Switzerland: LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

Our LLM (60 ECTS) is one of the most innovative and intellectually challenging programmes in international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights offered in Europe today. It is structured around the following seven components.

Core Courses

Core courses are mandatory and provide a solid legal basis and understanding of public international law, IHL, international human rights law, international refugee law and international criminal law.

Optional Courses

Optional courses allow our students to deepen their expertise in a particular issue such as armed non state actors in international law, the conduct of hostilities, enforced disappearances or the Islamiclaw of armed conflict. Places in the optional courses are limited to 20 in order to guarantee the quality of exchanges and discussions.

Internships

Our LLM students have the opportunity, during Spring Semester, to acquire first-hand professional experience via internships with Geneva-based humanitarian and human rights actors.

Moot Courts

As part of the curriculum, our LLM students can participate in three moot courts– the prestigious Jean-Pictet Competition on IHL, the Nuremberg Moot Court and the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition – as well as in public pleadings on specific conflict situations.

Military Briefings

This unique series of events relating to military institutions and the law aims to improve our students’ knowledge of military actors and operations, and build bridges between the military and civilian worlds.

LLM Paper

Our LLM promotes academic excellence and independent critical thinking. One of its core outputs is an LLM paper on a specific issue addressed by the programme and written under the guidance of a faculty member.

Study Trip

In Spring Semester, LLM students go on a study trip to learn about leading institutions and organizations active in the field of IHL and human rights.

You can apply for the LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights via a straightforward, online form. If you encounter problems with your application, do not hesitate to contact us.

Please read the information in this section carefully before starting an application, as it will help ensure a quick and smooth application process.

Two Application Tracks

There are two tracks through which you can apply:

• Without scholarship
• With scholarship (partial or full: see further information on scholarships)

Please note that you must choose one track or the other. If you apply through both, your application will be considered under the non-scholarship track. Successful applicants who applied without requesting a scholarship cannot subsequently be considered for a scholarship.

Four Simple Steps

The online application is divided into the following four steps:

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

Retrieving your Information

If you do not complete your application form in one go you have the following two options:

1. A cookie will allow you to retrieve all the information you have provided, only if (1) you work from the same computer; (2) you haven’t refused the use of cookies when accessing the Geneva Academy website for the first time; (3) you haven’t refused cookies by adjusting the settings of your web browser.
2. You can copy and paste or bookmark the URL found at the bottom of the online application form. When you paste this URL into your web browser you will retrieve all the information you have entered on the form, even if you are working from a different computer.

Confidentiality

The information you provide in the application form will be treated in the strictest confidence and will only be used by the Admissions Committee and scholarship donors.

Required Documents

All the documents required (PDF format) are specified in the online application form and have to be attached to your online application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please do not send original documents, as all submitted materials become the property of the Geneva Academy upon receipt. Documents cannot be returned to the applicant nor forwarded to other schools or agencies. You will however need to bring your original diplomas and transcripts to Geneva if you submit non-certified copies with your application.

The documents you have to provide with your application are:

• Your curriculum vitae in English

• A personal statement in English explaining your interest in the programme (no longer than two pages)

• Two letters of recommendation in English – no specific format is required

• Certified copies of relevant degrees and diplomas (with an officially certified translation when not in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish) – if copies are not certified, you will need to present the original documents upon your arrival in Geneva

• Certified copies of official records of university examinations taken and grades obtained (with an officially certified translation when not in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish) – if copies are not certified, you will need to present the original documents upon your arrival in Geneva

• If you are currently enrolled in a university programme, an attestation by the relevant university of your current enrollment with an official record of the latest university examinations taken and grades obtained

• Language tests– TOEF IELTS, DALF – or verification of language skills (the Geneva Academy does not have an attributed code; please do not use the University of Geneva code, nor the Graduate Institute code)

• A copy of your passport

If you apply for a scholarship (partial or full), you will also have to provide the following documents:

• Proof of your current income (e.g. salary statement, bank statement, tax declaration, employer’s letter) – if such proof is not available, please explain why

• Proof of your family’s financial situation (e.g. salary statement, bank statement) – if such proof is not available, please explain why

• Proof, if applicable, of any financial support you currently receive (e.g. letter from parents, sponsors, scholarship donor)

Checklist

Use this checklist to make sure you have all the requested documents ready before starting your application.