MA in International Law and Diplomacy (Hybrid & Online Formats) (UNITAR)
Ciudad Colón, Costa Rica
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Apr 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 13,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Blended, Distance Learning
* hybrid format. Fees may be paid via online credit card payment or international wire transfers to our bank location in Costa Rica in USD only. American Express and Discover cards not accepted
Introduction
The Master of Arts in International Law and Diplomacy (online and hybrid formats) is a graduate program 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 program, 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, and 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 careers and employability.
This master’s degree offered by two UN entities (University for Peace and United Nations Institute for Training and Research) combines the best of academic and executive-style education. Students will also gain first-hand experience with 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.
Student Body
The University for Peace is characterized by its diversity and multiculturalism. For 2020-2021, we had 102 students from 38 countries. As a result, our campus ws always full of student activities, most of them organized by the students themselves. In past years, we have had yoga classes, conversation classes in different languages, the celebration of cultural nights (Asian night, Latin night, European night, etc.), as well as institutional activities open to students (Zumba classes, academic "brown bag" lunches, etc.) The current situation has forced students to become more creative with regards to socializing and ensuring a rich student life at UPEACE.
Ideal Students
The program 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.
Admissions
Curriculum
Format
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.
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.
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.
M.A. in International law and Diplomacy (online)
Students can obtain the MA in International Law and Diplomacy (online) upon successful completion of 42 credits, including 36 credits for coursework and 6 credits for a final independent research project (IRP).
In order to graduate from the program, students must undertake the courses marked as ‘Mandatory’ (29 credits) in the list below. In addition, students must take optional courses (7 credits) from the list, before completing their final graduation project (IRP).
- UPEACE 33 credits
- UNITAR 9 credits
M.A. in International Law and Diplomacy (hybrid)
Students can obtain an MA in International Law and Diplomacy (Hybrid) upon successful completion of 42 credits, including 36 credits for coursework and 6 credits for a final independent research project (IRP). In order to graduate from the program, students must undertake the first semester courses marked as ‘Mandatory’ in the list below on the UPEACE main campus in Costa Rica from August to December. Students in the hybrid modality must complete the rest of the program online within 3 semesters.
In the hybrid modality, students will complete on-campus mandatory courses (14 credits) and online mandatory courses (13 credits), for a total of 27 credits of mandatory courses. In addition, students must take optional courses (9 credits) from the list, before completing their final graduation project (IRP).
- UPEACE 33 credits
- UNITAR 9 credits
Optional Field Visit to Geneva and 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 3 days in Geneva (Switzerland) and 2 days in The Hague (Netherlands).
The fee for the five-day field trip is $1,500. The fee does not include travel, accommodation, food or visa expenses.
Gallery
Program Outcome
At the end of the program, 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 regionally and internationally;
- 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.