Master of Laws – Public International Law
Vienna, Austria
DURATION
2 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
14 Apr 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
29 Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 8,000 / per semester
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* Non-EU applicants: April 14th 2025 | EU applicants and online programme: August 31st 2025
Key Summary
Introduction
UNITAR is delighted to offer the Master’s Programme in Public International Law (Master of Laws (LL.M.), in cooperation with Sigmund Freud University Vienna (SFU). This new graduate programme will combine SFU's academic strength with UNITAR´s practical focus and will be implemented on-campus in Vienna, or online, for one year.
The Master’s programme in Public International Law aims to deepen students’ knowledge and skills of international law and provides direct insights into the activities of the United Nations and other international organizations. With the Master’s degree, students acquire the ability to perform demanding legal tasks in the global environment, working for national and supranational authorities, non-governmental organizations, international courts as well as other dispute resolution mechanisms.
The programme aims to deepen students’ knowledge and skills in international law and provides direct insights into the activities of the United Nations and other international organizations. Apart from the legal qualifications, the joint Master's offers a direct connection to the UN and its agencies. Students can expect to:
- Experience the UN work environment in Vienna first-hand
- Build personal relations with UN experts and staff members
- Benefit from tailor-made UN career development sessions
- Gain support and access to entry points into the UN system
The programme has been designed in a hybrid format. This means that the participants have the flexibility to attend the programme either in person in Vienna or online, providing diverse learning options tailored to individual preferences and circumstances. The participants can also decide to attend some parts of the programme on-site in Vienna while completing most of the courses online. We particularly encourage in-person attendance at the UN Orientation Week, taking place on the first week of October. Apply directly here.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
The Master’s program in Public International Law (Master of Laws (LL.M.) has a strong focus on practice. It starts with a UN Immersion Week at the Vienna International Center (VIC), where students get a first-hand experience of the United Nations by visiting UN agencies and receiving expert lectures, training workshops, and career development sessions. The program offers next to the extensive training sessions additional events, for instance, a welcome or farewell dinner for the participants to socialize and get to know each other.
As several courses are implemented by UNITAR, its instructors are highly experienced practitioners in the diplomatic field. These include current and former ambassadors, high-level UN staff, or other distinguished individuals from the public and private sectors.
The contents of the specific courses are presented in detail in the Module Handbook. The Master’s is divided into four modules to which the courses are assigned as follows:
Module 1: Core Fields of Public International Law
- Sources and Principles of Public International Law
- International Organizations Law
- International Humanitarian Law
- International Human Rights Law
- Recent Challenges in Public International Law
Module 2: Theory and Practice of Global Diplomacy
- Theories of International Relations
- Introduction to Global Diplomacy
- Introduction to the Work of the United Nations
- Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Module 3: Legal Thinking and Communication in International Contexts
- Comparative Public Law
- Europe as an Actor under International Law
- Negotiation Skills and Techniques in Intercultural Contexts
- English Report Writing Skills
Module 4: Examination Phase
- Master Seminar
- Master Thesis
- Oral Examination
Program Outcome
The Master in Public International Law is a university program designed to deepen students’ knowledge of existing international law and its foundations, to provide insight into international relations and the activities of global actors, namely international administrations, and to impart practical skills for working in global contexts.
The program brings together international students from different cultural contexts, who exchange views on global challenges and possible solution strategies under academic guidance. It deepens students’ interest in working for international organizations, especially under the umbrella of the United Nations.
The program helps to connect future leaders in the international sphere. It qualifies students for a doctoral program in international law and provides proof of advanced knowledge of the English legal language on the job market.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
The Master’s programme in Public International Law does not aim to prepare students primarily for access to a regulated profession (lawyer, public prosecutor, judge, and notary). Rather, the international scope of the degree programme opens up a wealth of career prospects.
Potential employers include first and foremost international organizations, such as the United Nations, which in the form of UNITAR as a cooperation partner of the programme implements a significant part of the master´s curriculum.
Other potential future employers could be the European Union, foreign ministries of student´s respective countries, or other government bodies in general. For those who already have access to the regulated professions, the Master Public International Law can also serve as an additional qualification.
Graduates of the Master’s programme are also potential employees for internationally operating companies and law firms. Legal advisory work outside the traditional legal professions as well as work for a chamber, an association, or a foundation presents further career possibilities.