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Applications are now open for our online Executive Master – Master of Advanced Studies in International Law in Armed Conflict. Candidates for the 2025–2027 programme are invited to apply by 30 May 2025.
Thomas Andre Syvertsen Norwegian Red Cross
The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, established in 2007 as a joint centre of the Faculty of Law of the University of Geneva and the Geneva Graduate Institute, has acquired a global reputation for excellent teaching and research, attracting exceptional students to its Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) programmes.
Diplomats, lawyers, legal advisers, humanitarians, NGO staff, human rights advocates, media specialists, professionals working in emergency situations, UN staff and staff from other international organisations share expertise, discuss pressing concerns and reflect on the application of international law to their work. By providing the necessary tools to apply the international legal framework in complex contemporary conflicts, our programme equips high-level professionals with the relevant skills and knowledge to take on additional responsibilities or advance their careers.
This innovative and intellectually challenging part-time programme, offered entirely online, is designed for professionals with demanding jobs and responsibilities. The 60 ECTS Executive Master – Master of Advanced Studies in International Law in Armed Conflict provides the legal tools needed to address complex contemporary conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, human rights negotiations, and criminal proceedings, meeting the growing demand for specialists.
Through this programme, participants will gain access to world-renowned professors and leading experts in their fields. They will also benefit from direct connections with key actors in the field and have the opportunity to engage with fellow participants from an array of different legal backgrounds and perspectives.
Courses are conducted online over nine months, with live sessions held at lunchtime (12:00-14:00 CET). If participants are unable to attend a session due to professional commitments (e.g., missions, travel, conferences), they can access the recorded lectures afterward.
A user-friendly online platform facilitates direct interaction with professors, fellow participants, and teaching assistants. It also provides access to course materials and readings, enables exam submissions, and allows participants to view their grades.
After completing the exams, participants must write a research paper under the guidance of a faculty member. The programme concludes with an official graduation ceremony held in person in Geneva. Alternatively, participants can attend the ceremony online and receive their diploma by post.
Maurizio Debanne MSF
Candidates who apply should have:
Tuition fees: CHF 18,000
Applications open: 3 February 2025
Online information session: 27 March 2025 at 12:30 CET. Register here
Applications close: 30 May 2025
Programme starts: September 2025
Programme ends: October 2027
You can apply on our website here.
Documents required for application are:
FAQ about the Executive Master – Master of Advanced Studies in International Law in Armed Conflict
If you would like more information about the programme, please do not hesitate to contact Ana Kilibarda at:
masters-inquiries@geneva-academy.ch
You can also join our online information session on 27 March 2025 at 12:30 CET:
ICRC
News
Geneva Academy
During the 79th UN General Assembly Ministerial Week a high-level side event on the obligation to respect and ensure respect for International Humanitarian Law took place.
News
Dominik Rastinger, the Senior Political Adviser at the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, enrolled in our online Executive Master, tells about the programme and what it brings to his career.
Event
ICRC
Co-hosted with the ICRC, this event aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research international humanitarian law, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates.
Short Course
ICRC
This online short course provides an overview of the content and evolution of the rules governing the use of unilateral force in international law, including military intervention on humanitarian grounds and the fight against international terrorism. It focuses on the practice of states and international organizations.
Project
The Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts project (RULAC) is a unique online portal that identifies and classifies all situations of armed violence that amount to an armed conflict under international humanitarian law (IHL). It is primarily a legal reference source for a broad audience, including non-specialists, interested in issues surrounding the classification of armed conflicts under IHL.
Project
UN Photo/Violaine Martin
The IHL-EP works to strengthen the capacity of human rights mechanisms to incorporate IHL into their work in an efficacious and comprehensive manner. By so doing, it aims to address the normative and practical challenges that human rights bodies encounter when dealing with cases in which IHL applies.
Publication
Publication
Geneva Academy ICRC
