Vrije University - Summer graduate programs
Summer Course in International Criminal JusticeOnline Netherlands
DURATION
2 Weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Jul 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 1,035 / per course *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Students, PhD candidates and employees of VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC or an Aurora Network Partner €545 Students and PhD candidates at partner universities of VU Amsterdam €705 Students and PhD candidates at non-partner universities of VU Amsterdam €
Key Summary
Introduction
International crimes and gross human rights violations pose a threat to international peace and security and call for effective action. An effective response, however, is often hampered by a lack of knowledge of the true nature and etiology of international crimes. Acquiring such knowledge is essential when designing effective measures and interventions to prevent and stop these crimes. Such knowledge must be multi- and interdisciplinary, but few academics and professionals working within the field are actually trained for such an undertaking.
This Summer School on International Criminal Justice aims to create a better understanding of the complex nature of international crimes, their perpetrators, and the reaction by the international community. By taking an interdisciplinary approach, students will examine the juridical and empirical sides of these mass atrocities and by combining theory, interactive discussions, and visits to the International Criminal Tribunals in The Hague, students will quickly develop a basic understanding of the most important issues concerning international criminal justice. Together with a group of expert lawyers and criminologists, you will explore what 'doing justice' means in practice and identify and discuss the most pressing challenges. In doing so, you will make the most of our location just 30 minutes away from the legal capital of the world, The Hague. Accompanied by experienced professionals, you will visit the most celebrated legal institutions of the world, such as the International Criminal Court, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Course Overview
- Course level: Advanced Bachelor's
- Course organisers: Adina Nistor and Barbora Holá
- Forms of tuition: lectures, study trips
- Forms of assessment: essay, group presentation
- Contact hours: 45
Program Outcome
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Summarise the central concepts of international criminal justice;
- Critically reflect on the development of international criminal justice;
- Critically reflect on empirical research methodologies;
- Analyze the shortcomings of international criminal justice;
- Formulate their opinion on different modes of transitional justice and their effects;
- Work in a small group to prepare for a presentation;
- Attractively present the findings of an explorative study.
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
Equal Access Scholarship
Application Procedure
Application for the Equal Access Scholarship will open in Febraury
Great that you are interested in applying for the Equal Access Scholarship. You can apply to the scholarship between 12 February and 1 April. Please be aware that it is only possible to select one course.
The results of the scholarship selection will be announced in May. Since we have a limited number of scholarships available for a large number of applicants, we suggest - if possible! - to complete your payment at the time of your course application to guarantee your place in the course. However, if you are not able to come without the scholarship, you can just wait until the announcement. If you would like to come, regardless of whether you will be granted the scholarship, it is best to secure your place in the course by completing your payment via our regular application form. If the scholarship is granted to you, the tuition and accommodation fees will be reimbursed.
Deadline to submit your Equal Access Scholarship application: 31 March (23:59 CET).
Requirements
When you apply via the Equal Access Scholarship application form you will be requested to upload the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae/Résumé (CV) stating your educational background.
- Professional Letter of Reference Including:
- His/her/their experience working with you (either in an academic, professional, or volunteer setting)
- His/her/their motivation for recommending you for the scholarship
- Complete contact information
- His/her/their experience working with you (either in an academic, professional, or volunteer setting)
- His/her/their motivation for recommending you for the scholarship
- Complete contact information
- When filling out the scholarship form, we will ask the following questions*:
- Why are you interested in joining VU Amsterdam Summer School?
- What’s your motivation for selecting this course?
- How you will use the information you learn to make a positive impact in the future for both you and your community?
- Why do you deserve this scholarship?
- Why are you interested in joining VU Amsterdam Summer School?
- What’s your motivation for selecting this course?
- How you will use the information you learn to make a positive impact in the future for both you and your community?
- Why do you deserve this scholarship?
Please stick to a maximum of 150 words per question.
Green Travel Grant
At VU Amsterdam Summer School we are also committed to VU's sustainability goals and we aim to reduce the environmental impact of mobility, and specifically, student travel. Therefore, we are thrilled to offer Green Travel Grants to encourage sustainable travel for students attending our summer school.
Where can I apply?
Once the courses have been confirmed to run in mid-May or June, we will send out a newsletter to our participants with a link where they can apply for either funding for train travel or funding for bus travel.
The application period will last two weeks, and we will select the winners via a lottery system. More information on the specific deadlines can be found in the newsletter we send out in May.
How does it work?
For students to receive the economic compensation they will need to submit their purchased travel tickets via email within two weeks after being selected as winners of the grant. Once the deadline to submit their tickets has passed, the students will receive the reimbursement.
Gallery
Ideal Students
This course is suitable for Advanced Bachelor's students (completed second year) with an interest in learning about crimes committed in the context of armed conflict or authoritarian regimes. Especially students with a background in criminology, law, psychology, social sciences, and conflict studies will benefit from this program, but given its introductory nature, it is not necessary to study in those fields.
Apart from Bachelor's and Master's students, we also welcome PhD candidates and professionals to apply to the course. The level of assessment is Advanced Bachelor level (third year).
Welcome to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Summer and Winter Schools
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