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International Law – (Ph.D.)
- PhD in International Law
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| Application Deadline: | 15 January | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 4,035 - | ||
| Location: | Geneva / Switzerland / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 48 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
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| Credits (ECTS): | 24 | ||
| Languages: | English French | ||
Location of Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
The Graduate Institute’s PhD with a specialisation in International Law is a challenging degree tailored for outstanding students with a strong commitment to international law and a proven ability in independent research work. It helps prepare graduates for an academic career, or for research-oriented positions in the public or private sector.
The PhD programme is small by design and admits a limited number of students each year. The size of the programme and close contact with professors offer an intimate and highly stimulating environment in which to grow intellectually. This specialisation is a recognised and well established platform for advanced graduate research in international law. With a large diversity of research and professional interests, the faculty members offer research supervision in a wide range of subjects.
Apart from formal research supervision from their doctorate supervisor (a professor of the Law Unit), doctoral students can expect wider intellectual support at all stages of their research.
During their doctoral studies, candidates are required to obtain 24 ECTS credits for coursework and to present and defend a preliminary thesis. The programme, culminating in the presentation and defence of a doctoral thesis embodying an original and significant piece of research, is designed to take a maximum of four years.
Contents
The PhD programme in International Law offers high-level training that prepares graduates for academic careers or executive and research positions in the public or private sectors. Students work closely with a world-renowned faculty composed of both academics and practitioners from many different legal traditions. Classes and seminars are offered in all areas of international law.
SEMESTRES 1-2 | SEMESTERS 1-2
2 ATELIERS OBLIGATOIRES | 2 COMPULSORY WORkSHOPS
6 CRÉDITS | 6 CREDITS
Automne | Autumn
- Doctoral Research Seminar in International Law I Andrea Bianchi
Printemps | Spring
- Doctoral Research Seminar in International Law II Andrea Bianchi
SEMESTRES 1-2 | SEMESTERS 1-2
3 COURS À CHOISIR | 3 ELECTIVE COURSE TO BE CHOSEN
18 CRÉDITS | 18 CREDITS
Automne | Autumn
- Droit international des migrations Vincent Chetail
- Evolution contemporaine de la place et des fonctions de l’ONU au sein du système juridique international Pierre-Marie Dupuy
- Fall Law Clinic on International Criminal Justice andHuman Rights (Workshop – 3 Credits) Paola Gaeta
- Fundamentals of International Environmental Law Jorge Viñuales
- International Investment Law Joost Pauwelyn
- International Law Methods Andrea Bianchi
- International Refugee Law Vincent Chetail
- International Trade Law Joost Pauwelyn
- The Responsibility to Protect Nicolas Michel
- State Contracts and International Arbitration Zachary Douglas
Printemps | Spring
- Advanced Topics in International Environmental Law and Policy Jorge Viñuales, Timothy Swanson
- Corporate Responsibility in Transnational and International Law Zachary Douglas
- La délimitation maritime en droit international Marcelo Kohen
- Droit diplomatique international Eric Wyler
- Feminist Approaches to Human Rights Ratna Kapur
- «Humanité» et «Communauté internationale»en droit international positif Pierre-Marie Dupuy
- Human Rights Obligations of Non-State Actors Andrew Clapham
- International Criminal Law through the Cases in National and International Courts Paola Gaeta
- International Health Law Gian Luca Burci
- International Moot Court Joost Pauwelyn
- Philosophie et droit international Pierre-Marie Dupuy
- Post-Conflict Peacebuilding: Concept and Contents Vincent Chetail
- Séminaire avancé de jurisprudence environnementale Jorge Viñuales
- Spring Law Clinic on International Criminal Justice and Human Rights (Workshop – 3 Credits)
- Trade and Investment Law Clinic Joost Pauwelyn
- WIPO and International Intellectual Property Law Edward Kwakwa
TOTAL DES CRÉDITS POUR LES ENSEIGNEMENTS = 24 | TOTAL CREDITS FOR COURSES = 24
MÉMOIRE PRÉLIMINAIRE DE THÈSE | PRELIMINARY THESIS DISSERTATION
30 CRÉDITS | 30 CREDITS
Pour les échéances du programme de doctorat, se référer au règlement d’études et aux directives internes disponibles sur Etunet | For PhD time-limits, see the Academic and Internal Regulations available on Etunet.
Cours ouverts aux doctorants intéressés par une mineure en droit international | Courses open to Phd students interested in a minor in international law
18 CRÉDITS | 18 CREDITS
SEMESTRES 1-4 | SEMESTERS 1-4
Automne | Autumn
- Fundamentals of International Environmental Law Jorge Viñuales
- International Investment Law Joost Pauwelyn
- International Law Methods Andrea Bianchi
- International Refugee Law Vincent Chetail
- International Trade Law Joost Pauwelyn
- The Responsibility to Protect Nicolas Michel
- State Contracts and International Arbitration Zachary Douglas
Printemps | Spring
- Advanced Topics in International Environmental Law and Policy Jorge Viñuales, Timothy Swanson
- Corporate Responsibility in Transnational and International Law Zachary Douglas
- La délimitation maritime en droit international Marcelo Kohen
- Droit diplomatique international Eric Wyler
- Feminist Approaches to Human Rights Ratna Kapur
- International Criminal Law through the Cases in National and International Courts Paola Gaeta
- International Health Law Gian Luca Burci
- International Moot Court Joost Pauwelyn
- Philosophie et droit international Pierre-Marie Dupuy
- Séminaire avancé de jurisprudence environnementale Jorge Viñuales
- Trade and Investment Law Clinic Joost Pauwelyn
- WIPO and International Intellectual Property Law Edward Kwakwa
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test if you come from a non-English speaking country.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
More informationRequirements
Language requirements
The Institute is a bilingual English-French institution; students are therefore required to demonstrate their knowledge of these languages by including the relevant certificates with their application forms.
English
- Level required: candidates are required to demonstrate excellent command of the language, both written and spoken, confirmed by a language certificate.
- Candidates of English mother-tongue and those who have completed secondary or post-secondary education in English, confirmed by a diploma, are exempt from this requirement.
French
- Level required: a passive knowledge of French can be acquired during the first study semester; knowledge of French will be tested at the beginning of the second semester (February or March).
- Candidates of French mother-tongue, candidates who have completed secondary or post-secondary education in French, confirmed by a diploma, or candidates who have obtained a French diploma equivalent to a DELF B2 are exempt from this requirement.
- Request for a waiver of the French requirement: candidates with no prior knowledge of French may request a waiver [pdf]. Upon successful acceptance to the Institute, they will be required to attend an intensive French course during the three weeks preceding the beginning of the autumn semester and for the duration of the first semester; upon completion of the course they will be required to pass a language test.
PhD in International Law:
Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) or a Master’s degree in law or in a related discipline + have completed, to the extent possible, a DEA- or Masters-level research dissertation (please include a copy with your application).
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Master's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 7.0 |
| TOEFL Paper-based: | 600 |
| TOEFL Computer-based: | 250 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 100 |
Accreditation
The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies is accredited by the Conférence Universitaire Suisse.
Funding details
Each year the Graduate Institute awards an important number of scholarships to Master and PhD students for its study programs in the field of international affairs, development studies, international economics, political science, international law, international economics and international history. Scholarships are awarded according to academic merit and financial need of students.
There are three categories of scholarship:
- Full scholarships: with a few exceptions, these are worth CHF 18,000. Recipients are exempt from Graduate Institute tuition fees.
- Partial scholarships: the value of these grants varies according to the individual needs of the recipient student. These grants do not cover tuition fees which recipients of partial grants are required to pay.
- Tuition scholarships: these grants cover tuition fees for one academic year. They are awarded to exceptional students.
To consult a list of scholarships available through the Institute and how to apply for them, please visit:
http://www.graduateinstitute.ch/corporate/admissions/fees-scholarships_en.html
Please send your scholarship request at the same time as the documents of your application file (procedure is online). The deadline for submitting scholarship is the same as for the application: January 15, 2012.
Interested? Request information!
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