Overview
Objectives
- trains legal experts in analyzing and applying the diverse mechanisms of justice – criminal, reparative, institutional, or hybrid – designed to address international crimes and serious human rights violations
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primary focus is placed on strengthening knowledge and preparing students for future professional activities
Since its creation in 2007, the LLM–Master of Advanced Studies in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights has been the Geneva Academy’s flagship programme. Building on the legacy of the former CUDIH master’s degree, it offers a holistic and comprehensive approach to the law applicable in armed conflicts and other situations of violence.
Audience
Programme
- Core courses
- Optional courses
- Professionalizing activities (curricular internship or participation in a moot court competition)
- MAS final paper
- Extracurricular activities
Registration
Registration deadline
Fees:
CHF 18'000.-
Admission criteria
Candidates should have:
- A full degree in law or an equivalent degree
- A strong academic record
- An interest in the subject areas of the programme
- Proficiency in English (minimum level C1)
Professional experience in a field related to the programme is an asset.
Application File
- A colour copy of your passport. It is not sufficient to submit a copy of your ID
- Your curriculum vitae in English
- A cover letter explaining your interest in and potential contribution to the programme (no longer than two pages)
- Two letters of recommendation in English. These letters need to have an official letterhead from the university, company or organization, be dated and have a signature. They need to be recent (not older than six months) and should be an original pdf or (if you only have a physical copy) a clear scan (not a photograph)
- Colour copies of relevant degrees and diplomas (with an officially certified translation when not in English or French)
- Colour copies of official records of university examinations taken and grades obtained (with an officially certified translation when not in English or French)
- If you are currently enrolled in a university programme, please include an attestation by the relevant university of your current enrolment with an official record of the latest university examinations taken and grades obtained
- Language tests (less than 2 years old) – please find recognized tests here
- PDF documents related to Career plan and Awards/Grants/Prizes (download the files, complete and then upload them on the application portal)
For further information about the application process, please read Application guidelines. Please note that we will accept scholarship applications only until 16 January 2026.
Curriculum
Period
Credits
Through rigorous teaching, interactive tutorials, and direct engagement with Geneva’s international institutions, students acquire both solid theoretical grounding and the practical skills required to address the legal and humanitarian challenges of today’s armed conflicts.
Taught by leading academics and practitioners, students engage directly with international institutions based in Geneva – including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and numerous NGOs – gaining unique insight into how international law functions in practice.
Description
- Public International Law – 6 ECTS
- International Humanitarian Law – 12 ECTS
- International Human Rights Law – 12 ECTS
- International Criminal Law – 6 ECTS
- International Refugee Law – 6 ECTS
*Examples from the 2025–2026 academic year. Future offerings may vary
Planning
- Children’s Rights and Armed Conflicts
- Decolonisation and its Impact on International Law, Human Rights and International Development
- Displacement and Armed Conflict in International Law
- Identity Claims, Cultural Diversity and Human Rights
- International Cyber Security Law
- Non-State Armed Groups in Armed Conflicts
- Reconciliation and Peacebuilding
- Reparations to Victims in Transitional Justice
- The Law and Politics of International Human Rights Monitoring
*Examples from the 2025–2026 academic year. Future offerings may vary
Planning
Professionalizing activities form an essential component of the programme. During the spring semester, each student completes one mandatory professionalizing activity, choosing among:
- a curricular internship with an international, regional, or national institution active in the field of justice, accountability, or human rights;
- participation in a moot court competition, for a limited number of students selected through an internal process.
These experiences bridge academic study with practice, enabling students to develop the skills, ethical awareness, and professional networks necessary for meaningful engagement in the field of international justice.
Pedagogical method
- Core courses supported by tutorials to strengthen conceptual understanding and prepare for assessments
- Optional courses allowing students to tailor their studies according to their particular interests
- Professionalizing activities
- Writing of an MAS final paper
Assessment
Partnerships / Collaboration
Diploma delivered jointly by
Director(s)
Prof. Paola GAETA, Professor of International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute and the Director at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, a joint center of the Faculty of Law, University of Geneva and the Geneva Graduate Institute
Coordinator(s)
Remarks
Careers and Alumni
Graduates of the LLM – MAS in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights are equipped with an advanced and practice-oriented understanding of international humanitarian law, human rights law, international criminal law, and the legal frameworks applicable in armed conflict and other crisis situations. Their strong legal training and exposure to Geneva’s institutional landscape make them highly competitive in a range of professional environments.
They work in:
- International organizations such as the ICRC, OHCHR, UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM, and UNIDIR;
- Non-governmental organizations engaged in the promotion, monitoring, and protection of humanitarian and human rights standards;
- Governmental and diplomatic institutions, including ministries of foreign affairs, development agencies, human rights departments, and permanent missions;
- International courts and tribunals, as well as regional human rights mechanisms;
- Academic and research institutions, think tanks, and policy centres working on conflict, protection, and accountability.
Since its inception, the LLM - and its predecessor, the CUDIH MAS programme - as built an active and diverse alumni community. Over the years, hundreds of graduates have gone on to serve in key roles across the humanitarian, human rights, and international legal fields, forming a global network of professionals dedicated to strengthening the protection of individuals in times of crisis and armed conflict.
Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
