon job market and network.