International

Programs offered in English

Certificate in Transnational Law

Both foreign and Swiss students are welcome to follow courses at the Law Faculty as exchange students and have the great opportunity to obtain the Certificate in Transnational Law (CTL). The CTL provides students with a chance to specialize, early in their career, in international legal affairs within one or two semesters (30 ECTS). Students can tailor their studies according to their particular interests, be it public or private international law. CTL students are required to take a course on comparative methodology and to choose four optional courses among a long list of international and comparative law courses. It is possible to complete the whole program in either English or French (Certificat de Droit Transnational), or to combine courses taught in English and French.

Summer Law Schools

The University of Geneva offers several Summer Law Schools in cooperation with different institutions. The programs vary according to their academic level and choice of topic:

The summer schools give international students the possibility to get to know the international scene of Geneva. After classes, the beautiful site and surroundings, including the Geneva lake (Lac Léman), are the perfect environment to relax and get to know other students from all over the world.

LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement

The LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS) is a one-year full-time graduate programme. It provides the opportunity for in-depth study of all aspects of dispute settlement in the international arena, across the public-private divide, with an emphasis on today’s most relevant fields such as commercial and investment arbitration, negotiation and WTO dispute settlement.

The MIDS is a response to a growing need for specialists triggered by a veritable explosion of international disputes and dispute settlement mechanisms these last decades, which increasingly overlap and cover both public and private law. For the creation of this unique programme, Geneva was seen as the ideal place because of its longstanding tradition in international arbitration and the presence of numerous international organizations.

The programme enrols candidates from a variety of backgrounds, typically including recent law school graduates, lawyers working in law firms, governments, international organizations and NGOs, as well as judges and doctoral students. It specifically prepares its students for a practitioner’s or academic career in the field of international dispute resolution, be it in the arbitration departments of law firms, in international organizations, in government service or as corporate counsel.

The MIDS features an international faculty of renowned professors from such universities as Harvard or China Foreign Affairs, of high ranking representatives of international organizations such as WTO and WIPO and arbitral institutions such as the ICC, and of well-known practitioners.

LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights’ LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights is designed for students who wish to acquire academic and professional knowledge in all the branches of international law applicable to situations of armed conflicts.

This one year full-time programme, in English, includes core courses, optional courses, opportunities for professional experiences and the writing of a LL.M paper.

Core courses cover all branches of international law applicable to armed conflicts: Public International Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, International Refugee Law and International Criminal Law. These courses are completed by tutorials given by the Academy’s teaching assistants.

Optional courses cover issues such as the rules governing the conduct of hostilities, the protection of children in armed conflict, forced disappearances, or the activities of international criminal courts and tribunals.

Professionalizing activities can be pursued during the spring semester, as an alternative to optional courses. These allow students to acquire first-hand professional experience with Geneva-based international organizations and NGOs, including the ICRC, UNICEF and OHCHR. This option gives the LL.M. a unique professional dimension.

The faculty consists of renowned professors and lectures, recognized for their expertise in one of the branches of international law covered in the Master’s programme. In addition, experts and professionals are invited to teach short modules and to deliver lectures.

At the end of the courses, students are requested to write a LL.M. paper, either in English or in French, in one of the subject matters of the programme. The best LL.M. paper is awarded the Geneva Academy’s Best LL.M. paper Prize and the paper which best reflects Henry Dunant's vision is awarded the Henry Dunant Prize.

Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law

The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian law and Human Rights’ Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law is a one-year graduate programme that provides the opportunity for in-depth study of all aspects related to transitional justice, with an emphasis on today’s most relevant challenges and developments.

From Ivory Coast to Burundi, from Timor-Leste to Cambodia or Guatemala, countries throughout the world struggle to deal with the aftermath of violent conflict or oppressive rule. What does it mean for a society to come to terms with mass atrocities, such as genocide and ethnic cleansing? How to re-establish the rule of law in a country shattered by wide-scale violence? What are the legal obligations and standards relevant to societies trying to turn the page on a history of political violence? How to find a balance between competing demands of peace and justice in the aftermath of such traumatic events? What can realistically be expected from such measures as trials, truth-commission, reparation programs and institutional reform?

One of the special features of the programme is a resolute concern to link academic teaching and research with practical work and professionalizing activities. The programme offers students access to work experience in leading international agencies dedicated to transitional justice, human rights and rule of law. Throughout the year, a transitional justice clinic will be held to serve as a platform for students to share their practical experiences and to facilitate dialogue and critical reflection on specific cases and situations.

Although the Master in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law is a one-year full-time programme, the Geneva Academy offers flexible and tailor-made solutions for candidates who wish to attend the programme while pursuing their career.

The faculty consists of renowned professors and lectures, recognized for their expertise in one of the branches of international law covered in the Master’s programme. In addition, experts and professionals are invited to teach short modules and to deliver lectures.

The Master’s programme is structured around 5 core courses that cover central theoretical and practical issues in the fields of transitional justice, human rights and the rule of law. It is complemented by clinical work, a spring school, professionalizing activities and the drafting of a Master Thesis.

The Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict

The Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict (60 ECTS credits, equivalent to an LL.M.) is a part-time programme designed for working professionals who want to gain a thorough understanding of the international law that applies to situations of armed conflict.

Based in Geneva, the programme runs over eight months (October 2016 – May 2017) and admits 15 to 20 practitioners annually. Courses take place on Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons. Six to nine additional months are needed to complete a Master’s thesis and defend it before a jury.

The Executive Master responds to the growing need for specialists in the laws of war to address complex situations - Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere - and challenging processes such as criminal proceedings, international negotiations, and humanitarian interventions. It also examines key related subjects, including the work of international criminal courts and tribunals, international refugee law, peacekeeping, and the repression of terrorism.

A global humanitarian and human rights hub, Geneva is the ideal location for this unique programme, which enables students to interact with key actors such as the ICRC, OHCHR and UNHCR.

Diplomats, lawyers, legal advisers, judges, NGO staff, human rights advocates, media specialists, professionals working in emergency situations, UN staff and staff from other international organizations share their expertise, discuss pressing concerns of the international community, and reflect on the application of international law to them.

The Executive Master is taught by an international faculty of renowned professors and practitioners.

Working professionals interested in a particular issue can follow a specific course and obtain a certificate.