LLM International Criminal Law

at National University of Ireland Galway

The LLM in International Criminal Law is typically a one-year master's programme that involves two semesters of courses and the preparation of a dissertation, although it is also available on a part-time basis over two years. The degree of Master of Law in International Criminal Law is awarded by the Faculty of Law at the National University of Ireland, Galway.

The two-year programme comprises part-time study, combining two semesters of course work the first year with a third semester the second year, devoted entirely to the research required for preparation of a final dissertation.

The module International Criminal Law and the dissertation are compulsory. The modules International Humanitarian Law and Procedure before International Criminal Courts and Transitional Justice are also recommended for ICL students. A wide range of subject choices is available to students, drawing on the expertise of our full-time staff and prestigious Adjunct faculty. 

 Courses each year are subject to change, but may include the following:

• African and Inter-American Regional Systems of Protecting Human Rights 
• Business and Human Rights 
• Children's Rights 
• Conflict and Post-Conflict 
• Contemporary Issues in International Migration Law and Transnational Lawyering
• Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights 
• Economic, Social & Cultural Rights 
• European Convention on Human Rights 
• European Union and Human Rights 
• Genocide 
• How to Argue with an Economist 
• International Criminal Law 
• International Criminal Procedure 
• International Humanitarian Law (Term I) 
• International Humanitarian Law (Term II) 
• International Refugee Law 
• Introduction to Human Rights Law 
• Minority Rights 
• Peace Support Operations 
• Public International Law 
• Procedure before International Criminal Courts 
• Right to Development 
• Transitional Justice

Candidates must be approved by the School of Law. They should preferably hold a Level 8 degree in law or an interdisciplinary degree which includes a substantial law component and in which they have attained a minimum Second Class Honours, Grade 1 standard or its equivalent.

Fees: EU
€7,660 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Tuition
€7,520 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Student levy
€140 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Non EU
€17,240 p.a. 2022/23

Students who have undertaken and successfully completed the programme tend to fall into one of four categories:

• those who work within the United Nations (UN) or with UN-affiliated organisations;
• those who work in NGO and quasi-NGOs— both human rights and development;
• those who work in academic institutions or pursue a PhD/JD;
• those who work in diplomatic or government-based work (in the human rights division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, for example).

Within these umbrella categories, students have pursued work in the ICC, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, ICRC, the UN system (Geneva and New York), locally-based NGOs, trade and health organisations, as well as domestic law firm work that draws on international legal mechanisms and research-based work in university research centres, to name but a few.