Our master’s programme in Public International Law (PIL) at Utrecht University will equip you with a broad range of tools to address current legal concerns facing the global population. Our PIL programme has been chosen as the Best Master Programme in the Netherlands in the field of International Law by the highly regarded Dutch Elsevier Guide on the Best Degrees for two years in a row (2013 and 2014). PIL is a flexible programme that offers you many options, both during your study period and in your career possibilities post-graduation. In today’s globalized world, the public international law addresses complex, challenging issues that touch everyone’s lives. In our PIL programme, you will explore common themes of public international law with the option to take a specialization in Human Rights or Environment and Law of the Sea. You will build relevant and current skills by studying actual cases facing the International Court of Justice and other international dispute-settlement institutions. You’ll develop your argumentation abilities in moot courts, amongst other training methods and learn to apply your knowledge of the law to real-life situations. This academic, challenging, English-taught LLM programme reflects the multidisciplinary research emerging from Utrecht University’s Faculty of Law, Economics, and Governance. The approach of the faculty’s research and the PIL programme is multi-dimensional: developments in public international law are best seen from a broad perspective. You will develop general precepts pertaining to worldwide concerns and learn to apply these precepts to specific cases. As an added benefit, the international... [-]

Visit the LLM programme pages here.

The LLM programme in Public International Law at the University of Groningen provides students with a strong foundation in most fields of public international law, and is designed to provide an optimal mix of teaching and mentorship, to ensure the realization of our goals in the field of knowledge dissemination and the training of academic, legal, and practical skills.

Within these parameters, the programme offers some flexibility in the range of courses that can be chosen and students can opt for a peace & security, an economic/environmental or a dispute settlement profile. The programme offers the opportunity for starting or enhancing one's professional career in an international legal environment, be it at a national government level, in the United Nations, or at an international non-governmental agency.... [-]

The two-year Research Master’s programme in Public International Law aims to give students knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of public international law. In particular, the programme focuses on the key areas of the international rule of law, legal science, and international legal research. At the same time, students will acquire the skills they need in order to apply their knowledge to conduct fundamental and applied research.

Graduates of the Research Master’s may apply for an accelerated, three-year Ph.D. track.

During the first year, students gain an understanding of the foundations of public international law and, more specifically, the international rule of law. They are also trained in theories and methods of legal research. Under the supervision of a senior researcher, students form small groups that contribute to research projects being carried out within the Amsterdam Center for International Law (ACIL). Master classes help students to improve their writing, presentation, debating and argumentation skills.... [-]

Public International Law is a track of the Master's programme in International and European Law.

The public international law has a long tradition but also an acute modern relevance. Its main functions are the facilitation of the co-existence of independent states and communities and the furtherance of international cooperation for shared interests. Both functions are of critical importance in an era of internationalization and globalization.

The Public International Law track is taught by leading international law scholars with a high academic reputation and broad experience in the practice of international law. In addition to lectures, most courses are taught in smaller seminars or working groups allowing for a challenging exchange of ideas on the latest developments and academic insights in this dynamic area of law.... [-]