M.A. International Law and the Settlement of Disputes (UPEACE-UNITAR)
Ciudad Colón, Costa Rica
MA
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 19,500 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus, Blended
* Online application deadline: 30 June 2025 - Online start date: 7 July 2025 | Onsite application deadline: 30 April 2025 - Onsite start date: 19 August 2025
** $19,500 USD for face-to-face format | $13,000 USD for hybrid format | $11,000 USD for online format | $3,550 for the certificate programme
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
The Master of Arts in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes (onsite, hybrid, and online formats) is a graduate program that offers students an understanding of the role that international law and institutions play in the settlement of international and transnational disputes. This specialization examines the role of national and international courts and tribunals in contributing to the settlement of disputes. Students will examine the role of international law in the settlement of disputes in a wide array of fields such as human rights, armed conflicts, territorial and maritime border issues, environment and climate change, multilateral trade, and investments, amongst others and learn the traditional legal processes employed in international and transnational adjudication, as well as alternative forms of dispute settlement prevalent in international law.
Students will also attend skills development sessions and coaching sessions that are designed to support their professional careers and employability. Careers in this field can be very broad, with prospective employers including governments, international organizations, development agencies, academia, and the private sector.
Field Visits
Students admitted to the program are offered a unique opportunity to partake in an optional field visit to Geneva, Switzerland, and/or The Hague, Netherlands, immersing themselves in the heart of diplomacy and international law.
Important Dates
The online programme begins on 7 July 2025, with an application deadline of 30 June 2025.
The hybrid programme begins on 19 August 2025, with an application deadline of 30 April 2025.
Programme Fees
M.A. International Law and The Settlement of Disputes (Hybrid modality): $13.000 USD.
M.A. International Law and The Settlement of Disputes (Face-to-face modality): $19,500 USD.
M.A. International Law and The Settlement of Disputes (Online modality): $11,000 USD.
Certificate in International Law and The Settlement of Disputes ((hybrid format): $3,550 USD.
For the hybrid modality: UN staff will be eligible for a 20% waiver. Costa Rican Citizens will be eligible for a 30% waiver.
For the face-to-face modality: Costa Rica Citizens and UN Staff will be eligible for a 50% waiver. All other applicants may apply for a 20% waiver.
For the online modality: UN staff will be eligible for a 20% waiver. Costa Rican Citizens will be eligible for a 30% waiver.
The program is tailored for graduate students, diplomats, government officials, NGO representatives, international civil servants, and private sector professionals seeking to enhance their expertise in development studies, sustainability, international affairs management, and diplomacy.
At the conclusion of the program, students will:
- Acquire a comprehensive and critical understanding of the role of international law and institutions in dispute resolution.
- Develop practical skills in drafting pleadings for international courts through moot court simulations, including participation in the Phillip Jessup Moot Court competition representing UPEACE-UNITAR.
- Gain insights into dispute settlement norms across various fields of international law, such as human rights, armed conflict, maritime law, territorial disputes, international trade and investment, criminal law, and environmental law.
- Learn effective non-judicial dispute resolution techniques, including diplomacy, negotiation, mediation, and conciliation, with a focus on mechanisms for justice in post-conflict contexts.
Graduates of our programs are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary to excel in diverse professional environments, including international, national, and local government agencies, as well as civil society organizations.
Why Choose UPEACE?
Our alumni are primed for success in dynamic fields such as:
- Conflict Analysis and Resolution
- Diplomacy
- Nonviolence and Disarmament
- Peace-Making, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding
- Security Sector Reform
- Local and Global Justice
- Conflict and Peace-Sensitive Policy-Making
- Human Rights Advocacy
- Engagement in Local, Regional, and Global Tribunals
- Peace and Conflict Studies/Research
Join us at UPEACE and become a catalyst for change in the world!