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
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:
ICRC
Rubina Paparelli, Head of Syria Support at the International Committee of the Red Cross, tells about her experience taking our Executive Master of Advanced Studies.
Geneva Academy
At the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, we hosted a booth with Geneva Call and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.
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.
Wikimedia
In this Geneva Academy Talk Judge Lətif Hüseynov will discuss the challenges of inter-State cases under the ECHR, especially amid rising conflict-related applications.
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.
ICRC
As a yearly publication, it keeps decision-makers, practitioners and scholars up-to-date with the latest trends and challenges in IHL implementation in over 100 armed conflicts worldwide – both international and non-international.
Geneva Academy ICRC