graduate institute phd international law

GENEVA GRADUATE INSTITUTE

Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2A Case postale 1672 CH - 1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland +41 22 908 57 00  

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PhD Programmes at the Graduate Institute, Geneva

PhD programmes at the Institute require a four-year commitment, with the first three semesters in residence. During the first two semesters, you will take theoretical and methodological doctoral seminars before presenting a preliminary thesis at the end of the third semester, with the defence of your thesis taking place at the end of the eighth semester. Our PhD programmes meet the established requirements for accreditation in Switzerland. The courses are taught in English, however the thesis could be written either in English or French.

We offer six disciplinary PhDs:  PhD in Anthropology and Sociology ,  PhD in International Economics ,  PhD in Development Economics ,  PhD in International History ,  PhD in International Law  and  PhD in International Relations/Political Science .  

how to apply

PHD IN ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY  

• Four-year programme
• Provides students with theoretical perspectives and methodological tools to explore the social and cultural systems that influence policy interventions
• Involves a year of coursework and preparation followed by extensive fieldwork and a dissertation

PHD IN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS  

• Four-year programme centered around a research dissertation
• A crucial field at the heart of policy debates
• Fieldwork opportunities in developing countries

PHD IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS  

• Stimulating collegiate work atmosphere
• Trains students to undertake innovative research 

PHD IN INTERNATIONAL HISTORY & POLITICS  

• Combines coursework, seminars, preliminary thesis and doctoral thesis
• Equips students with the analytical, conceptual and methodological tools to successfully complete original book-length research

PHD IN INTERNATIONAL LAW  

• Designed for outstanding students with a strong commitment to international law
• Research supervision available for a wide range of topics
• Learn more ​​​​​​​

PHD IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS / POLITICAL SCIENCE  

• Stand-alone four-year PhD programme or Fast-track master’s/doctoral program allowing students to complete a master’s and PhD within five years
• Designed to prepare students for a research-focused career in international relations

The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva is pleased to announce the opening of 30 fully funded 4-year PhD positions in our 5 departmental programmes in Anthropology and Sociology, International Economics or Economics of Development, International History and Politics, International Law, International Relations and Political Science.  The d eadline  for application  is 15 January 2022 . Each of the six 4-year PhD packages distributed by each department will combine 2 years of full scholarship followed by 2 years of teaching assistantship.  

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GENEVA GRADUATE INSTITUTE EXECUTIVE EDUCATION  

Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2A Case postale 1672 CH - 1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland +41 (0)22 908 57 09 [email protected]

LL.M. in International Law

Executive education course.

The LL.M. is designed to provide a firm grounding in public international law. It allows students to tailor their studies according to their particular interests by choosing one of the three concentration streams offered: International Economic Law, International Environmental Law and Governance, and The Protection of the Individual in International Law. Students in the LL.M. Programme gain exposure to world-renowned faculty, benefit from being at the heart of international legal affairs in Geneva, and share ideas with other participants from different legal backgrounds and perspectives.

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programme highlights

One-year full-time Programme World-renowned faculty Foundational and concentration courses L aw clinics ,  workshops  and  tutorials Focus on professional skills Network-building events Located in Geneva

In theory, there is no gap between the theory and the practice of public international law. In practice, there is. The LL.M. in International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute is designed to bridge this gap. Founded in 1927, the Graduate Institute is Europe's oldest school of international affairs. Since the time of Hans Kelsen, the Institute's International Law Department has been at the forefront of public international law in theory and practice.

The LL.M. in International Law is a one-year postgraduate degree course that provides advanced, comprehensive and practice-oriented training in international law. Students in the LL.M. Programme gain exposure to world-renowned faculty, benefit from being at the heart of international legal affairs in Geneva, and share ideas with other participants from different legal backgrounds and perspectives.

The Programme allows students to tailor their studies according to their particular interests, while compulsory courses provide a firm grounding in public international law. Our courses are designed to facilitate a deeper exploration of the most pressing questions in the field with professors and practitioners at the cutting edge of international law.

The LL.M. in International Law is also profoundly committed to developing the transferable skills necessary to succeed professionally. To this end, law clinics, workshops on legal writing, presentation skills and career development, and a variety of network-building events provide the best possible springboard to launch or advance a career in international law.

Related SDGs  

The structure and content of the LL.M. in International Law reflects the development of public international law in practice over recent years. There is an increasing need for international lawyers to master not just one concentration area in the field but also the core foundations of the international legal system, which in turn will allow them to adapt to different concentration areas.

The Programme comprises both compulsory and elective, general and specific international law courses. Not only does this provide students with a firm basis in public international law, but it also permits them to engage with the areas of international law that interest them most. In addition to their international law courses, students also have the opportunity to discuss legal problems in concentration streams, develop their professional skills in practical workshops and write an LL.M. paper. Moreover, LL.M. participants undertake real legal work for a beneficiary as part of a law clinic and gain exposure to leading practitioners through the courses and guest lectures.

Foundational Courses

This course covers the essential content of international law. It is divided into the following segments:

International Law Making - Andrea Bianchi

Participants in International Legal Processes - Fuad Zarbiyev

The International Law of Responsibility - Santiago Villalpando

International Dispute Settlement - Marcelo Kohen

The International Law of State Jurisdiction - Mamadou Hébié

International Institutional Law - Nico Krisch

This course combines lectures by Graduate Institute faculty with insights from a wide-range of  practitioners  in both the public and private sectors. It covers both  substance  and  skills , with a focus on how international law is used by a variety of organisations as well as how it is enforced through different means, ranging from monitoring bodies, to complaint procedures and judicial bodies. Emphasis is placed on the practice of lawyers in respect of: (i) transactions, (ii) multilateral affairs and (iii) dispute settlement.

The Law of the Sea - Liesbeth Lijnzaad

Treaty Interpretation - Constantinos Salonidis and Joseph Klingler

Immunities - Philippa Webb

International Law in Domestic Courts - Philippa Webb

Concentration streams

In addition to the general courses, students choose one of the following concentration streams:

In the last decade the international protection of the environment has emerged as one of the main priorities of governments, international organisations and the private sector. This stream trains students to understand this complex area of international law, as well as frameworks regarding climate change and the use of natural resources, particularly in connection with water and food security. It also explores how environmental change and governance affects and intersects with other areas of law such as human rights. Special emphasis is placed on the rules governing the entitlement to and distribution of these resources and on real-life disputes where such rules have been applied.

Climate Change and the Energy Transition in International Law - Jorge E. Viñuales

Compliance Mechanisms under Environment Treaties - Makane Moïse Mbengue

Environmental Litigation: International, Transnational and Comparative Aspects - Anne Saab

Principles of International Environmental Law - Laurence Boisson de Chazournes

*Please note that this is only an indicative list of courses that have been offered in recent years and we cannot guarantee that they will be offered every year.

The IEL concentration stream trains students to understand the regulation of international economic relations through the prisms of international trade, investment and intellectual property law. Students analyse the highly complex regulatory frameworks applicable to trade and foreign direct investment transactions and the growing body of case-law arising from a variety of dispute settlement mechanisms, such as the WTO Dispute Settlement Body or investment arbitration.

The Law and Policy of Free Trade Agreements - Kathleen Claussen

Investor-State Arbitration - August Reinisch

International Commercial Arbitration - Thomas Schultz

International Taxation - Xavier Oberson

This stream trains students to understand the various international legal frameworks applicable to the protection of people, as well as their increasing interaction. From a substantive perspective, students gain exposure to human rights, humanitarian law, migration law and refugee law. Particular emphasis is placed on how these different bodies of law interact with each other to strengthen the protection offered to refugees, internally displaced persons, minorities and the victims of armed conflict.

International Human Rights and Litigation - Yuval Shany

International Criminal Law – Giulia Pinzauti

International Humanitarian Law: The Protection of Victims of Armed Conflict - Yasmin Naqvi and Andrew Clapham

The Movement of Persons Across Borders in International Law - Vincent Chetail

All Concentration streams include

1) Concentration modules

In these sessions, students have the opportunity to discuss a selection of readings in a small group with a professor. They allow students to explore, debate and ask deeper questions on topics of their concentration

2) Law clinic

Students complete a practical assignment for a real client. They work in groups and under the supervision of professors on specific legal questions related to their specialty stream that have been posed by external clients, such as international organisations, governments or NGOs. In addition, skills sessions are held with invited professionals to improve legal writing and oral presentation skills. At the end of the semester, the groups submit written legal memoranda and orally present their projects in class in the presence of the client and invited guests.

Students choose two semester-long courses from those offered by the International Law Department.

Students write a 8,000-word paper on a topic of their interest. It should be an original piece of research and be oriented for publication in practitioner journals.

Workshops are organised with professionals and experts, providing students with an opportunity to acquire practical knowledge, develop professional skils and receive advice on career development.

Immersion work

Guest lectures, roundtables, colloquia and institution visits all allow students to engage in a very practical way with the leading experts, pressing topics and fundamental organs of international law.

Applications open: 23 October 2023

Deadline: 15 January 2024

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed online between the end of January and mid-March 2024

Deadline for notification: 31 March 2024

Application form

To be eligible for the LL.M. Programme, applicants must possess a complete legal education which entitles them to sit for the bar exam in their country of origin, e.g. the Maîtrise de droit in Switzerland, the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in the United Kingdom, the Juris Doctor (J.D.) in the United States, the Maîtrise de droit (or equivalent title from a Haute Ecole) in France or the Erstes Juristisches Staatsexamen in Germany. However, please note that there is no need to have completed any professional courses requirements, such as the Ecole d'avocature in Switzerland or Legal Practice Course in the United Kingdom, or other training courses organised by the bar association of the respective country.

The Graduate Institute offers excellent housing options in the heart of international Geneva. We are pleased to announce that, as of autumn 2020, the Institute will be able to provide accommodation for all its students. Please get in touch with the Programme Manager for questions related to your housing application.

All students must have an excellent command of English. Students whose mother tongue is not English, who do not have secondary or post-secondary qualifications taught in English, or who have not spent a minimum of one year studying full-time at the university level in English must provide a certificate to prove their mastery of English.  

Recognised tests and scores

TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language)

Internet-test:  100

Paper-test: 600

Computer-based test:  250

IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 7.0

CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English, Cambridge English, part of the University of Cambridge): A-B-C

CAE (Cambridge Advanced English, Cambridge English, part of the University of Cambridge): AB

To apply for the LL.M. in International Law, applicants must complete an online application form, available here.

In addition, the following supporting documents must be uploaded during the online application process:

A curriculum vitae (in English or French);

A letter of motivation describing why you wish to pursue the LL.M. programme (1 page maximum);

Copies of official transcripts of all grades obtained in all university exams, accompanied by grade scales and their values;*

Copies of all university diplomas and qualifications obtained;*

English language test results. NB: French is not required for the LL.M. Programme;

Two reference letters (in French or English) are also required. The applicant must nominate two referees and will be asked to provide the professional email addresses of their referees on the application form. Once the applicant has validated their application, the nominated referees will automatically be prompted to upload their reference letters.

* a certified translation (in English or French) must be provided for all documents.

The following documents can be uploaded during the online application process, although those are not compulsory for admission :

A copy of the page(s) of your passport with your surname, first name and nationality;

A recent passport-sized photograph

We require a non-refundable application fee of CHF 100 for the LL.M. in International Law.  

Guidelines for reference letter

Terms and conditions

All students must apply for a student residence permit (Permis B) from the Office Cantonal de la Population (OCP) within eight days of their arrival in Switzerland.   Information on the application procedure can be found with:   Service des étrangers Rue David-Dufour 3 1211 Genève 8 Tel.: +41 (0)22 327 48 88 Fax: +41 (0)22 327 75 91   Depending on your country of origin, you may also need a visa to enter/stay in Switzerland. If you are a citizen of an EU/EFTA country, you do not need a visa to enter Switzerland but will still need to apply for a residence permit.

The Federal Office for Migration's website provides an overview of travel documents and visa provisions for entry into Switzerland. You can also contact the main Swiss embassy or consulate in your country. The residence permit and visa costs vary but can be up to 300 CHF.

LL.M. Clinic Programmes

Each year, LL.M. participants work in groups on a cutting-edge research project with one of our external clinical beneficiaries. Clinic projects are thematically related to the three concentration streams of the LL.M., namely International Economic Law, International Environmental Law and Governance, or The Protection of the Individual in International Law. Our clinical beneficiaries have included:

• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• Amnesty International
• The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
• The Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT)
• International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)
• Centre for Civil and Political Rights
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• Centre for Trade and Investment Law, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
• Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

The LL.M. in International Law has been designed to enhance your career prospects. To do so, we will help you craft and strengthen the necessary skills to launch or advance your career in a competitive jobs market. In addition to the substantive knowledge you will acquire, the LL.M. in International Law places great emphasis on honing practical legal skills, such as in legal research and writing, but also highly transferable skills, including presentation and interpersonal skills. Moreover, our location at the heart of international legal affairs in Geneva offers an array of opportunities for legal internships, traineeships and employment. Indeed, students from the Graduate Institute have a strong track record of gaining employment in the legal profession, international and non-governmental organisations, government ministries and diplomacy, as well as various private sector destinations. The following features of the LL.M. Programme help to illustrate our commitment to your career:

Practical Legal Skills

The LL.M. programme aims to develop legal research, writing and advocacy skills through a series of practical workshops, the LL.M. paper and student participation in a law clinic. The latter also facilitates valuable client-facing experience.

Practitioner Sessions

Sessions with successful practitioners in the field of international law are offered to LL.M. students, enabling them to improve their professional skills in a number of areas and giving key insights to the professional world of international law.

Career Events

Workshops and career events (such as the Connexion Careers Fair) organised by the Careers Service of The Graduate Institute are open to participants of the LL.M.

Andrea BIANCHI

Director of studies, professor, international law.

Vincent CHETAIL

Director, global migration centre, president of the board, geneva academy of international humanitarian law and human rights, advisory faculty, global governance centre.

Andrew CLAPHAM

Zachary DOUGLAS

Paola GAETA

Marcelo KOHEN

Emeritus professor, international law.

Nico KRISCH

Head, international law department, faculty associate, global governance centre, faculty associate, albert hirschman centre on democracy.

Joost PAUWELYN

Co-director of the centre for trade and economic integration.

associate PROFESSOR, INTERNATIONAL LAW

Co-director, ll.m in international law, faculty associate, center for international environmental studies.

Thomas SCHULTZ

Visiting professor, international law.

Fuad ZARBIYEV

Professor, international law, co-director, ll.m. in international law.

Tanya Norton

Programme manager, ll.m. in international law.

Liline Steyn

Phd candidate international law.

Jana SIKORSKA

Phd candidate in international law, teaching assistant, ll.m in international law.

Maria Ionna GIANNAKARA

Teaching assistant.

Pietro Bombonato '18

Associate Attorney, Omnia Strategy LLP

"The LL.M. in International Law allowed me to develop and foster my academic and practical knowledge on various international law topics. Studying at the Graduate Institute allowed me to interact and connect with students and professors worldwide. Situated in a truly bilingual Institution and city, the LL.M. programme also helped me to perfect my English language skills as well as develop my French language skills.

I graduated with honours in June 2018 and was hired immediately by a public international law firm in London, Volterra Fietta, as a Staff Lawyer. I have recently joined Omnia Strategy, a London-based law firm founded by Cherie Blair CBE, QC, specialising in international dispute resolution, where I work as an associate attorney.

I strongly recommend the LL.M. in International Law at the Graduate Institute to lawyers keen to embrace a holistic approach to international law and develop a truly international legal career. "

Maria Cecilia Ercole '14

Human Rights Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

"I had the privilege to be part of the first class of the LL.M programme in International Law at the Graduate Institute (2013-2014). I only have words of gratitude and invaluable memories from the Institute, and I would recommend this programme to any law practitioner seeking to deepen their knowledge of international law in a unique international setting.

As an Argentinian human rights lawyer, and after having worked in Argentina and the US, deciding to come and study at the IHEID in Geneva was, so far, one of my wisest career choices. Exposure to outstanding faculty, guest speakers and lecturers from around the world and a culturally diverse group of students from which I ended up learning more than I could imagine made my LL.M experience unforgettable.

Today, I live in Geneva and have been working for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for more than five years."

Patrick wall '16

Global Refugee Forum Coordination Team, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

" I came to Geneva from Australia in the summer of 2015, hoping to use the LL.M. programme as a springboard to a career in international law. The combination of coursework with leading academics and practitioners, exercises focused on professional development, and seemingly endless public events on cutting-edge topics at the Graduate Institute and throughout Geneva, the LL.M. gave me a solid basis for building an international career. Indeed, the course offering was so rich that I ended up attending classes for many more courses than I was enrolled in.

Since completing the programme, I have spent almost three years with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, working on developing the Global Compact on Refugees and now the first-ever Global Refugee Forum. It has been enormously fulfilling work and would not have been possible if I had not undertaken the LL.M. In International Law at the Graduate Institute. "

Xuan Shao '17

D.Phil Candidate, University of Oxford

"I spent a stimulating, exciting and happy year in Geneva during my LL.M. at the Graduate Institute. I was taught by many leading academics and professionals from different areas of international law and befriended some of the most wonderful people I've met in my life.

The workload was challenging but manageable. The small size of our class allowed me to engage in substantial and intense discussions with professors and classmates.

My year in Geneva was a great asset for my current research that I am conducting as a D.Phil candidate at the University of Oxford. The diverse perspectives of international law I gained from this programme helped to enrich my understanding of international law."

Rebecca Zard '18

Trainee Solicitor, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

" The LL.M in International Law at the Graduate Institute has one main advantage over any other LL.M - that is the small class size. I chose the LL.M in International Law because I wanted close contact with professors and to be in the heart of Geneva. Before pursuing my LL.M, I received an offer of a training contract with the international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, which meant that my LL.M year became entirely focused on making the most of the programme, building up my knowledge in international economic law and, specifically, investment arbitration.

The faculty at the Graduate Institute is unparalleled as far as international law is concerned. The programme offers you the flexibility to make what you want of it. I deep-dived into the reading lists in the first semester, carefully selected to give you broad and specialist knowledge in general public international law. The second semester was equally rewarding and allowed students to engage with international institutions via the LL.M. clinic. Our beneficiary was UNCTAD's International Investment Agreements section. My group was supervised by Professor Makane Mbengue, who had participated in the negotiations of the Code Pan-Africain des Investissements. It was an experience that was both academic and practical, aiming at providing a technical note for negotiators of international investment agreements that aimed to tailor the drafting agreements in such a way that negotiators would be aware of the liabilities they were assuming and the sovereign powers they were limiting in ratifying these agreements.

The LL.M in International Law played a transformational role in widening my knowledge of international law and realising my potential."

Maria Gabriela Pereira '19

Associate Legal Officer, International Organization for Migration

"I chose this LL.M program because I wanted to follow my passion and needed a significant shift in my career.

The Graduate Institute offers a concentration stream in human rights, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, and migration law, which suits my interests. The professors are esteemed lecturers highly qualified in their respective fields, but also very approachable and often helped us navigate our academic challenges in Geneva.

During the LL.M., I worked at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights during the first semester and at Human Rights Watch during the second semester. It was my first peek into the United Nations system and my first time working for a non-governmental organization. These two experiences were precious and were stepping stones to other offers and opportunities. After the LL.M., I joined the International Organization for Migration as an Associate Legal Officer. I hope to continue this challenging, fulfilling path in international law. "

Ashley Stanley-Ryan '20

Associate, International Committee of the Red Cross

"I travelled from New Zealand to Geneva to pursue a career in international law, focusing on human protection and dignity. The LL.M. in International Law Programme at the Graduate Institute was the best possible place to gain the professional, academic, and personal knowledge necessary to begin that career. I applied to the LL.M. because of the strength of its teaching faculty, the opportunity to learn from leading international lawyers, and the excellent reputation of the Graduate Institute.

The LL.M. equips its students to excel in any field of international law through a strong generalist education and concentration streams taught by leading professionals. The faculty in the 2019-2020 Protection of the Individual concentration stream included a member of the Human Rights Committee and an advisor to several international organisations. In the core courses, lecturers ranged from notable academics to judges, law firm partners, legal advisors to international organisations, and barristers specialised in international litigation. The diversity of the faculty and courses provided both a breadth of knowledge and thought and excellent opportunities to learn about career paths in international law. I was fortunate to complete a UN internship and a challenging law clinic during my LL.M., which provided important professional experience.

After graduating with the LL.M., I began working as an associate at the ICRC. "

LL.M. 10-year anniversary

Giuseppe Poderati '13

Doctoral researcher in International Environmental Law at Wuhan University, China

Giuseppe Poderati was one of the first students to complete the LL.M. in 2013 and thinks back:

"At the Geneva Graduate Institute, I gained in-depth theoretical knowledge about Advocacy in International Affairs and Public International Law with a focus on environmental-related issues. Professors and instructors of some of the highest calibre gave noteworthy lectures during my attendance at the executive education programmes. Also, I had the opportunity to sharpen and develop my technical skills with very talented colleagues worldwide. From this perspective, the Institute offers an academic environment conducive to learning and improving oneself."

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• Executive Education Newsletter

Applications

Applications for LL.M. 2024-2025 are now closed.

Dates 16 Sep. 2024 - Sep. 2025

Fees CHF 28'000

Discounts Fee waiver ( application form ), Alumni

Chèque de formation Ref. number: 2211 Contact us

Maison de la Paix Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2A 1202 Geneva

Language English

Tanya Norton Programme Manager [email protected]

Best International Law Programs

Ranked in 2024, part of Best Law Schools

International law may involve multinational organizations,

International law may involve multinational organizations, international courts and tribunals, and humanitarian issues. Many programs also offer study abroad opportunities. These are the top international law programs. Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions. Read the methodology »

Here are the Best International Law Programs

New york university, harvard university, yale university, columbia university, georgetown university, university of michigan--ann arbor, cornell university, university of california, berkeley, american university (washington).

SEE THE FULL RANKINGS

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Create your own custom rankings of the Best Law Schools based on your preferences. Think about your ideal law school experience as you take this five- minute quiz. Don't sweat it — you can continue to customize your list once you receive your school matches.

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New York , NY

• # 1 in International Law
• # 9 in Best Law Schools  (tie)

$80,014 (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

4.6 PEER ASSESSMENT SCORE

172 MEDIAN LSAT (FULL-TIME)

The full-time program application fee at the School of Law at New York University is $85. Its tuition is full-time... Read More »

TUITION AND FEES

$80,014 (full-time)

PEER ASSESSMENT SCORE

Median lsat (full-time).

Cambridge , MA

• # 2 in International Law  (tie)
• # 4 in Best Law Schools  (tie)

$75,008 (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

4.4 PEER ASSESSMENT SCORE

174 MEDIAN LSAT (FULL-TIME)

The full-time program application fee at the law school at Harvard University is $85. Its tuition is full-time... Read More »

$75,008 (full-time)

New Haven , CT

• # 1 in Best Law Schools  (tie)

$73,865 (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

175 MEDIAN LSAT (FULL-TIME)

The full-time program application fee at the Law School at Yale University is $85. Its tuition is full-time: $73,865... Read More »

$73,865 (full-time)

• # 4 in International Law
• # 8 in Best Law Schools

$81,292 (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

4.3 PEER ASSESSMENT SCORE

173 MEDIAN LSAT (FULL-TIME)

The full-time program application fee at the Law School at Columbia University is $85. Its tuition is full-time... Read More »

$81,292 (full-time)

Washington , DC

• # 5 in International Law
• # 14 in Best Law Schools  (tie)

$75,950 (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

4.2 PEER ASSESSMENT SCORE

171 MEDIAN LSAT (FULL-TIME)

The full-time program application fee at the Law Center at Georgetown University is $85. The part-time program... Read More »

$75,950 (full-time)

Ann Arbor , MI

• # 6 in International Law

$69,584 (in-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

$72,584 (out-of-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

4.1 PEER ASSESSMENT SCORE

The full-time program application fee at the Law School at University of Michigan--Ann Arbor is $75. Its tuition is... Read More »

$69,584 (in-state, full-time)

$72,584 (out-of-state, full-time)

Ithaca , NY

• # 7 in International Law  (tie)

$77,593 (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

4.0 PEER ASSESSMENT SCORE

The full-time program application fee at the Law School at Cornell University is $80. Its tuition is full-time... Read More »

$77,593 (full-time)

Berkeley , CA

• # 12 in Best Law Schools

$62,603 (in-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

$75,031 (out-of-state, full-time) TUITION AND FEES

170 MEDIAN LSAT (FULL-TIME)

The full-time program application fee at the School of Law at University of California, Berkeley is $75. Its tuition is... Read More »

$62,603 (in-state, full-time)

$75,031 (out-of-state, full-time)

• # 9 in International Law  (tie)
• # 98 in Best Law Schools  (tie)

$63,088 (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

3.9 PEER ASSESSMENT SCORE

162 MEDIAN LSAT (FULL-TIME)

The full-time program application fee at the Washington College of Law at American University (Washington) is $70. The... Read More »

$63,088 (full-time)

George Washington University

• # 41 in Best Law Schools

$69,740 (full-time) TUITION AND FEES

$51,450 (part-time) TUITION AND FEES

169 MEDIAN LSAT (FULL-TIME)

The Law School at George Washington University has an application deadline of March 1. The full-time program... Read More »

$69,740 (full-time)

$51,450 (part-time)

Georgetown Law

International & comparative law.

Georgetown Law is widely recognized as the best place in the world to study international law and the differing legal systems of sovereign nations.

Washington, D.C., a global hub of business and politics, provides an ideal setting for a program that offers the broadest array of courses and seminars in international and comparative law of any school in the country.

Our courses are taught by scholars who are leaders in their field — as both academics and professionals in positions of global impact. Our faculty has expertise in areas such as treaty interpretation, human rights, the law of war, international environmental law, international trade and financial regulation, European Union law and the rule of law in China.

Many J.D. students choose Georgetown Law because of its strength in international and transnational law, and it’s a big reason why our LL.M. program attracts students from across the U.S. and upwards of 70 countries each year.

The International Legal Studies LL.M. and the International Business & Economic Law LL.M. give our graduate students the opportunity to engage more deeply in issues of international law.

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Online PhD in International Law and Treaty Law

Quick access, program type, school / institute.

Online (Asynchonous)

USD 169 per credit hour

Scholarships

Full (officials of PS); 15% off (ECOWAS and IGOs)

This highly specialized PhD program offers in-depth and comprehensive coursework in international law.

It is one of the world’s only two doctoral programs in this field offered by an intergovernmental organization constituted under international law (the other being offered by the European University Institute and it is a PhD in Law more generally, with a European emphasis).

EUCLID (Pôle Universitaire Euclide | Euclid University), an international intergovernmental organization with a university mandate, offers to select students from the general public an external (distance or online) degree program called the EUCLID DILT which is a full PhD in International Law and Treaty Law.

In terms of academic progression, EUCLID’s intention is to offer a credible path leading from the LLM (24 credits) to the MSc (additional 12 credits) and finally to the PhD (another 25 credits of coursework or directed studies, followed by the dissertation).

As a public non-profit institution, EUCLID is able to offer affordable, low-tuition programs.

Academic Presentation

This specialized PhD in international law program focuses on the actual practice of States and intergovernmental organizations, rather than the advancement of academic knowledge for its own sake.

It has primarily been designed to be used by professional diplomats working for EUCLID Participating States and can be considered an excellent route to pursue a career within governmental bodies, international law firms, academia, iNGOs and international organizations.

Thanks to its low tuition and institutional relationships, it is designed to be of special interest to African and Small States students.

Within certain parameters, the curriculum is customizable, with elective courses focusing on:

• Law of International organizations
• European law
• Human rights law
• Treaty drafting and case studies.

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Note: to consult the current and official curriculum/list of courses from the EUCLID CMS database, please visit: EUCLID Available Degree Programs and follow the program link.

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Why Study @ EUCLID?

EUCLID is the only intergovernmental, treaty-based university with a UN registered charter and recognized expertise in diplomacy. Join the alma mater of ambassadors and senior officials globally.

Note: if the PDF brochure is unavailable (or outdated by 2 years), please contact [email protected]

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EUCLID (Pôle Universitaire Euclide |Euclid University) A treaty-based organization with international liaison and representative offices in: New York, Washington DC, Montpellier (France)

Headquarters: Bangui, Central African Republic Commonwealth / ECOWAS Headquarters: Banjul, The Gambia

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IGLP Visiting Researchers

The following scholars are affiliated with the IGLP for all or part of the 2023-2024 academic year.

2023-2024 Researchers

Yifeng Chen

Yifeng Chen joins the IGLP as an Associate Professor at Peking University Law School. His research aims to develop a historical account of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in its promotion of industrialism as both a desired form of economic life as well as a legitimate institution for labour governance. By focusing on labour protection through regulating the industrial conditions and industrial relations, the ILO invented itself profoundly an industrial, economic organization, as much as a humanitarian one.

His project mainly employs historical studies including research into the archives of the ILO as well as its official documents. In addition, the project, being interdisciplinary by nature, will also look into sociological studies, economics and political philosophy.

Petter Danckwardt

Petter Danckwardt is a PhD student in international law at Örebro University. His doctoral project focuses on recognition of states and governments in international law. He has taught international law and constitutional law at Stockholm and Uppsala University and has previously worked as a law clerk at Södertörn District Court and as a case officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He holds an LLM from Stockholm University and a master’s degree in political philosophy from Södertörn University.

Javier Garcia Amez

Javier Garcia Amez joins the IGLP as an Assistant Professor in Criminal Law at Oviedo University. He holds a Bachelor in Law (Oviedo University, 2005) and PhD in Law (Oviedo University, 2014). He has been a visiting researcher at Harvard Law School, Konstanz University (Germany), and Yale Law School (USA). He has published two books, book chapters (23), and articles (26) in topics such as Environmental Law, Criminal Law, and Gender Violence. At this moment, his research is focused on psychological harm to women and coercive control.

Claudia San Martin Rodriguez

Claudia San Martin graduated in Law at the Complutense University of Madrid and holds an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from the Carlos III University of Madrid. She is a researcher and PhD student at Complutense University of Madrid and has been a legal consultant in the Digital Transformation department at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), working on the IP Register in Blockchain project. Previously, she has been a legal consultant at Grant Thornton Madrid and training manager at the Santander Financial Institute (Banco Santander), in projects related to Blockchain.

Claudia is specialized in data protection and intellectual property, and has been lawyer for the brands Hackett, Tommy Hilfiger and Pepe Jeans London in Spain and Portugal. She is currently focused on research on this matter and Blockchain and during her stay at the IGLP she will analyze its applicable regulations in the US and Europe.

Adriane Sanctis de Brito

Adriane Sanctis is a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School’s IGLP (2023-2024). She is a co-founder of LAUT, a Brazilian think tank focused on authoritarianism. She holds a PhD from the University of São Paulo (USP) and was previously a professor (adjunct) at its International Relations Institute. She taught critical legal theory, comparative constitutionalism, and international law.

She researches the international histories of legal imagination related to peace, humanitarianism, and the suppression of the slave trade. Her book Seeking Capture, Resisting Seizure: An International Legal History of the Anglo-Brazilian Treaty for the Suppression of the Slave Trade (1826-1845) is forthcoming in the Max Planck Institute’s “Global Perspectives on Legal History” series. She worked on the research that led to her book while she was a Kathleen Fitzpatrick Fellow at the University of Melbourne, and a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Luxemburg and at the University of Helsinki. At LAUT, she has headed projects examining how contemporary reactionary movements reimagine and reconfigure legal language and human rights.

Adam Strobejko

Adam Strobeyko is a Visiting Researcher working on the topics of R&D for biometric devices and the regulation of Genomic Sequencing Data (GSD) sharing platforms. He holds a PhD in International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute (with distinction), a MA degree in International Public Management from Sciences Po Paris, and an LLB in European Law from Maastricht University.

Prior to joining IGLP, Adam was a Global Fellow at Guarini Global Law & Tech, NYU Law, and a doctoral researcher at the Global Health Centre, Geneva Graduate Institute, where he worked on issues related to countermeasure R&D, One Health, Access and Benefit Sharing and the Pandemic Treaty negotiations. Adam’s research focuses on the relation between public policy and innovation, and he is particularly interested in the role of expertise and novel regulatory approaches in global health law.

Nicole Stybnarova

Nicole Stybnarova is an Assistant Professor of International Law at Leiden University (Faculty of Global Governance and Affairs). Her PhD, completed at the University of Helsinki (Erik Castrén Insitute), addressed the regulation of marriage in Migration Law and Private International Law and its functioning in the global structure of wealth accumulation. Prior to joining Leiden University, she was a lecturer in International Law and Forced Migration at the University of Oxford (Refugee Studies Centre).

Nicole published multiple articles addressing topics at the intersections of migration law, IHRL, private international law, feminism, and political economy. She came to the IGLP to work on her current project which focuses on International Law and women’s social movements. She will study how women and their advocates used historically economic, feminist and international legal arguments to formulate their objectives for social emancipation and to have those advanced with international regulation.

Previous Researchers by Year

2022-2023 | 2021-2022 | 2020-2021 | 2019-2020 | 2018-2019 | 2017-2018 | 2016-2017 | 2015-2016

  2014-2015 | 2013-2014 | 2012-2013 | 2011-2012 | 2010-2011 | 2009-2010 | 2008-2009

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• Top 10 LLM Programs for Public International Law

Top LL.M. Programs for Public International Law 2023

Studying for an LL.M. in Public International Law can be quite an undertaking, because the field is so broad. Indeed, public international law addresses the relationships—and the conflicts that arise between—nations. This often includes issues and laws that cross borders, such as climate change, war, and human rights issues, or example. This means that lawyers and others working in the field of public international law often need to understand not only international laws, but the individual laws of various nation-states as well.

Graduates of LL.M. programs in Public International Law can often find work in a range of organizations, such as law firms working internationally, international courts, and NGOs, to name a few.

See below for the Top 10 LL.M. programs in Public International Law. Those interested in this topic might also want to see the Top 10 LL.M.s in Human Rights Law.

Columbia’s LL.M. students have the opportunity to study many aspects of public international law, including environmental law, human rights law, and international law, as well as related institutions such as the World Trade Organization. The school is staffed with well-known scholars in the field of international law, such as Lori Damrosch and has several related research centers, including the Human Rights Institute.

Leiden is home to the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, which serves as a hub for students interested in public international law and publishes a range of relevant research. The school offers a well-regarded Public International Law LL.M.; students in the program have quick access to The Hague, home to many relevant international organizations.

Another Netherlands-based law school that’s strong for public international law is Amsterdam Law School, which offers a Public International Law track as part of its International and European Law LL.M. The school is notable for its research focus on public European Law and governance across the EU, and indeed, students generally can take classes in topics like EU migration law and EU foreign relations law, as part of the LL.M. The school also offers a research-based Public International Law LL.M., which takes two years to complete.

Many students interested in public international law gravitate to Geneva, home to many international organizations. Founded in 1927, the Graduate Institute Geneva has been on the forefront of research in the public international law area. The Graduate Institute’s LL.M. in International Law leverages the school’s location and research background to help students understand the nuances of public international law.

Cambridge hosts the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, which is one of the leading institutions worldwide for the study of public international law. Although the school does not offer a specialized LL.M. in Public International Law, it does offer a series of related courses as part of its general program, covering topics like international human rights law, international environmental law, and international law of global governance, among others.

For public international law enthusiasts, NYU is home to several LL.M. programs that are of interest, covering topics like International Legal Studies and Environmental and Energy Law. NYU also hosts several relevant centers, such as the Institute for International Law and Justice, which infuse the programs’ curriculums with up-to-date research. LL.M. students also have opportunities to take part in various clinics, such as the Global Justice Clinic and the United Nations Diplomacy Clinic.

Georgetown’s Washington, DC location puts it in close proximity to many international organizations as well as important US decision-makers. In addition to offering an International Legal Studies LL.M., the school also offers a Global Health Law & International Institutions LL.M., which it runs in partnership with the Graduate Institute Geneva.

Harvard, which is current ranked highly for international law by US News , produces a range of public international law research through its relevant research centers and programs. Harvard LL.M. students can take a range of classes related to public international law.

Although the school does not offer an LL.M. in Public International Law, its core LL.M. program covers many aspects of the field. Many of Yale Law’s faculty members, such as Harold Koh and Oona Hathaway, have had a strong influence of the development of the field of public international law.

The school is currently ranked highly for international law by the Dutch publication Keuzegids , which assesses master’s programs in the Netherlands. The school offers an LL.M. in Public International Law, which covers topics in international human rights law, international institutional law, and others; as well as other related LL.M.s such as an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law.

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Post-graduate

Thanks to the successful collaboration with universities and research centres, since some years now the Institute is involved in two programmes dedicated to graduate and post-graduate students: the Diploma on International Humanitarian Law , jointly organised since 2009 with the Institut de la Paix et du Développement (IDPD)  of the  Université Côte d’Azur of Nice (France) and the International Master in Cultural Property Protection in Crisis Response , in collaboration with the Interdepartmental University School for Strategic Sciences (SUISS) of the University of Turin (Italy), the Italian Army Education and Training Command and School of Applied Military Studies, the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Property, the Conservation and Restoration Centre “La Venaria Reale” and a network of national and international institutions and agencies including UNESCO, ICCROM, ICOM.

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Lomonosov Moscow State University

Preparatory course (pre-university programme).

• Duration of study: March 2024 – July 2025.
• Holidays: July – August 2024.
• Start date: 1 March – 30 March 2024.
• Exams: June 2025.
• Tuition: $8900.
• The level of Russian: Beginner.
• Duration of study: September/October 2024 – July 2025.
• Start date: September – October.
• Tuition: $7000.
• The level of Russian: All levels.

• 1 BUSINESS SCHOOL
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