Format: Online
Programme Start Date: 12 January 2026
Application Deadline: 30 November 2025
Programme Overview
The ONLINE Certificate in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes offers participants 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. As international and transnational adjudication has acquired a more prominent role in international relations, it is essential to understand how these global and regional courts are responding to the challenges of the early 21st Century.
Participants 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, investments, amongst others and will learn not only the traditional legal processes employed in international and transnational adjudication, but also the alternative forms of dispute settlement prevalent in international law.
Participants will have the opportunity to complete the program within a six-month period, between September and March.
This programme, offered by two UN entities (University for Peace and United Nations Institute for Training and Research), combines the best of academic and executive-style education. Students will also gain first-hand experience of the work of the United Nations (UN) as they will have the opportunity to participate in the optional field trips to Geneva and/or The Hague where the UN maintains a significant presence.
Modules
Field Visits
Admissions
Fees
Modules
Programme Modules
The Certificate in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes will be implemented online through UPEACE’s Virtual Learning Environment.
Course List:
- Transitional Justice (UPEACE)*
- International and Transnational Adjudication (UPEACE)
- International Trade and Investment Law and the Settlement of Disputes (UNITAR)
- Cyber Law and Warfare (UNITAR)*
- Law of International Organizations OR Law of Treaties (UNITAR)*
* Optional Course
Field Visits
Field Visits
Students admitted to the programme 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.
The five-day field trip(s) cost USD 1,500 each and include exclusive experiences such as visiting various international organizations, the ICRC museum in Geneva, the ICJ in The Hague, and engaging in networking sessions with diplomats, personnel from permanent missions accredited to the UN, civil servants working in international organizations, and representatives from civil society.
Scheduled for the summer, the confirmed dates for these optional field visits will be shared with interested students by UPEACE and UNITAR well in advance. Students have the flexibility to enrol in either the Geneva or The Hague visit individually, or they can choose to participate in both field trips to maximize their learning experience.
Admissions
Fees
Costs
The cost for pursuing the Certificate in Development Studies is USD 3,550. This includes tuition, administrative fees, and other associated costs. It is important to note that additional expenses, such as field visits, may not be covered in this figure.