About the programme

UN Photo / Ryan Brown

The Master of Arts in International Law and Diplomacy (online and hybrid formats) is a two-year graduate programme permitting students to specialize in the intersection between international law and diplomacy. It will not only broaden student’s 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.

During this programme, students will analyze the different dimensions of international law including those related to law-making, armed conflicts, human rights, economic relations, territorial and maritime disputes, environmental disputes as well as those related to the theory and practice of diplomacy in the 21st century including dispute settlement and conflict resolution. Students will also attend skills development sessions that are designed to support their professional career and employability.

Who is it for ?

The programme is designed for graduate students, diplomats, government officers, NGO representatives, international civil servants or private law practitioners willing to strengthen their knowledge in international law, dispute settlement, international affairs management and diplomacy.

Outstanding Benefits

UNITAR

This unique programme, backed by the United Nations, is designed to give students a first-hand experience in the field of international law, international affairs and diplomacy.

  • Learn from highly experienced experts
  • Field visit to Geneva, the birthplace of the UN, and the Hague, the heart of international law
  • Benefit from an interdisciplinary approach
  • Flexible learning methods with diversity of optional courses
  • Broad employment perspectives

Learning Objectives

UNITAR

At the end of the programme, students should:

  • Have a deep understanding of the theory and practice of international law;
  • Be able to participate in different processes of law making, implementing and enforcement in promoting the rule of law at different levels, especially regional and international;
  • Have a deep understanding of the theory and practice of diplomacy;
  • Be able to appraise the nexus between international law, diplomacy, the UN System and current contemporary challenges;
  • Be able to apply key soft skills in an international working environment.

Format

The Master of Arts in International Law and Diplomacy (hybrid) will be implemented partly on-campus at UPEACE in San Jose, Costa Rica (first semester) and online (second, third and fourth semesters). All online courses will be hosted on UPEACE’s Virtual Learning Environment. 

The Master of Arts in International Law and Diplomacy (online) will be implemented online. All subjects will be hosted on UPEACE’s Virtual Learning Environment.

Students can also enroll in any of the individual courses offered by the Online Programmes. Students enrolling in and successfully completing individual courses for credits will obtain a certificate of completion and upon request, an academic transcript. Students enrolling in and successfully completing individual courses without credits will obtain a certificate of completion.

Field Visit to Geneva or The Hague

During this activity, students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the very heart of diplomacy, visit different international organizations and network with other diplomats, personnel of permanent missions accredited to the UN, civil servants of international organizations and civil society representatives.

Students will spend 5 days in Geneva (Switzerland) OR 5 days in The Hague (Netherlands). The fee of the five-day field visit is $1,500. The fee does not include travel, accommodation, food or visa expenses.

The Certificate in International Law and Diplomacy

In addition to the M.A. in International Law and Diplomacy, UPEACE-UNITAR offers an Online Certificate in International Law and Diplomacy. The Certificate programme enables 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. Students will analyse the various dimensions of international law including those related to law-making, armed conflicts, human rights, and economic relations, as well as those related to the theory and practice of diplomacy in the 21st century - including dispute settlement and conflict resolution.

Students will also attend skills development sessions that are designed to support their professional careers and employability. Additionally, students will gain first-hand experience of the work of the United Nations (UN), as they will have the opportunity to participate in a field trip to Geneva and The Hague, where the UN maintains a significant presence.

UN Photo
Christoph Chindler

More information

Learn more about the M.A. in International Law and Diplomacy, here.

Should you have any queries, please email admissions@upeace.org

About the United Nations Institute for Training and Research

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) was created in 1963 to train and equip young diplomats from newly-independent UN Member States with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate through the diplomatic environment. The Institute is a leading training provider in global and strategic challenges for professionals within and outside the United Nations system. UNITAR works closely with the United Nations Member States and an increasing number of other partners to strengthen the capacities of diplomats, government officials and other major actors, in view of actively supporting the overall efficiency of the multilateral system and in the field of international law.

About the University for Peace

The University for Peace (UPEACE) was established as a Treaty Organization with its own Charter in an International Agreement adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 35/55 on 5 December 1980, with the mission “to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace and with the aim of promoting among all human beings the spirit of understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation among peoples and to help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress, in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations.”

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