The Geneva Academy’s online short courses provide flexible and targeted legal training for professionals and researchers wishing to deepen their knowledge or explore new fields related to their work or career ambitions.
These courses combine academic excellence with practical relevance and are fully compatible with full-time professional commitments.
Each short course runs over seven weeks and combines live (synchronous) and self-paced (asynchronous) learning. The format is designed to accommodate professionals with demanding schedules, allowing them to study wherever they are while remaining fully engaged in their work.
Courses cover a broad range of topics in international humanitarian law, human rights law and international law in situations of armed conflict or transition, including issues related to international responsibility for serious violations.
Through a mix of lectures, case studies, group exercises and online discussions, participants interact with faculty and peers in a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. Each course is limited to 30 participants to ensure active participation and individual feedback.
Our short courses are designed for professionals seeking to strengthen their expertise, gain formal academic recognition or explore new directions in their careers.
Participants typically include staff from international organizations, NGOs, government institutions and academic settings who work in areas related to humanitarian action, human rights, justice, peace or international law.
By offering concise, high-quality and practice-oriented legal training, our online short courses help participants:
- Explore new perspectives and possible career shifts toward humanitarian, human rights or international justice fields
- Deepen their understanding of specific areas of international law relevant to their work
- Acquire credentials that enhance professional profiles and visibility
All short courses follow a structured weekly format that balances self-paced learning with interactive sessions.
- Week 1: Fully asynchronous activities for individual study and familiarization with materials
- Weeks 2 and 4: Live online sessions with the professor via Zoom (12:00–14:00 CET)
- Weeks 3 and 5: Asynchronous interactive sessions with the tutor via Moodle
- Week 6: Fully asynchronous week devoted to preparation for the final assessment
- Week 7: Final live session and assessment with the professor via Zoom
Participants who complete all course requirements receive a certificate of successful completion.
Applications are open year-round and processed on a rolling basis.
To apply, please send:
- A curriculum vitae (in English)
- A short statement of interest explaining your motivation and relevant professional experience
Applications should be sent by email to digital.academy@geneva-academy.ch or submitted through the online form available on our website.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credits: 5 ECTS
Language: English
Teaching format: Fully online (live and self-paced learning)
Schedule: Live sessions from 12:00 to 14:00 CET
Course size: Limited to 30 participants
Tuition fee: 1,250 Swiss francs
The fee covers all reading materials, access to the online platform, live sessions, the final assessment and the certificate of completion.
Short courses are recognized as formation pour adultes by the Canton of Geneva, making participants eligible for financial assistance through the Chèque Annuel de Formation (CAF). They may also be eligible for support under Geneva’s cantonal unemployment funding schemes.
Participants are encouraged to consult the CAF and cantonal unemployment funding websites to verify their eligibility before applying.
My experience with the professors at the Academy was outstanding. They bring a wealth of expertise and real-world experience to the classroom and I truly appreciated their understanding of the balance we, as students, must maintain between work and studies.
Stoyan Karastoyanov
Chief Expert, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria