Introduction
The Master of Arts in International Law and Diplomacy (online and hybrid formats) is a graduate programme permitting 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.
During this programme, students will analyse 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. This master’s degree offered by two UN entities (University for Peace and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research) combines the best of academic and executive-style education. Students will also 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.
The programme - offered entirely in the online modality across four semesters - has been designed for graduate students, diplomats, government officers, NGO representatives, international civil servants or private law practitioners who wish to strengthen their knowledge in international law, dispute settlement, international affairs management and diplomacy, but are unable to leave their jobs and attend courses on-campus in Costa Rica. Specifically designed with such working professionals in mind, the courses offered in the online modality combine the best pedagogical techniques of asynchronous online education with highly interactive methods of learning.
Admissions Requirements
The following documentation is required to complete your application process. Please have them ready and on hand before beginning your online application process, as they will need to be uploaded into the system.
Required supporting documents to be uploaded:
English Proficiency Test Scores Report (TOEFL, IELTS)
Statement of Purpose
Letters of Recommendation
Official Undergraduate (Bachelor's Degree) Transcripts and Degree Certificate
Curriculum Vitae or Resume
Copy of Passport (front page with photo only)
Programme Costs
*UN staff will be eligible for a 20% waiver ($2,200.00), for a total of US$ 8,800.00.
Tuition fees for 9-week courses with 3 Credits: US$ 950.00 per course
Tuition fees for 6-week courses with 2 Credits: US$ 700.00 per course
Tuition
USD $11,000.00
Administrative Fees*
USD $0.00
Total
USD $11,000.00
*Administrative Fees are not refundable
Career info
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.
About UNITAR
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) provides innovative learning solutions to individuals, organizations, and institutions to enhance global decision-making and support country-level action for shaping a better future.
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.
Over the years, UNITAR has acquired unique expertise and experience in designing and delivering a variety of training activities. We have become a leading institute in the provision of customized and creative learning solutions to institutions and individuals from both the public and private sectors.
UNITAR homepage
UNITAR’s catalogue
About UPEACE
The University for Peace was established as a Treaty Organization with its own Charter in an International Agreement adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 35/55 of 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 co-operation 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."
