International Law of Global Security, Peace and Development

Programme Overview

Programme Structure

The programme is taught over 24 months and includes at least three mobility periods.

The degree-awarding partners are the University of Glasgow, Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals, the University of Tartu, Radboud University, Leuphana University of Luneburg and the Université libre de Bruxelles.

In year 1 you will spend one semester at the University of Glasgow (to study international law of global security, peace & development) and one at Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (to study international relations and politics).

Semester 3 (year 2): you will select one of the semester 3 partners, which offer thematic study track options:

  • Radboud University has 2 study tracks: i. International and European law advanced; ii. Human rights and migration
  • University of Tartu: International law and human rights
  • Leuphana University of Luneburg: International economics, sustainability and governance
  • Université libre de Bruxelles: Peace and security, security and conflict

Semester 4: you will remain at your semester 3 location to write your dissertation. Supervisor allocation will be based on staff subject background and research interests.

The pedagogical design of this programme will expose you to a broad range of teaching, learning and assessment formats including lectures, discussion-oriented seminars, work placements, project-based teamwork, law clinics, moot court exercises, e-learning, dissertation, written assignments and exams and oral presentations.

Please note that courses offered vary from year to year and modules are subject to cancellation.

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University of Glasgow

Semester 1 (September – December) 

Core Courses:

  • International Law and Global Security, Peace and Development (10 ECTS)

Optional courses:

  • Advanced introduction to international criminal law (10 ECTS) 
  • Advanced introduction to the law of the United Nations (10 ECTS)
  • Clinic: Human rights and humanitarian law in practice (10 ECTS) 
  • Foundations of international law (10 ECTS)
  • International courts and tribunals (10 ECTS)
  • Law and development (10 ECTS) 
  • Researcher development workshops
  • The laws of armed conflict (10 ECTS)
  • Advanced introduction to the European Convention on human rights (10 ECTS)

Please note that courses offered vary from year to year and modules are subject to cancellation.

Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI)

Semester 2 (January – June) International Relations and Politics

Core Course:

  • Theories of International Security (8 ECTS)
  • Research Methods (6 ECTS)

Optional Courses:

At IBEI, you must complete four elective courses in total. Two out of six of the prerequisite optional courses identified for each semester 3 study track must be taken. Of the four electives, a minimum of  two courses must also be a ‘specialised MUSI’ electives from the below list of courses. 

Electives at IBEI (semester 2) for Study Tracks at Tartu (Human Rights) or Radboud (Human rights and Migration) in semester 3

  • Human Security (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS)
  • International Politics of human rights (4 ECTS)
  • The Politics of international humanitarianism (4 ECTS)
  • Immigration Integration Policies (4 ECTS)
  • Gender, Security and Development (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS) 
  • Minority Politics in the Middle East (4 ECTS) 

Electives at IBEI (semester 2) for Study track at Leuphana (International economics, sustainability and governance) in semester 3

  • Natural Resources and Geopolitics (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS)
  • Growth, Inequality and Poverty (4 ECTS)
  • Development, Environment and Natural resources (ECTS)
  • Global Public Policy (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS)
  • Geopolitics of Energy (4 ECTS)
  • Historical Legacies and Development (4 ECTS)

Electives at IBEI (semester 2) for Study Track at Radboud (International and European Law) in semester 3

  • Complex Governance of Global Challenges (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS)
  • The Politics of International Sanctions (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS)
  • Foreign Policy Analysis (4 ECTS)
  • Immigration Integration Policies (4 ECTS)
  • European Security and Defence Policy (4 ECTS)

Electives at IBEI (semester 2) for Study Track at Brussels (Peace and Security, Security and Conflict) in semester 3

  • Peace Processes and Conflict Resolution (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS)
  • International Security and Weapons of Mass Destruction (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS)
  • Gender, Security and Development (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS)
  • Criminal Violence in Latin America (4 ECTS)
 
Additional courses at IBEI:
  • Cybersecurity (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS)
  • Terrorism and Counterterrorism (Specialised MUSI) (4 ECTS)

*Please note that courses offered vary from year to year and modules are subject to cancellation.

University of Tartu; Semester 3  (September – December, some exams in January)

Study track choice: International Law and Human Rights

Core modules:

  • History and theory of international law (6 ECTS)
  • Human rights law (6 ECTS)
  • Law of international institutions (6 ECTS)
  • Law and practice of the United Nations (6 ECTS)

Elective modules:

  • Cyberspace, technology and international law (6 ECTS)
  • Human rights education (6 ECTS)
  • International criminal law (6 ECTS)
  • Russian approaches to international law and human rights (6 ECTS)
  • European Human Rights Law (6 ECTS)

Leuphana University Lüneburg; Semester 3 (October – January)

Study track choice: International economics, sustainability and governance

Core modules:

  • International economic law (10 ECTS)
  • Sustainability science (5 ECTS)
  • International Sustainability law (5 ECTS)

Elective modules:

  • Introduction into Sustainability Governance (5 ECTS)
  • European and National Environmental and Energy Law (5 ECTS)
  • Sustainable Energy (5 ECTS)
  • Behavioural Public Economics (5 ECTS)
  • Institutions of Democracy (5 ECTS)
  • Security Policy in a Globally Comparative Perspective (5 ECTS)
  • Democracy in a Changing World Order (5 ECTS)
  • Climate Governance in the Global South (5 ECTS)
  • Replications Studies (5 ECTS)
  • Global Sustainability Politics and Sustainable Statehood (5 ECTS)
  • Introduction to Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions (5 ECTS)

Radboud University; Semester 3 (September – January)

Study track choice one: International and European Law Advanced

Core modules:

  • EU external relations law (7 ECTS)
  • Public international law advanced (7 ECTS)
  • International arbitration (7 ECTS)
  • Research project (2 ECTS)
 
Elective modules:
  •  Accountability for Human Rights Violations – delivered in semester 2 (7 ECTS)
  • Judicial Protection in the EU – delivered in semester 2 (7 ECTS)
  • Law and Society – delivered in  semester 1 (7 ECTS)

Radboud University; Semester 3 (September – January)

Study track choice two: Human Rights and Migration

Core modules:

  • EU external relations law (7 ECTS)
  • European immigration law (7 ECTS)
  • Protection of human rights in international law (7 ECTS)
  • Research project (2 ECTS)
 
Elective modules:
  •  Accountability for Human Rights Violations – delivered in semester 2 (7 ECTS)
  • European & Comparative Refugee Law -delivered in semester 2 (7 ECTS)
  • Judicial Protection in the EU – delivered in semester 2 (7 ECTS)
  • Law and Society – delivered in  semester 1 (7 ECTS)

Université libre de Bruxelles; Semester 3 (September – December)

Study track choice: Peace and security, security and conflict

Core modules:

  • International litigation and pleading exercises (5 ECTS)
  • Public international law exercises (5 ECTS)
  • Methodology of international law (5 ECTS)

Electives modules

  • Law of international organisations and collective security (5 ECTS)
  • Security practices and political violence (5 ECTS)
  • International and european criminal law (5 ECTS)
  • International law and climate change (5 ECTS)
  • Terrorism and international law (5 ECTS)
  • Laws of Armed Conflict (5 ECTS)

Dissertation (20-25,000 words or 80-90 pages) (30 ECTS)

You will write your dissertations at a partner university from where you spent semester 3.

Supervisor allocation will be based on staff subject background and research interests.

As a ILGSPD student, you can diversify and strengthen your knowledge and experience by selecting from two non-credit bearing summer school options:

LMU’s Advanced Course in International Law is a highly reputable summer school that offers seminars on advanced issues of international law, focusing on a specific theme each year and allowing students to enhance their specialised expertise.

The Summer Course on Refugees and Forced Migration is an internationally-acclaimed course for researchers, students, practitioners, service providers and policy makers working in the area of forced migration. This is a unique opportunity to study this topical and significant issue in an interdisciplinary context and along with a diverse group of participants.

The Thessaloniki Summer Courses on International Law and Human Rights are hosted by the Foundation in the historical city of Thessaloniki, consisting of lectures, workshops and seminars conducted by prestigious academics and practitioners from all over the world, aim to bridge theory with practice and to nourish interactive dialogue. They engage every summer in the in-depth examination of a specific international law and/or human rights topic that is highly significant and current.

The Summer School will focus on the Dynamic Evolution of Fundamental and Human Rights. Topics such as religious freedom, climate litigation, migration and the digital space will be explored from an interdisciplinary perspective. Once again, it will be one of the Summer School’s key characteristics that speakers will include both academics as well as practitioners, offering the unique opportunity to gain insights into current theoretical discussions as well as the everyday challenges of practicing law.

 

A range of further formative and extra-curricular features are embedded within this programme. These include:

  • Law clinics and moot courts (including the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, Willem C. Vis Moot Court Competition, European Law Moot Court Competition, Telders International Law Moot Court Competition, Charles Rousseau Moot Court Competition, Manfred Lachs Moot Court Competition on Space Law, International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition, and the Jean-Pictet Competition in International Humanitarian Law, as well as Glasgow’s Clinic in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in Practice and Radboud Rule of Law Clinic and the Future Tech Law Clinics)
  • Study trips to key international organisations and institutions, such as the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, UN agencies and offices, and NATO
  • Opportunities to attend conferences in international law and on issues of global security, peace and development
  • Specialist guest lectures and seminars
  • Employability training
  • Research methods training
  • Language learning opportunities

Language Training offered in our partner institutions:

You will have a prospect to undertake formative language learning at each of degree-awarding partner institutions.

Foreign language training is offered as a non-credit bearing option, throughout Semester 1, 2 and 3. Language training at beginners level is available for Russian, Chinese, Spanish, French and Arabic (for example at University of Glasgow- one course is free during semester 1). These languages are of particular importance to the security, peace and development sectors.

Additional language training at University of Glasgow (Semester 1) is available for German, Czech, Norwegian, Danish, Gaelic, Japanese, Urdu, Hungarian, Portuguese and Italian (available languages might vary year to year).

Upon their arrival at IBEI for Semester 2, you will have the opportunity to continue your language training (at an additional cost) with some of its Associated Partners. The languages include Catalan, Spanish, Germany, French, Italian and Persian.

Semester 3 partners also offer extensive language training opportunities:

  • Radboud University offers a free course of Social Dutch for international students. Furthermore, students can attend language courses in Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.
  • At University of Tartu students are offered more than 20 different languages at the College of Foreign Languages and Cultures. A variety of courses are taught, including Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Estonian, French, German, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish. Students can also take courses on academic English offered for students of MA in International Law and Human Rights.
  • Leuphana University Lüneburg runs a 4-week Language and Orientation Programme designed to help new international students settle in Lüneburg, including an intensive German course. In addition, the Language Center offers courses in Chinese, French, Italian, Catalan, Polish, Swedish, Spanish and Hungarian. The Complementary Studies programme of the Center adopts an action and problem-oriented learning approach that will help students improve their language competencies while giving them an opportunity to learn and reflect on a variety of interdisciplinary and cultural topics.
  • Finally, Université libre de Bruxelles offers French (as a foreign language) classes throughout the year for non-French-speaking students. Students also have the opportunity to learn 27 other languages, including German, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Spanish, French, Modern Greek, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, Czech or Turkish.

Importantly, because ILGSPD is taught and assessed in English (except for two courses delivered by ULB both in English and French), specialist support for English for Academic Study is essential. All partner institutions offer such training and if your first language is not English, you are entitled to attend classes and support services during S1, extendable to S2 and S3 if required.

Additional English language services are available at University of Glasgow. These services are available to ILGSPD students across all their mobility periods via specialist online and distance support services, reflecting the university’s recognition that such services must be extended to students on mobility beyond Glasgow.

Applications for September 2025 entry to ILGSPD are closed. 

The initial project funding has come to an end, pending the outcome of a renewal bid . Please note that there will be no September 2025 intake. 

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Interested?

Applications for ILGSPD are now open. You can apply as an Erasmus Mundus scholarship-funded student or as a self-funded student.