The LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in a Nutshell

LLM Class LLM Class

What

The LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (LLM) is:

  • An intensive one-year course aimed at educating around 40 highly qualified and open-minded students in all the laws pertaining to armed conflicts
  • An in-depth study of the following areas: international law, international humanitarian law (IHL), international human rights law (IHRL) in armed conflict, international refugee law and international criminal law (ICL)
  • A focus on topical and emerging issues like the Islamic law of armed conflict, or the law of weaponry and new military technologies
  • A prestigious faculty composed of leading academics and renowned experts and practitioners who are abreast of the latest developments and debates
  • An ongoing focus on practice via exchanges with practitioners and military actors, work on concrete case scenarios, participation in public pleadings, a course on humanitarian skills, and the possibility for several students to carry out internships and participate in a moot court
  • A study trip to familiarize with field work
  • An international, multicultural and diverse student body with a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, experiences and motivations
  • Two annual awards that recognize exceptional academic work
  • Access to our events which provide a critical and scholarly forum for experts and practitioners to discuss and debate topical issues in IHL, IHRL and ICL
  • An LLM degree conferred by two prestigious academic institutions
  • The foundation for a successful career in inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations dealing with IHL, human rights, ICL refugees or migration, as well as public administration, international tribunals or academic institutions

Why

10 reasons for choosing the LLM at the Geneva Academy:

  • A leading institution in the field of IHL and IHRL
  • The opportunity to gain solid and unique expertise in IHL, IHRL in armed conflict, international refugee law and ICL and the interplay between them
  • A programme that forms high-level professionals qualified to work as academics, staff members or field workers for inter-governmental, governmental, and non-governmental organizations
  • Familiarity with a wide range of contemporary contexts and challenges
  • The combination of theory and practice
  • A personal teaching style that encourages interaction between students and lecturers
  • Specialized supervised research for the master’s thesis
  • Career counselling and advice
  • Ties with leading actors in the humanitarian and human rights fields
  • A unique human experience during which all those involved (students, faculty and resident staff) develop long-term bonds

How

  • 60 ECTS Credits
  • Core courses that provide a firm grounding in public international law, IHL, IHRL in armed conflict, international refugee law, ICL and the interplay between them
  • Weekly tutorials that allow students to revise and discuss concepts and issues addressed in the core courses
  • Optional courses that allow students to deepen their expertise in a particular issue such as armed non-state armed groups, the Islamic law of armed conflicts or international disaster law
  • The possibility to carry out internships with leading humanitarian and human rights actors
  • Participation in public pleadings and in the prestigious Jean-Pictet Competition
  • The writing of a master’s paper
  • A study trip
  • A graduation ceremony

While the focus is on humanitarian law in all its aspects, the LLM also provides a thorough base in other aspects of international law, which makes it a versatile degree that can lead to a wide variety of career paths, such as mine, working for the Belgian asylum office.

Eline Goovaerts

Legal Service, Office of the Commissioner-General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, Brussels

Destroyed mosque of Aleppo in aerial view, filmed by a drone, syria News

Students Explore Contemporary Legal Challenges in Armed Conflicts, Human Rights and Transitional Justice

5 September 2023

The papers aim to allow students to investigate a subject of special interest and deepen their expertise through research as well as exchanges with experts, scholars and practitioners.

Read more

Students at a Geneva Academy event News

Chats with Our Student Office: A Gateway for Prospective Students

28 August 2023

We organize online Q&A information sessions for prospective students interested in our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and MAS in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law.

Read more

Discussion session with staff from TRIAL International News

Preparing Students for their Career through Professional Development Activities

23 June 2023

Throughout this academic year, our students benefited from various professional development activities aimed at empowering and preparing them for impactful careers in the humanitarian, human rights and transitional justice fields.

Read more