International Law

International Law (MIL)

The Master's Programme in International Law (MIL) is an innovative degree course blending an education in international law with essential aspects of business and politics, and with a strong practical emphasis.

The MIL curriculum provides students with the legal skills, the management abilities, and the interdisciplinary understanding required for a professional career in the international corporate world, in government, diplomacy, international organizations, compliance and regulatory affairs, and other public and private sector institutions.

Blending law, management, and politics

MIL courses allow for a great diversity of subjects, among them international and European business law, financial and capital markets law, dispute resolution, international organizations and politics, and legal profession. Students may also elect courses from related areas such as management studies and political science. They are invited to take part in international Moots and similar practical work. They benefit from numerous exchange schemes and partnership programmes.

Variety of academic backgrounds

Some MIL students will have earned their first degree in law or law and economics, others in fields such as international affairs, management, and economics. They all have a basic legal education.

Given its specialized focus, the MIL differs from standard legal programmes intended for students that want to take the bar exam and work as attorneys in their national jurisdictions. Some law graduates might think about pursuing an international career after graduating with the Master's Programme in Law or Master's Programme in Law and Economics. They may find that the MIL is just the right programme for them.

The language of instruction and examination is English. After three terms of full-time study and a course load of 90 ECTS, graduates are awarded a Master of Arts (M.A. HSG) in International Law.

Why MIL?

The Master's Programme in International Law (MIL) is a highly innovative degree course combining international law with essential aspects of business and government and a strong practical emphasis.

The MIL Programme...

...attracts candidates from different academic backgrounds, admitting students who have earned their first degrees in law, law and economics, international affairs, management, economics, and other fields with a basic legal education.

...offers a highly innovative curriculum that blends a specialized legal education in international law with essential aspects of business and politics and a strong practical emphasis.

...opens the door to a wide array of attractive positions, preparing graduates for professional careers in multinational corporations, government, diplomacy, international organizations, compliance and regulatory affairs, business consulting, law firms, NGOs as well as other public and private institutions.

...benefits from a large number of distinguished scholars in the Law School as well as the University's other Schools, counting among its faculty several internationally renowned visiting professors and high-profile legal practitioners with expertise in areas such as negotiation and international dispute settlement.

...fosters international exposure, encouraging students to take advantage of the University's vast network of exchange programmes with 170 universities worldwide.

...gives students the opportunity to combine the MIL with the one-year CEMS-Master in International Management (MIM), the internationally renowned master's degree in business administration offered by the Community of European Management Schools.

Curriculum

The MIL grants students enormous latitude in electing classes from across the programme's rich and diverse curriculum. Such freedom gives them the opportunity to put together a course of study that meets their professional objectives and personal preferences.

A distinctive feature of the MIL curriculum is the carefully arranged combination of mandatory courses and electives. Three mandatory courses ensure that students will acquire a sound general understanding of the normative and analytical framework of international law. At the same time, a rich offering of electives enables them to specialize in selected topics in law, management studies or political science.

Mandatory courses

All of the three mandatory courses are foundational in character. They provide students with the knowledge, the analytical tools and the practical skills required for a general grasp of the theory and practice of international law. They cover legal method and theory of international business law, international negotiation, and the international legal order.

Core electives

Core electives are courses designed to deepen students' understanding of specific international law topics. Courses are organized in clusters each concentrating on a particular subject area. Eventually, the programme may comprise up to six or seven clusters covering subjects such as International and European Business Law, Financial and Capital Markets Law, Dispute Resolution, International Organizations and Politics, Theoretical Foundations, Legal Profession, and Institutional Management. Students choose courses according to their own individual interests.

Legal electives

Legal electives enhance students' legal expertise and allow them to specialize while granting great freedom of choice. Students may opt for additional courses from the MIL core electives, or they select classes from specifically designed MIL legal electives. They may attend various courses from the Master's Programme in Law and Master's Programme in Law and Economics. In addition, students are invited to participate in a variety of practice workshops, especially Moots in which the Law School regularly takes part.

Independent electives

Independent electives present a wide range of options students choose depending on their own preferences. They may wish to attend further core electives, legal electives, or courses offered throughout the other Master's programmes of the University.

Master's Thesis

The Master's thesis allows students to concentrate on a research question in a specialized subject area of their own choice. It is graded and weighed with 18 ECTS. The focus of the Masters thesis must be broadly related to international law. The thesis must normally be written in English.

Contextual studies

Contextual Studies complement the MIL's core studies. They include courses on cultural awareness, critical thinking, and leadership skills.

Practice credits

Practice credits are awarded for practical activities which are closely related to the MIL, such as internships at law firm, courts, national and international authorities, organizations and NGOs, projects and mandate in various settings.

Partnerships

The University of St. Gallen is a member of the Community of European Management Schools (CEMS), the distinguished association of leading European business schools and international companies, IAD.

MIL students may wish to combine their master's degree in International Law with an internationally renowned master's degree in business administration.

The University of St.Gallen offers them the possibility to apply for the one-year CEMS Master in International Management CEMS (MIM).

The Advice Center for Study Funding offers information on options for financing your studies: www.studyfunding.unig.ch

Accreditation

The HSG has earned the EQUIS (2001) and AACSB (2003) accreditations and consequently has obtained the two most demanding international seals of approval for business schools.

In the 2013 Financial Times Global Masters in Management Ranking we are in 1st place with the Master in Strategy and International Management and in 7th place with the CEMS Master in International Management. Our Master in Banking and Finance is ranked 10th in the Financial Times Masters in Finance Ranking.