Christoph Engel-Bunsas is an opera and concert singer, a qualified lawyer in Switzerland, France and Germany – and a graduate of the Joint-Degree Programme in Digital Media Law and Management LL.M. | MBA. In the interview, he shares how the programme has changed his career and why the dual degree was never a question for him.
With the winter semester 2026/2027, the Master's programme Digital Media Law and Management LL.M. | MBA is starting its 10th cohort– a milestone for a programme that has long established a firm place in the German-speaking media and legal landscape. The Joint Degree from the University of Potsdam and the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF combines legal depth with strategic-economic thinking – and is aimed at media professionals who wish to elevate their careers to a new level. The programme unites academic theory with practical case studies and the know-how of experienced industry professionals. To celebrate the anniversary, we spoke with one of our graduates: Christoph Engel-Bunsas is an opera and concert singer, a lawyer admitted in three countries, and the owner of a boutique law firm specialising in intellectual property law in Basel. His story shows how multifaceted the paths can be that lead to this programme – and what this Master's makes of it.
Christoph, your career path is anything but straightforward – tell us about it.
My career path is indeed quite unusual. I studied law – but of course not only in German law. I opted for the German-French law degree programme: I completed the first four semesters at the University of Potsdam, then in 2013 I went to the Université Paris-Nanterre for two more years of study. I obtained corresponding degrees from both universities.
In 2015, I decided to stop with law – I was fed up and wanted to reorient myself. The reason: music had accompanied me since early childhood. I played the piano and sang. Through some fateful encounters in Paris, I prepared for the entrance exams at music colleges – successfully. From 2015 to 2020, I studied classical singing at the Hochschule für Musik Basel, where I still live and work today.
What brought you back to law – and specifically to this Master's programme?
The Covid pandemic forced me to reorient myself again. Although I was fortunately able to resume my activities as a singer after the end of the pandemic – the experience made it clear to me: making music requires inner and outer freedom. I did not want to become dependent on external circumstances.
At the same time, I felt that two hearts were beating in my chest: the musician's heart and the lawyer's heart. The latter was not allowed to beat between 2015 and 2020. After a very brief search, I found the course Digital Media Law and Management at my alma mater. I wanted a connection to the cultural economy – and I succeeded more than I could have hoped. Thanks to the joint degree, my horizons and my understanding of the media industry have expanded far beyond the music industry.
What were the biggest challenges during your studies?
The biggest challenge was the factor of time. A part-time study programme demands a lot – it requires discipline and perseverance. As a lawyer and a singer, I am used to this, which is why it ultimately was not an insurmountable problem.
We were one of the Covid cohorts: the majority of the courses took place in a hybrid or online format. In hindsight, I envy the cohorts that followed, who were able to experience the programme as an in-person study. This master's programme thrives on personal exchange, discourse, and networking. We – and this includes the lecturers – made the best of the situation at that time.
How has the master's programme specifically influenced your career?
The master's programme has enabled me to specialise in media and copyright law and gain in-depth insights into the economic and legal issues of the cultural and creative industries. I was fortunate to meet the requirements for both degrees and consciously took advantage of this opportunity. The dual degree – LL.M. and MBA – has greatly helped me in my network and also creates immediate trust with clients: they see that I understand both the legal and the economic aspects of their work.
And: The Master's was the main reason for me to take the next professional step and become a lawyer.
What are you doing today – and what role does what you learned play in that?
I recently opened a boutique law firm in Basel that specialises in advising and representing individuals from the cultural and creative industries in the field of intellectual property law. Additionally, I have niche expertise in the law regarding one's own voice.
My law firm differs from others not only because I am qualified as a lawyer in several countries and work in Swiss, French, and German law – but primarily because, as an opera and concert singer, I know my target audience from personal experience. My perspective goes beyond the purely legal. I want to make a difference for the industry and support it in light of the enormous challenges posed by AI and the influence of American big tech platforms in all areas – legally, politically, and creatively. The Master's laid the professional foundations for this.
What advice would you give to future students?
My advice: Anyone who has the opportunity to pursue both degrees should definitely seize this chance. I know that it means more modules and two Master's theses – I went through it myself. But in hindsight, that decision was one of the biggest levers for my career. The LL.M. alone would not have given me the entrepreneurial tools that the MBA provides. And this combination is not available anywhere else in Germany.
Apply now: Digital Media Law and Management LL.M. | MBA
10th cohort starting October 2026
Application deadline: 31 July 2026
Early bird discount for registration by the end of April 2026