The priority area ‘Law of Politics’ is particularly addressed at students with a large interest in political contexts. In addition to the field of political parties, this includes public administration and local self-government.

This area is supervised by the Chair of Public Law. Please direct questions and suggestions to

In its concept the priority area is unique in Germany and is characterized by a close cooperation between university education and political practice: Since the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament and the state ministries are located in the state capital of Düsseldorf, the opportunity emerges to engage top-class lecturers from the practical world or to apply the knowledge acquired in the priority area through an internship in one of the public institutions.

The close involvement of the Institute for German and International Party Law and Party Research (PRuF), a central academic institution of Heinrich Heine University, in the training in the priority area should also be emphasized. The institute is the leading centre of party studies and works interdisciplinarily and internationally. Students of this priority area are given the opportunity to participate in scientific conferences and lectures via the PRuF and thus gain an insight into both, science and practise. Students are also given the opportunity to get to know parliamentary work and judicial decision-making in policy-related areas during an excursion.

In addition, the examination material of the priority area ‘Law of Politics’ is highly relevant not only for the university priority area examination (30 % of the overall grade), but also for the state compulsory subject examination (70 % of the overall grade) of the first state examination in law. Fields of law that are part of the compulsory subject matter, such as fundamental rights, European law, state organisation law or constitutional procedural law, are repeated and deepened.

The priority area ‘Law of Politics’ consists of two modules, the basic module in summer semester and the advanced module in winter semester, each with a minimum of 8 semester hours per week.

Details of the procedure of the priority area examination, which consists of a five-hour written examination following the basic module, the homework following the advanced module and the oral examination, can be found in the priority area examination regulations.