Hi all!

Does anybody know the program in International Humanitarian law in Geneva?

Any information is well accepted......

hey manu74, UCIHL is a very recent program, i believe it was first introduced in 2002 as an LLM program. However, because the program fairly lenient regarding your background requirements for admission, it was then changed to a Masters in advanced studies in international humanitarian law.

The location of the university is exceptional and that alone can play an essential role as far as employment after graduation is concerned. I say this because the university is linked to many NGO's.

The program is selective since it has a very limited number of seats p/y. Also, the concentration is on armed conflicts and states of emergencies. so..all in all your probably gonna be reading a shit load of philosophies. Hope that helps. I know this because I have a friend who graduated from there last year and now works for the US central intelligence.

Thank you very much Shalizeh. I am very interested in the law of armed conflicts and I believe it's a unique program. I haven't found somtehing like this nowhere else. I would really like to get in touch with your friend who graduated last year to get some information. My email is manuela_muttoni@hotmail.com.

Besides,, do you know which requirements do they ask to get accepted? I'm Ital;ian and I can speak fluently German, English and an average French. My scores at univ have al;ways been quite good. Do you think is it possible to being accepted or do they require something more? And, do you know how long does it take to have an answer?

thank you!

ciao

UCHIL doesn't really have a specific requirement besides a degree in law (llb) or a concentration close enough (ex. political science, international relations..i believe this is mostly for countries like the US where there is no concept of an llb or an undergraduate law degree) if you have an llb, then your all set, if you don't but majored in PS or IR then your all set as well.

My friend who graduated from UCHIL applied when she was in her upper 20's (27 i think) so she had work experience on her side..she mainly got admitted because she was a mid-career applicant.

As far as language goes, the entire program is taught in english and/or french. They do ask what other languages you speak on the application, and since you speak more than one, that always plays a positive role, because the school deals with international issues.

Once you apply, like if you apply this very moment (or before january 31st?) then they mail you an answer on march 31st (exactly 6 weeks) so since you are residing in italy (im guessing) you just have to figure out how long mail that leaves switzerland arrives in italy by. But if you apply in march you wil hear an answer six weeks after that.

I was told the program was selective, but I personally do not think they are because its a really new intuition.

Oh one more thing - if you have a degree other than llb then they ask you what law classes you have taken in your college career and if the admissions commitee deems it enough you get in...i was told by IONA MARTINEZ ..i think his email is on the website, he is some admission dude.

and i'll get my friends e-mail address, i am not sure which one she checks..so i'll ask her and let you know.

but if you want my advice, just apply anyways, the process takes an hour (because you need a passport picture) and just send it..its worth the money you will be spending on postage :)

i meant "its a new institution" and still has to make a name in the legal education realm.

I am also very interested in the program. I am a May 2006 JD candidate at Loyola New Orleans. I already applied in November and I'm told I should hear from them by March. I speak fluent German and lived a long time in Africa but I'm still worried as to what the admission board will be looking for. My grades are not that great.

Hi Cam! .... March???? I can't believe that!, I mean, I know it takes to them about 6 weeks in order to decide, but I hoped 6 weeks from the application, not from the deadline! Are you sure of this? I also send an email to the Secretary-office (Iona Martinez), but nobody has answered by now.

Who did you speak to?

I sent my application package this morning. I hope to get a positive answer because I'm really interested in the program. May be I'll apply to UCL and Leiden as well. Do yopu apply somewhere else?

ciao

I received an email from Iona Martinez. It is 6weeks from the deadline. I assume that they don't have a rolling admission. I have't applied anyway else. I'm interested in another program at the Geneva University. It is a Masters in International Studies with an International Law speciality. The downside is that the program lasts for 2years. I'm bent on studying in geneva.

Hi everyone, I just found out about the program TODAY. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about the program's career placement situation, there's not much on the website. Like Cam I have a US JD, and for those of you who aren't from the US, that means an incalculable amount of student loan debt. I'd like to apply for such a program feeling confident it will actually help me find a job in the field. Obviously I don't expect to get rich being a human rights lawyer, I've just had so much trouble finding human rights oriented work with just my JD that I'm very uncomfortable taking on any more financial burdens for an uncertain reward. So does anyone know anything about what orgs recruit from the program, what kind of placement rates they have, etc? Thanks very much for any feedback you may have!

I would assume career placement in the field of humanitarian law whether it be research or practice would be rather easy to find. I say this because the uni. is in Geneva, and it is relation to the Red Cross. Geneva alone is the capital of international law so im guessing it would be easy to make contacts.

I am not sure if the university itself has a career placement program, however, I do believe they have student internships (but this wouldnt help pay of any loans). Nevertheless, theres no harm in contacting them and asking. Also, everything also depends on where you want to practice? If its the US, then I would just directly apply to companies/firms/ngos etc that you want to work for.

I would also keep in mind that it is hard for you to find human rights oriented work with a jd because usually those fields require a great deal of work experience. The fact that you have a JD and not a masters (unless your up against a phd) should place you in a higher standing. However, the underlying factor is work experience.

My opinion: start working for an international law firm. Try this link : http://www.vault.com/jobs/jobboard/lawsearchform.jsp

And after about a year or two, apply to a humananitarian field. This way you save alot of money. Even though the tuition for european universities is nothing compared to us universities...bear in mind they're living expenses are far greater (unless your from boston, nyc etc)

Hope this helps, best of luck.

Hi Shalizeh, thanks for the input. Incidentally I am from NYC so I doubt I will be so shocked by the cost of living in Geneva. And as for international law firms, well, unfortunately they're not so easy to get jobs at. Anyway, thanks again. I'll just wait till mid-March when I know if I've been accepted before I put in a lot of time to research working in Geneva. Best of luck to you.

Hi there,
I too recently applied to join the MAS at UCIHL, can any one out there avail any more information if any about accomodation in geneva,secure and insecure places,ucihl's reputaion so far around the hummanitarian circles,it's alumni and where most of them are engaged at the moment and any other aspects of the course it self.
I really find the site abit lacking as most of this information is not provided.
Thanx

Anyone heard from them yet?

nope..I guess they send them out after the 6 weeks? cause I applied for the January 31st deadline and haven't heard from them..so im guessing i'll know after the 6 weeks..which sucks...i wish they would just send an email.

Hi there!!! I applied for the january deadline as well, but haven't heard from them either. Their decision process takes 6 weeks, so we should receive an answer by mid March.

Let's know wether some of you gets an answer.

ciao

I am told that decisions will now be made end of march because of the astronomical number of applications they received. Whatever that means!

I got my acceptance today via email.

Hi Shalizeh! I got my acceptance today!!!!!.....

Now I have a very big problem..... MAS in Geneve or LLM in IP law in New York? Although I know these are very different subjects I'm interested in both.

I need to give an answer to NY within 3 days! PleaseHELP HELP HELP!!!! I'm really undecised. On one side I'd like to take the MAS because I think this subject really suits me, on the other IP is in my opinion more "marketable" afterwards. What do you think?

HELP HELP HELP HELP HELP

Manu

personally im not going for the mas, for the reason that my options are extremely limited. I would do the llm in IP just because you have a better future with that. Frankly, it was a mistake on my part to apply to the mas because i could get the same job after the mas as i would even without it. I would most def. do the llm in ip.

I absolutely love the international law subject matter..but realistically its pointless. I have met so many people who are in the field of international law..who believe it or not..dont hold law degrees..so for that i would say go for ip. Its totally up to you. You can still work in IL after a IP degree.

All the best..both options are great.

Got my acceptance a little while ago. They want a decision by April 30. Anyone going/not going? I'm excited but there is very little on the website about what the degree practically does to help you in the job market. Being in Geneva has to help, but...