Studies & Degrees in International Law
International Law Study Programs
International law is the body of rules that governs relations between states and, increasingly, between states, international organisations, companies and individuals. According to the United Nations, it is set out in conventions, treaties and standards, and more than 560 multilateral treaties have been deposited with the UN Secretary-General. They cover subjects such as human rights, disarmament and the protection of the environment.
It has two main branches. Public international law deals with the rights and duties of states and international organisations: treaties, the use of force, human rights, the law of the sea, international criminal law. Disputes between states can go to the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, which sits in The Hague and has 15 judges; the International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Private international law decides which country's courts and which country's law apply when a contract, a family or an inheritance crosses borders. The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), an intergovernmental organisation with 95 members, works on unifying these rules.
Students learn to read treaties and the decisions of international courts, to compare legal systems and to argue a case. European Union law and international business law (trade, investment, arbitration) usually belong to the same field.
Qualifications and levels
- As part of a law degree. In most countries international law is a compulsory subject within the national law degree. In Spain the bachelor's degree in law (Grado en Derecho) has 240 ECTS credits; at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) it lasts 4 years and includes public international law in the second year.
- Bachelor's degrees in international law. A few universities offer a full first degree in the subject. The LLB in International and European Law at the University of Groningen lasts 36 months, has 180 credits and is taught in English. The university points out that it does not give direct access to the Dutch legal professions, such as lawyer, judge or public prosecutor.
- Master's degrees (LLM). This is the usual level for specialising. Groningen's LLM in Public International Law lasts 12 months, has 60 credits, is taught in English and is selective. The Master in International Advocacy at UC3M has 60 ECTS credits, is taught in English or bilingually and includes subjects such as international commercial arbitration. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
Master's programmes normally require a first degree in law; UC3M, for example, asks for a bachelor's degree in the area of law. A degree in international law does not by itself allow anyone to practise as a lawyer: that depends on the rules of each country. In Spain, the law degree gives access to the master's in access to the legal profession, which is the route to practising; UC3M states that its Master in International Advocacy does not confer that right. In the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), lawyers typically need a law degree and a state licence, which usually requires passing a bar examination.
Where to study it
The directory lists 24 active schools for this subject. Half of them, 12, are in Spain and 3 are in the United States; Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Ukraine, Mexico, India and Nigeria have 1 each. In Spain they include the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, the Universidad de Granada, the Universidad de Cádiz, the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, which teaches online, and the Real Instituto Universitario de Estudios Europeos of the Universidad CEU San Pablo, whose programmes include a Máster Universitario en Unión Europea and an Executive Master in International Business Law. Abroad, examples are the University of Groningen, the University of Graz, the University of Bern and Bocconi University in Milan.
Law degrees are usually taught in the national language: the UC3M law degree is taught in Spanish. Specialised master's programmes in international law are often taught in English, as in Groningen and at UC3M.
Fees depend on the country and on nationality. At Groningen the fee for the 2026-27 academic year is €2,694 for EU/EEA students and €22,200 for non-EU/EEA students. UC3M currently lists its Master in International Advocacy at €9,000 for EU students and €13,500 for non-EU students for the 60 ECTS credits.
Careers
Graduates work in law firms with cross-border practice, in company legal departments, in foreign ministries and other public bodies, in international organisations and courts, and in non-governmental organisations. Groningen describes its LLM as a start for a career in an international legal environment, whether in a national government, the United Nations or an international non-governmental agency.
The BLS projects employment of lawyers in the United States to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between public and private international law?
Public international law governs relations between states and international organisations, for example treaties and human rights. Private international law decides which courts and which national law apply to private cross-border matters such as contracts, marriages or inheritances.
Can I practise as a lawyer with a degree in international law?
Not automatically. Access to the legal profession is regulated by each country. In Spain, practising requires the law degree followed by the master's in access to the legal profession.
Can I study international law in English?
Yes, mainly at master's level. Groningen teaches both its LLB in International and European Law and its LLM in Public International Law in English, and the UC3M Master in International Advocacy is taught in English or bilingually.