Online Certificate on International Law and the United Nations System - 2024
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research's (UNITAR) Online Certificate on International Law and the UN system offers a unique opportunity for both students wanting to pursue a career in international law or international relations, and professionals working in international and regional organizations as well as governmental and non-governmental institutions, to expand their knowledge on international law, multilateral diplomacy and the United Nation system.
Using internet-based training, UNITAR brings participants and trainers together in a unique virtual learning environment. All courses build on UNITAR’s wealth of experience in designing and implementing training workshops on diplomacy and multilateral affairs at the country and regional levels. The online methodology provides specific advantages for geographically and time constrained individuals to obtain valuable information for their day-to-day operations and future projects.
After completing the Online Certificate, students will be able to:
- Explain the current challenges in international affairs and diplomacy;
- Describe the underlying principles of international law governing international organisations;
- Perform in both bilateral and multilateral working environments with increased confidence;
- Develop analytical skills and critical thinking;
In order to be awarded the Online Certificate, participants are required to participate and successfully complete 2 of the international law and 2 of the Multilateral Diplomacy courses offered by UNITAR’s Division for Multilateral Diplomacy from February to December 2023 and submit a Final Research Paper by 31 December 2023.
The e-Learning courses the students can choose from are:
International Law
- International Law – Track 2 (Q&A Webinar)
- 3-weeks self-paced online course plus a 2 hour webinar for Q & A with a high level expert
- Dates:
- Spring: 26 February – 17 March 2024
- Fall: 19 August – 8 September 2024
- Law of Treaties – Track 2 (Q&A Webinar)
- 3-weeks self-paced online course plus a 2 hour webinar with a high level expert
- Dates:
- Spring: 27 May – 16 June 2024
- Fall: 04 – 24 November 2024
- Law of International Organizations – Track 2 (Q&A Webinar)
- 3-weeks self-paced online course plus a 2 hour webinar with a high level expert
- Dates:
- Spring: 29 April - 17 May 2024
- Fall: 23 September – 13 October 2024
Multilateral Diplomacy
- United Nations Protocol
- 4-weeks, tutor facilitated course
- Dates:
- 20 May - 16 June 2024
- Introduction to the UN System
- 4 weeks, tutor facilitated course
- Dates:
- Spring 2024 (tbc)
- Fall 2024 (tbc)
- Public and Cultural Diplomacy
- 6-weeks, tutor facilitated course
- Dates:
- 2 September - 13 October 2024
Kindly note that some course dates might change.
All courses last between 3 to 6 weeks. The average workload for an individual course is 5 - 8 study hours per week.
The final requirement to obtain the Online Certificate on International Law and the UN system will be the submission of a research paper of between 3,000 and 5,000 words.
The Certiifcate courses are taught purely taught online and are either moderated by a senior international experts, placing an emphasis on online discussions and self-paced learning or contain a Q & A session with a senior expert.
The courses will consist of the following components:
(1) Compulsory and optional reading material, intended to teach the basic concepts and principles of the lesson’s subject-matter;
(2) Multimedia and external links to additional books, articles, documents, and websites related to the lessons;
(3) Quizzes and case studies;
(4) Community Discussion Boards;
(5) Collaborative learning tools such as simulation exercises, webinars and chats
The online certificate is designed for government officials, diplomats, private sector specialists, practitioners in the international arena, academics, students or any interested participants.
If you register for the online certificate, you are not required to register for the separate e-Learning courses. Instead, please send us an email at info.ilp [at] unitar.org (subject: Online%20Certificate%20on%20International%20Law%20and%20the%20UN%20system) (info[dot]ilp[at]unitar[dot]org )before the start of an e-Learning course to confirm that you would like to take the course as part of the Diploma.
UNITAR is a non-accrediting Higher Education institution, and as such, diplomas that may be awarded by UNITAR carry no accreditation recognition.
Admission requirements
There are no specific admission requirements. Participants who wish to enrol in one particular course without being awarded a diploma can still do so.
General requirements
- A good command of the English language
- Computer literacy
Technical requirements
UNITAR recommends having a stable internet connectiont to access the e-learning courses and to join the Q&A session via the platform of zoom.
Payment information
- We highly recommend credit card payments.
- For more information, please consult the International Law team via info.ilp [at] unitar.org (subject: Payment%20Online%20Certificate%20on%20International%20Law%20and%20the%20UN%20System) (info[dot]ilp[at]unitar[dot]org )