LL.M. in Global Health Law and International Institutions

Geneva, capital of global health governance

The semester in Geneva provides participants with a unique opportunity to explore the world of international institutions and the relationship that it shares with global health governance.

Geneva is truly the capital of global health governance. No other city has such a strong presence of international organisations. With scores of official agencies and hundreds of international nongovernmental organisations based in and around Geneva, it is truly an international city, bringing together policymakers, diplomats, advocates, and many other professionals whose work focuses on the most challenging issues of global health law, policy, and governance.

Through its research programme on Global Health the Graduate Institute plays an important role in shaping the emerging study of the interface between foreign policy, economics, development and health. The Global Health Programme examines the characteristics and mechanisms that define successful global health governance at the beginning of the 21st century. It is particularly focused on the shifting power balances in global health, such as the increasing influence of emerging economies and the powerful role played by new foundations, the private sector, and nongovernmental organisations.

2013 schedule at the graduate institute

• Early February : courses' schedule announced, choice of courses
• Monday 18 February: First day of classes in Geneva
• Tuesday 19 February : Meeting with LLM Geneva Directors
• Friday 29 March to Sunday 7 April: Easter break
• Friday 31 May: Last day of classes and last day of exam period
• June - July : Internship period (option)
• Friday 16 August : internship report or dissertation due
• Monday 16 September: LLM final transcripts and diploma

Curriculum at the graduate institute

Students will be required to complete a total of 39 credits at the Graduate Institute (one Georgetown Law credit is approximately equal to three Graduate Institute credits). 24 of these credits will be from courses in international law, humanitarian law, international trade law, international environmental law, refugee law and policy, international affairs, and international development studies, including:

1) Mandatory course :  International Health Law, Gian Luca Burci (6 ECTS)

2) Electives courses : choice of 18 ECTS among this list (part of the 2013 curriculum 2013 and may slightly vary from year to year)

• International Human Rights and Judicial Interpretation: a Critical Approach, Andrea Bianchi (6 ECTS)
• International Organisations, Stephanie Hofmann (6 ECTS)
• Global Health, Ilona Kickbusch (6 ECTS)
• Trade, Intellectual Property and Health: Current and Emerging Issues, Nick Drager (6 ECTS)
• Gender and International Affairs, Elizabeth Prügl (6 ECTS) - syllabus coming soon
• International Investment Law, Zachary Douglas (6 ECTS)
• Human Rights Obligations of Non-State actors, Andrew Clapham (6 ECTS)
• The Law of International Organisations, Jan Klabbers (6 ECTS)
• The Law and Practice of the International Criminal Court, Paola Gaeta (6 ECTS)
• The Law of Treaties, Jan Klabbers (6 ECTS)

In addition to coursework, students will be required to complete a 15-credit internship of at least four-weeks working full-time and a written report concentrating on some of the themes and questions addressed during the internship. It is expected that most students will complete this requirement at an international institution in Geneva during the six-week period between the end of the fall semester at Georgetown Law and the beginning of the spring semester at the Graduate Institute. Many students are likely to opt to continue a relationship with the institution for which they worked during the spring semester at the Graduate Institute and some institutions offering internship opportunities may require such a continuing commitment. With approval, some students may complete a 15-credit dissertation in place of the internship.

At the Institute, LL.M participants are integrated within the cohort of regular students in the Master programmes in International Law and can also attend a selection of seminars reserved to advanced PhD students. Support from the International Office and the Career Office is designed specifically for LL.M participants.

For more information on:

• Language requirements
• Accommodation
• Visa and residence permit
• Health insurance
• Student Association

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