M.A. in International Law and Diplomacy

UNITAR and the University for Peace (UPEACE) offer a joint Master of Arts in International Law and Diplomacy​​​​​. This two-year graduate programme, offered in online and hybrid formats, allows students to specialize in the interface between international law and diplomacy. It will not only broaden students’ knowledge in the field of international law and its various foundational dimensions but will also equip them with knowledge and skills to work in the field of diplomacy and related international careers.

Registration deadlines: 

• Hybrid: 30 April 2023
• Online: 25 June 2023

Start Dates:

• Hybrid: 28 August 2023
• Online: 3 July 2023

Learn more and apply

M.A. in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes

UNITAR and the University for Peace (UPEACE) offer a joint Master of Arts in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes. This two-year graduate programme, offered in on-site, online, and hybrid formats, allows students to examine the role of international law in the settlement of disputes in a wide array of fields such as human rights, armed conflicts, territorial and maritime border issues, environment and climate change, multilateral trade, investments, amongst others. Students will learn not only the traditional legal processes employed in international and transnational adjudication but also the alternative forms of dispute settlement prevalent in international law.

Registration deadlines: 

• On-Campus: 15 May 2023
• Hybrid: 15 May 2023
• Online: 25 June 2023

Start Dates:

• On-Campus: 28 August 2023
• Hybrid: 28 August 2023
• Online: 3 July 2023

Learn more and apply

Executive Diplomas and Certificates

The International Law Programme's Executive Diplomas consist of a set of highly interactive practice-oriented workshops aimed at diplomats, legal professionals and other beneficiaries. Participants are able to explore new developments in international law and delve deeper into highly topical legal matters through executive-style trainings. Taught by United Nations staff, high-level experts and facilitators with insight into the United Nations system, the executive diplomas offer unique insights. The methodology of the executive diplomas is influenced by the multilateral setting, involving peer-to-peer learning and exchange within a global body of practitioners. The executive diplomas are highly accessible as they are held online, allowing participants from all over the world to join the sessions and engage with their peers from other countries.

Online Certificate on International Law and The United Nations System

The Online Certificate on International Law and the UN System offers a unique opportunity for both students wanting to pursue a career in international law or international relations, and professionals working in international and regional organizations as well as governmental and non-governmental institutions, to expand their knowledge on international law, multilateral diplomacy and the United Nations system.

Using internet-based training, UNITAR brings participants and trainers together in a unique virtual learning environment, allowing students to select 2 international law courses and 2 multilateral diplomacy courses to create their own specialization.

Kindly check back for details regarding new editions.

Online Executive Diploma on International Law in the 21st Century

International law is pushing frontiers both on earth, outer space and in the digital realm. Explore these cutting-edge legal topics together with high-level international experts.

Following the successful previous editions, the spring intake of UNITAR’s Online Executive Diploma on International Law in the 21st Century aims at introducing students and practitioners to newest developments in international law, covering diverse issues such as Law of the Sea and Cyber Warfare and International Humanitarian Law.

Registration deadline: 7 May 2023

Dates: 15 – 19 May 2023

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Executive Diploma on International Criminal Law and Transitional Justice

Under UN leadership, the last 30 years have seen remarkable development in the fight against impunity. Many different accountability mechanisms – truth commissions, international and hybrid tribunals, as well as commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions and investigations – have been established and successfully implemented. This Executive Diploma on International Criminal Law and Transitional Justice will provide participants with unique access to information, perspectives, updates and analysis on accountability mechanisms for both those seeking to develop a working background on the topics as well as those already thoroughly versed in their dynamics. Combining substantive sessions on topics such as the notion of mass human rights violations, as well as the history, development and achievements of different accountability mechanisms, with skills-focused modules, this training will provide participants with a holistic training experience and allow them to put their substantive knowledge into practice. This Executive Diploma is delivered in partnership with the IUSTICOM.

Registration deadline: 1 September 2023

Dates: 16 October 2023 – 19 November 2023

Register here

Have any questions?

Please contact us via info.ilp@unitar.org in case of any queries.

The International Law programme offers a variety of e-learning courses that can either be tutor-facilitated or entirely self-paced. All e-learning courses are delivered via UNITAR’s virtual learning platform and combine video lectures, short animations, interactive lessons, optional and required readings, discussion forums, assessment quizzes, and a wealth of other information to help each participant meet the course learning objectives.

The e-learning courses build on UNITAR’s extensive experience designing and implementing training workshops at the country and regional levels and allow participants to:

• Gain practical skills and deepen their knowledge;
• Follow 30 to 60 hours of training through modules or one-week sessions;
• Flexibly schedule and pace their learning according to their specific needs;
• Make use of additional resources using the internet;
• Work offline or from home;
• Engage with the expert and receive online mentoring and discussions  (for tutor-facilitated courses).

Law of International Organizations – Webinar Track

International organizations are playing an increasingly important role in the international legal order. They are active in virtually all fields of human activity, they regularly conclude international treaties and continuously interact with other actors of international law. Nowadays, they wield growing normative powers. For those working for or dealing with international organizations, a sound understanding of the law of international organizations thus appears indispensable. UNITAR’s self-paced course on the Law of International Organizations is structured in a way to cover the main legal questions related to international organizations, from both a theoretical and practical perspective. In addition, the e-learning methodology used to deliver the Course allows participants the flexibility to combine their learning activities with work responsibilities and to benefit from high-quality training.

This webinar edition of UNITAR's traditional online course offers participants the chance to ask questions to a high-level expert during a Q&A webinar.

Deadline for applications: 21 April 2023

Dates: 24 April 2023 – 12 May 2023

Register here for the webinar track.

Law of Treaties – Webinar Track

The International Law of Treaties is a set of international principles and rules regulating the conclusion procedure of treaties, as well as the issues of operation, amendments and modifications, termination, suspension and invalidity of treaties. For those involved in the drafting, negotiation and conclusion of international treaties, a sound knowledge of the Law of Treaties is indispensable. Efficient implementation and application of international legal norms is impossible without knowing the essentials of the International Law of Treaties. UNITAR’s course on the Law of Treaties is designed to cover both the theoretical and the practical aspects of this subject, starting with the basic notions, sources, subjects, principles, and scope of application of conventions forming the base of the Law of Treaties.

This webinar edition of UNITAR's traditional online course offers participants the chance to ask questions to a high-level expert during a Q&A webinar.

Deadline for applications: 26 May 2023

Dates: 29 May – 16 June 2023

Register here for the webinar track.

Human Rights, Environmental Protection and Climate Change 

This course covers the basic principles and concepts of human rights, the SDGs with emphasis on the goals and targets most relevant to environmental protection, and the relationship between human rights and the environment. The course will notably illustrate how the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can and is necessary to environmental protection, considering the recent scientific and legal developments around human rights and environment regimes. It will include as well a section covering the new developments following the COP25. 

Deadline for applications: 23 July 2023

Dates: 7 Aug 2023 - 20 Aug 2023

Register here

International Humanitarian Law Course

War remains a matter of great concern to humanity. Recent conflicts have demonstrated that the ravages of war continue to have a devastating impact especially on the civilian population. 

War might be the “end of the law” as one said, but International Law is not silent on armed conflicts. From its conception in 1859 on the battlefield of Solferino to contemporary warfare, modern International Humanitarian Law (IHL) has been confronted with significant challenges. Since the times of horses and bayonets to drones and other ‘Lethal Autonomous Weapons System’ (the so-called “killer robots”), IHL has always had the purpose of regulating the means and methods of warfare in order to limit human suffering. The development and sophistication of weapons has made it paradoxically problematic to distinguish between civilians and combatants in order to better protect the former. In addition, the proliferation of non-international armed conflicts (civil wars) and the emergence of new forms of armed conflicts, i.e. the “war on terrorism”, pose new challenges to the protection of civilian persons and goods. 

Deadline for applications: 23 August 2023

Dates: 4 September – 1 October 2023

Register here.

International Law – Webinar Track

The subject of international law brings a lot of concepts to mind, from war and settlement of disputes between States, protection of the environment, responsibilities and obligations, to human rights protection between citizens, refugees of different States and corporations. Globalization has forced us to interact with each other, making it essential to have common rules to guide and sustain relationships (of trade, investment, technology, etc.) between individuals and States from different regions and continents. Now, many domestic laws are highly influenced and moulded by the rules of international law. International law provides mandatory principles, norms and rules that regulate the relations between States as well as with other non-State actors, like international organizations and individuals.

This webinar edition of UNITAR's traditional online course offers participants the chance to ask questions to a high-level expert during a Q&A webinar.

Kindly check back for details regarding new editions.

Introduction to the UN System

With the increasing prevalence of current issues that transcend national boundaries, the international field is constantly changing and the role of international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), cannot be overlooked. Spearheading multilateral conversations, the UN continues to transform along with our dynamic world. For those interested in the workings of the UN and broadening their knowledge on the international system, this course equips participants with insight on the UN System of Organizations, including its structure and function. UNITAR’s tutor-facilitated course will additionally cover the evolution of multilateral diplomacy, the needs and role of the UN, and provide insight into the formal and informal processes of UN organs and agencies.

Registration deadline: 15 October 2023

Dates: 16 October 2023 – 12 November 2023

Register here