Helsinki, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
EUR 18,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for non-EU/EEA countries
Key Summary
Introduction
Study Global Governance Law at the University of Helsinki and develop the skills to deal with the challenges of legal globalisation
How to deal with the challenges of globalizing law?
Globalization has brought about a situation where lawyers are now required to grapple with national, international, European, and transnational laws when they apply norms. In the two-year research-oriented Master's Program in Global Governance Law (GGL), you develop the skills to understand and deal with the challenges of globalizing law.
You study public international law, European Union law, global administrative law, and advanced human rights law and examine for example international institutions, decision-making, and governance in the EU. You can also specialize in Russian law, or Chinese law or engage in interdisciplinary studies in Global Politics and Communication.
In the GGL Programme, ‘law’ is conceived broadly as something that goes beyond ‘law’ as it has been traditionally understood in the international sphere – as norms produced by states and international organisations. In this programme, for example, various codes of conduct, recommendations, opinions and forms of self-regulation are also taken into account. In essence, the GGL Programme reaches beyond public international law to cover other actors and normativity including networks, expert bodies and governance structures not limited to the official relations between governments of states. Its interest is in the new power and governance structures – both public and private - that are used to govern the world today.
Studying
Legal globalisation engenders processes by which different bodies of law become increasingly interconnected and interdependent, thereby crossing traditional borders. Lawyers are now required to grapple with national, international, European, and transnational laws when they apply norms.
The teaching of Global Governance Law is research-based. Accordingly, teachers of the Programme are distinguished scholars, at the forefront of their research fields, and committed to the personal and professional development of students. Many of the teachers in the programme invoke methods that enrich their research with a critical, comparative, empirical or multidisciplinary approach.
The two-year research-oriented Master's Programme in Global Governance Law (GGL) helps you develop the skills to understand and deal with the challenges of globalising law. You complete the degree of Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL) and become an internationally-oriented professional well-qualified for a career in international organisations, legal practice, various expert positions in the public sector as well as legal academia both in Finland and abroad.
Why Global Governance Law?
In the Master's Programme in Global Governance Law, you will:
- Increase and deepen your knowledge and understanding of global governance law and basic knowledge of the relevant key fields of law, such as legal theory and history relating to your field of study, European Union law, various aspects of public international law and specific fields of global governance law such as finance and the environment.
- Further develop your analytical, legal argumentation and communications skills.
- Develop research skills and legal knowledge to continue your studies in a PhD programme.
- Study in an international and multicultural environment with students and staff from all over the world.
- Complete the degree of Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL).
- Become an internationally-oriented professional well-qualified for a career in international organisations, legal practice, and various expert positions in the public sector as well as legal academia both in Finland and abroad.
Please note that this degree (MICL) does not provide qualifications for positions which specifically require a Finnish Master of Laws (oikeustieteen master, OTM) degree.
Essentially, the GGL Programme exceeds both national and international boundaries and raises the ambition to the global level with a broad scope.
Students and student life
Student life and especially the student organisation culture is exceptionally rich and diverse in Finland. Also at the University of Helsinki, more than 250 student organisations operate within the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY), ranging from faculty and subject organisations to political and societal organisations, and from choirs and orchestras to sports and game clubs. Their activities include anniversary celebrations, academic dinner parties, cultural events, get-togethers and excursions.
As a student and member of the Student Union (HYY), you are entitled to many benefits and services. For example, affordable student housing, low-cost sports services and student-priced meals. You also get numerous discounts, for example on public transport fees across the country.
Admissions
Curriculum
The scope of the Master's Program in Global Governance Law is 120 credits (ECTS) to be completed in two academic years. It comprises compulsory and optional studies, seminars and research work culminating in the production of a Master’s thesis. You can also include an internship and a student exchange period as part of your degree.
The program is aimed at students who have completed a first-cycle degree (e.g., bachelor’s degree) a second-cycle degree (e.g., Master’s degree) or a postgraduate degree in Finland or abroad.
The teaching language of the programme is English. At least 75% of the degree must be completed fully in English.
Year 1 (60 ECTS)
The first semester provides you with theoretical knowledge of global governance and basic knowledge of relevant key fields of law. You are introduced to various aspects of global governance law, starting from its historical and theoretical aspects, and then moving to the broader legal framework consisting of public international law, European Union law, global administrative law, and advanced human rights law. You attend interactive lectures that are supported by small-group tutorials led by post-doctoral researchers and doctoral students. The latter consists of assignments and readings with ample opportunity for discussion.
The second semester will deepen your understanding of global governance law through group work and essay writing. You will examine international institutions, decision-making and governance in the EU, and governance in various specific fields including economic and financial governance, environmental governance, private global governance and security, and transnational crime governance.
Year 2 (60 ECTS)
The second year involves the Master’s thesis seminar. It consists of a research seminar essay and research seminar (5 ECTS), introductory legal thinking and methodology course (5 ECTS) as well as completing the Master's thesis (30 ECTS).
During this one-year-long project, you participate in seminar meetings, complete seminar assignments, write your Master’s thesis and present your findings in research seminar meetings. You get regular feedback about your work from your supervisor and fellow students. Upon completing the seminar, you will have advanced academic argumentation and writing skills as well as a thorough understanding of your thesis topic.
In addition, you take 20 optional credits by choosing one of the following streams:
1. Russian law, including;
- Constitutional Law and Governing Russia
- Human Rights, Global, and Regional Challenges
- Business and Company Law: Governing Economics
- Justice, Law, and Society
2. Chinese law, including;
- Chinese legal system: history and presence
- Business and Company law: governing economics
- China in international organizations – transnational governance
- Corporate social responsibility and fundamental labour rights in China
3. Studies from the Master's Program in Global Politics and Communication at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Please note that you can also include an internship and a student exchange period as part of your degree.
Language of studies
The teaching language of the program is English. At least 75% of the degree must be completed fully in English (e.g. seminars, seminar papers, and similar written work, exams, and the Master’s thesis). However, you can also study in other languages, for example, including a semester abroad or law courses taught in Finnish or Swedish.
Earned degree
You will complete the degree of Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL). It provides general eligibility for postgraduate studies and qualifies for positions that require a Master’s level education. However, it does not provide qualifications for positions that specifically require a Finnish Master of Laws (oikeustieteen master, OTM) degree.
Courses and teaching
The courses and teaching in the Master's Program in Global Governance Law include the following themes:
- Global Governance Law: History and Theory
- Public international law
- European Union law
- Global administrative law
- Advanced Human Rights law
- International institutions
- Economic & financial, environmental and private global governance
- Security and Transnational Crime Governance
- Russian and Chinese law
- Human Rights, Global, and Regional Challenges
- Business and Company Law: Governing Economics
Master's thesis
The Master's thesis is an integral part of your degree. You will attend a Master's thesis seminar consisting of a research seminar essay and research seminar (5 ECTS), introductory legal thinking and methodology course (5 ECTS) as well as completing your Master's thesis (30 ECTS).
During this year-long project, you participate in seminar meetings, complete seminar assignments, write your Master’s thesis and present your findings in research seminar meetings. In the seminar meetings, you get regular feedback about your work from your supervisor and fellow students.
Upon completing your Master's thesis, you will have advanced academic argumentation and writing skills, as well as a thorough understanding of your thesis topic.
Doctoral education
The degree of Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL) provides general eligibility for postgraduate studies and a solid foundation for doctoral studies.
At the University of Helsinki, doctoral education is carried out in four doctoral schools. The Doctoral Program in Law by the Faculty of Law is part of the University of Helsinki’s Doctoral School in Humanities and Social Sciences (HYMY). Some 15–20 doctoral students graduate each year. Doctoral dissertations are mostly written in English.
Gallery
Program Outcome
Why Global Governance Law?
In the Master's Program in Global Governance Law, you will:
- Increase and deepen your knowledge and understanding of global governance law and basic knowledge of the relevant key fields of law, such as legal theory and history relating to your field of study, European Union law, various aspects of public international law and specific fields of global governance law such as finance and the environment.
- Specialize in Russian law, Chinese law or engage in interdisciplinary studies in Global Politics and Communication.
- Further develop your analytical, legal argumentation and communications skills.
- Develop research skills and legal knowledge in order to continue your studies in a Ph.D. program.
- Study in an international and multicultural environment with students and staff from all over the world.
- Complete the degree of Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL).
- Become an internationally-oriented professional well-qualified for a career in international organizations, legal practice, various expert positions in the public sector as well as legal academia both in Finland and abroad.
Please note that this degree (MICL) does not provide qualifications for positions that specifically require a Finnish Master of Laws (oikeustieteen maisteri, OTM) degree.
Scholarships and Funding
Our scholarship program is for students who are applying to the University of Helsinki. These scholarships are intended for excellent students from outside the EU/EEA, who wish to complete a Master's program at the University of Helsinki. Grants can be applied while applying to the University of Helsinki’s Master’s programs.
For more information about scholarships, please visit the university website.
Career Opportunities
Building your career begins already during your studies. From the start of your studies until one year after the completion of your degree, Career Services at the University of Helsinki give guidance and support, including career guidance and counselling, courses and events, and facilitation of mentoring groups.
Upon graduation, you will become an internationally oriented professional who is well-qualified for careers in international organizations, legal practice (such as law firms and corporate legal departments), and various expert positions in the public sector as well as legal academia both in Finland and abroad.
The degree of Master of International and Comparative Law (MICL) provides general eligibility for postgraduate studies and qualifies you for positions that require a master’s level education. However, it does not provide qualifications for positions that specifically require a Finnish Master of Laws (oikeustieteen mastery, OTM) degree.