Bachelor Programs
The study of law offered by Comenius University School of Law is a single major program consisting of three years of universal study towards the first degree in law.
The program of study for the first, bachelor’s, degree is governed under § 52 (1) of the Universities Act (Act No. 131/2002) as amended.
Bachelor degrees obtained from Comenius University allow the graduates to start careers in which this degree is prescribed by law.
This program of study, representing a system of legal training (in the form of lectures, seminars, optional seminars, legal clinic, consultations, projects and final project), is offered as the first level of higher education.
Included in the program are: regular tests, exams, certified state exams and presentation of a final project – a thesis.
A bachelor program of study of law is based on the curriculum approved by the Scientific Board of the School after debate in the Academic Senate.
Forms of Bachelor Programs
Bachelor programs are offered both in full-time and part-time forms. Full-time program is organized through lectures, seminars and practicum classes. Attendance at lectures is discretionary, but attendance at seminars and practicum classes is compulsory. Those who have completed full-time bachelor programs can continue the study in the two-year full-time master programs.
Part-time programs of study are organized in the form three one-week sets of consultation classes per semester semester. The Emphasis is on individual study, independent assignments and discussions. Attending consultation classes is compulsory. Those who have completed part-time bachelor programs can continue the study in the three-year part-time master programs.
Profile of graduates of bachelor programs and possible careers
The profile of graduates of bachelor programs of law at Comenius University Faculty of Law in Bratislava obtaining the standard legal training is based on the following requirements:
• The graduates must be ready to meet the expectations in executive and managing positions for which the first degree higher education qualification is prescribed by law;
• The graduates must be able to continue in the two-year master programs of study without any difficulty;
• The graduates equipped with the necessary theoretical and practical skills for careers in public administration and local government should also have the potential for further development of their knowledge in practical application of administrative law.
Description of full-time and part-time bachelor degree programs
The three-year bachelor program of study combining the introductory courses into legal science with the courses in public and private law is designed to equip the students with the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in which the first academic degree/first level of higher education is prescribed by law.
The core courses include constitutional law, financial law, administrative law, civil law, labor law and international law. Administrative law is a compulsory course in which certified state exams must be passed, with constitutional law, financial law and labor law as optional certification exams. Thus, bachelor programs are oriented toward the careers in local government and public administration in line with the requirements arising from the membership in the European Union.
In addition, bachelor programs are intended to provide the basis for the follow-up legal education in two-year full-time master programs. Students may choose from several prescribed elective courses focused on proficiency in Legal English/German/French and other aspects of future specialized careers.
Credits as quantitative units of course work
The academic programs of study are based on the system of accumulation and transfer of credits. A credit is a quantitative representation of study units included in the program, indicating the amount of work necessary to complete a course. A regular student’s course load is 60 credits per academic year or 30 credits per semester. A course is a unit of study represented by a plan of lectures and seminars, home assignments (projects) and legal clinic. A detailed description of individual courses is included in the Study Program Directory annexed to the Accreditation Documents.
Other requirements of regular completion of the program of study
For a regular completion of bachelor program of study, certified state examination must be passed after a successful presentation of a final thesis. State examinations are open to public.
Students sign in for available final thesis after classes end in spring semester of the second year of study. Final thesis must be approximately 30 pages long. These papers are evaluated by two professors, one who has supervised the student and the other who is an independent expert. Evaluation is based on the regular grading system.
The results of evaluation are available at relevant departments at least three days before the presentation date. For presentation, students appear before a panel of four professors, including the supervising professor and the independent expert, whose opinions are considered in the overall evaluation. The results are included in the Record of Certified State Examination. Only upon a successful presentation of final thesis, students are eligible for taking certified state examination.
Certified state examination includes compulsory administrative law and presentation of the final thesis.
Certified state exam is taken in written and oral parts on the same day. Only whose who have successfully passed the written test qualify for the oral part.
Certified state examination is taken before a panel of four examiners, based on the regular grading system of evaluation of academic achievement. The grading scale is the same as for all academic courses. The results are included in the Record of Certified State Examination. Those who fail or are justly excused can apply for the nearest (make-up) date fixed for the examination.
Degree awarded
Those who have successfully completed bachelor programs of study are awarded bachelor degree (abbreviated Bc.) at the graduation ceremony.
