Join our Online Executive Master in the Law of Armed Conflict and Upgrade Your Legal Skills

1 February 2023

Applications for the upcoming academic year of our Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict are open.

They will run until 30 April 2023 – meaning that interested candidates have two months to apply – with courses starting at the end of September 2023.

A Unique Part-Time Online Programme

Our online Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict is one of the few part-time, innovative and intellectually challenging programmes in the law of armed conflict offered today.

Designed for professionals with demanding jobs and responsibilities, it provides them with a solid legal background to address the multiple challenges that arise in humanitarian emergencies, human rights negotiations or criminal proceedings.

An easy and Interactive Online Platform

An easy and interactive online platform allows participants to interact directly with professors and other participants during classes and access all the course materials and readings.

Tutorials at the end of each course allow one to revise key concepts, grasp potentially challenging issues and prepare for the exams.

Designed for Professionals with Demanding Jobs and Responsibilities

Courses take place for nine months (end of September to the beginning of June) from Wednesdays to Fridays at lunchtime (12:00 –14:00 CET). When participants cannot follow a course for professional reasons (e.g. missions, travel, conferences), they can watch the recordings afterwards.

Exams take place online at the end of classes in June, with retakes in August. After the exams in June, participants have six months to submit their master’s paper (i.e. by December).

‘This programme is an opportunity to learn the legal framework of armed conflict while maintaining a job simultaneously.’

Mona Koehler-Schindler, Associate Human Rights Officer on Anti-Terrorism Issues at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

Acquire a Solid Knowledge of the Legal Frameworks Relevant to Armed Conflicts

Courses cover international law, international humanitarian law, international human rights law, international criminal law and the interplay between them, providing solid theoretical and practical knowledge of the law that applies to armed conflicts. They also address current issues and challenges, including the repression of terrorism, the responsibility to protect and international refugee law.

One output of the Executive Master is a master’s paper written under the guidance of a faculty member. It allows participants to investigate a subject of special interest and deepen their knowledge and expertise through research as well as potential exchanges with experts, scholars and practitioners.

Moving One’s Career Forward

By providing the necessary tools to apply the international legal framework in complex contemporary conflicts, our Executive Master forms high-level professionals who want to acquire additional responsibilities or move their careers forward.

‘Today, with the developments in Ukraine, I feel more than ever the usefulness and practical applicability of the knowledge I receive at the Geneva Academy – the whole system of international law is being challenged here and now.’

Anastasiya Marchuk, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Office in Odesa, Ukraine

Admission

The admission section provides detailed information about:

A Three-Steps Online Application Process

You can apply online in three steps:

  • 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!

For Questions

If you still have questions, our FAQ addresses the main questions related to our Executive Master, the programme and the admission procedure.

You can also contact our Student Office which will respond to your questions and queries about the programme (masters-inquiries@geneva-academy.ch).

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