News - The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

28 November 2022

Applications for the 2023–2024 academic year of our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (LLM) are open.

They will run until 27 January 2023 for applications with a scholarship and until 24 February 2023 for applications without a scholarship.

Geneva Academy

This one-year full-time postgraduate programme is one of the most innovative and intellectually challenging programmes in international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights offered today. It focuses primarily on all rules applicable to armed conflicts, and their interaction, and promotes both academic excellence and independent critical thinking.

Students have access to a world-renowned faculty, benefit from direct connections with leading actors like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and share ideas with other participants from an array of legal backgrounds and perspectives.

The programme allows students to tailor their studies according to their particular interests. While core courses provide a firm grounding in public international law, IHL, international human rights law (IHRL) in armed conflict, international refugee law and international criminal law, optional courses explore cutting-edge issues like counter-terrorism, armed non-state actors, the rules governing the conduct of hostilities, the Islamic law of armed conflict or the work of international courts and tribunals.

The LLM is also profoundly committed to developing the transferable skills necessary to succeed in the professional world and take up responsibilities in the humanitarian and human rights fields. To this end, internships with leading actors, participation in moot courts, public pleadings, military briefings and a study trip provide solid exposure to practical work and allow students to expand their network.

An Exceptional Learning Environment

The LLM is organized around small and intimate learning communities, creating an exceptional learning environment where some of the most experienced and academically qualified students from all over the world gain access to a world-renowned faculty at the cutting edge of IHL, international human rights law, international criminal law and international refugee law.

Weekly tutorials given by our Teaching Assistants allow students to revise and discuss concepts and issues addressed in the core courses and prepare for the exams.

As an IHL and human rights hub, Geneva offers a broad range of conferences and public events featuring key experts and topics, as well as providing access to leading actors in the field.

With more than 70 public events, expert seminars and conferences organized every year, we host some of the world’s leading academics and practitioners who share their research, views and experiences with our students and directly touch upon topics addressed in the programme.

The Foundation for a Successful Career

The LLM provides the necessary legal and practical skills 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.

A significant number of LLM graduates work for the ICRC, in the field as well as at the Geneva headquarters, at OHCHR and with other international organizations, NGOs, academic institutions, governments and international courts and tribunals.

We only provide full scholarships for citizens of non-western countries (full list of eligible countries available here).

In addition, we provide every year a partial scholarship for EU citizens.

Partial and full scholarships are allocated through a highly competitive process based on academic merit, extra-curricular achievements and the candidate’s financial needs.

The admission section of our website provides detailed information about:

In order for their applications to be reviewed, all applicants must submit within the week following the submission of their application a non-refundable admission fee of 100 Swiss Francs.

A Four Steps Online Application Process

You can apply via a straightforward online form. The online application comprises the following four steps:

Decide whether to apply (1) without a scholarship, (2) with a full scholarship; (3) with a partial scholarship
Complete the application form
Attach the required documents
Submit your application

Make sure you have all the requested information and documents before starting your application!

We organize online Q&A information sessions for prospective students – taking place twice a month on Fridays from 13:30 to 14:30 (CET) – to allow candidates to exchange with our Student Office and current students about the programmes, the application process and requirements, life in Geneva, career opportunities and other concerns.

The entire planning until June 2023 is available on our website. Prior registration is required to attend one of these sessions.