Masters in International Law and Sustainability

You will acquire:

• a broad and theoreti­cally sound know­ledge of different areas of law (public inter­national law, inter­national eco­nomic law, law of the sea, trans­national private law, busi­ness and human rights) with a focus on sustain­ability; 

• a critical under­standing of the key theories, concepts and methods of inter­national sustain­ability law; 

• the ability to develop, apply and evaluate new ideas within the field of inter­national sustain­ability law and adjacent areas;

• inter­national ex­perience and net­works and inter­cultural skills, essential for a career in inter­national law.

You will be studying in English and at two different un­iversities. After the first year in Lüne­burg (Leuphana, Ger­many), you will complete your studies in Glasgow (Uni­versity of Glasgow, Scot­land) or alterna­tively in Cape Town (Uni­versity of the Western Cape, South Africa) or Milan (Università degli Studi di Milano Statale, Italy) or Bridge­town (Uni­versity of the West Indies, Barba­dos).*

After a success­ful completion of your studies you will receive an LL.M in Inter­national Law and Sustain­ability from Leuphana and another LL.M. degree from our partner uni­versity, depen­ding on the chosen speciali­sation path­way.

* the different specialisation pathways are subject to approval

• Degrees awarded: Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Leuphana University and Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Glasgow or the University of the Western Cape or the Università degli Studi di Milano Statale or the University of the West Indies*
• Highlights: LL.M. degrees; in-depth know­ledge of the relation­ship of inter­national law and sustain­ability; focus on inter­connection of sustain­ability and inter­national/trans­national law; inter­national net­works and experience; speciali­sation at the University of Glasgow or University of the Western Cape or Università degli Studi di Milano Statale or University of the West Indies*
• Is aimed at: Lawyers who are interested in inter­national law and sustain­ability and who want to make an impact in this area them­selves / Bachelor of Laws graduates
• Application deadline: EU degrees: 1 June / Non-EU degrees: 1 May
• Type: consecutive, restricted admission
• Places available: 25
• Start of programme: 1 October
• Scope of study: 120 ECTS
• Standard duration of study: 4 semesters
• Language of instruction: English
• Study locations (depen­ding on the speciali­sation path­way): Lüneburg (Germany) and Cape Town (South Africa) or Glas­gow (Scot­land) or Milan (Italy) or Bridge­town (Barbados/alternatively, the speciali­sation path at UWI can be completed through distance learning)*
• Semester fee 1^st year: approx. 450 EUR in Lüne­burg
• Tuition fees 2^nd year (depen­ding on the speciali­sation path­way*):
  • University of Glasgow: approx.17,100 GBP (approx. 20,000 EUR)
  • University of the Western Cape: approx. 100,000 SAR (approx. 5,000 EUR)
  • Università degli Studi di Milano Statale: tba
  • University of the West Indies: approx. 10,000 USD (approx. 8,700 EUR)

* the different specialisation pathways are subject to approval

Our Master’s pro­gramme focuses on the dynamic inter­play between sustain­ability and multiple areas of inter­national and trans­national law. It adopts a holistic approach to the relation­ship bet­ween inter­national law and sustain­ability, reflecting how this field is increa­singly prac­ticed in reality. Today’s world is con­fronted with urgent and inter­connected challenges — climate change, bio­diversity loss, pollution, and deepening eco­nomic, social as well as environ­mental in­equality. These issues cannot be addressed within the con­fines of a single country or legal discipline; they demand compre­hensive legal responses that cut across borders and tradi­tional fields of law.

The LL.M. in Inter­national Law and Sustain­ability equips you to help develop precisely these cross-border solu­tions from a legal pers­pective. By inte­grating public, private, environ­mental, energy, and ocean law with con­tem­porary debates on sustain­ability, the pro­gramme pre­pares you to con­tribute to legis­lation and policy capable of tack­ling the most pressing problems of our time.

Upon com­pleting the pro­gramme, you will have gained a compre­hensive under­standing of the complex inter­relation­ships between sustain­ability and law. You will be able to critically assess the struc­tural and nor­mative factors that shape this relation­ship, as well as the dynamics that deter­mine how law can both steer and con­strain sustain­ability trans­formations. At the same time, you will reflect on how the very structures of inter­national law them­selves may need to change in order to remain relevant in guiding societies toward a sustain­able future.

The LL.M. in International Law and Sustain­ability is a two-year study pro­gramme focusing on the inter­face between law and sustain­ability. The pro­gramme consists of two aca­demic years: the first (Octo­ber to August) is comple­ted in Lüne­burg, and the second (August to August) at either the Uni­versity of Glas­gow, the Uni­versity of the Western Cape (Cape Town), the Uni­versità degli Studi di Milano Statale or the Uni­versity of the West Indies (Bridge­town/alter­natively, the speciali­sation path at UWI can be completed through distance learning).*

In the first year at Leuphana Uni­versity of Lüne­burg, you will be intro­duced to the funda­mentals of the areas of law most relevant to sustain­ability. You will acquire founda­tional know­ledge in public, private, trans­national, eco­nomic, energy, environ­mental, sustain­ability, and ocean law, and explore how these areas inter­sect with the latest develop­ments and debates in sustain­ability law. Courses address law at multiple levels, invol­ving different actors and instru­ments. Through­out your studies, you will critically examine such questions as: How do the concept of law, legal metho­dology, and the role of legal systems both steer and constrain sustain­ability trans­formations? 

The first year comprises ten manda­tory modules (5 ECTS each, five per semester), alongside two Comple­mentary Studies modules (5 ECTS each, one per semester).

In the second year, at the Uni­versity of Glasgow, the Uni­versity of the Western Cape, the Uni­versità degli Studi di Milano Statale or the Uni­versity of the West Indies, you will specialise in sustain­ability and/or inter­national law. The precise content of your studies will depend on the focus offered at your chosen partner uni­versity, allowing you to tailor your expertise within the broader frame­work of inter­national law and sustain­ability.*

At the University of Glasgow you will have a choice of studying one of four LL.M. programmes: Inter­national Law, Inter­national Law and Security, Human Rights, Inter­national Eco­nomic Law

At the University of the Western Cape you will study in the LL.M. in Environ­mental Law. You will be intro­duced to the founda­tional rules and principles of environ­mental and climate law and gover­nance, and will be provided with the necessary skills to critically consider the role of environ­mental law, both in the domestic (South African) and inter­national context in addressing contem­porary environ­mental problems.

At the Università degli Studi di Milano Statale you will study in the LL.M. in Law and Sustain­able Develop­ment. Here you will gain advanced under­standing of contem­porary legal and socio-eco­nomic dynamics and the Sustain­able Develop­ment Goals at the inter­national, national, and local level.

At the University of the West Indies, students have the oppor­tunity to choose online courses from a wide range of modules in the field of Cor­porate & Commer­cial Law and Public Law such as cor­porate law, finan­cial law, intellec­tual proper­ty law and trans­national commer­cial trans­actions law. All classes at the Uni­versity of West Indies take place online.

You will write your Master's thesis at one of the four partner uni­versities, where you spend your second year.

* the different specialisation pathways are subject to approval

The following link provides access to documents which set out the general conditions for examinations, an overview of the curriculum, as well as detailed and legally binding regulations.

General Assessment Regulations and the Subject-Specific Schedules

Leuphana University of Lüneburg is a young and dynamic public uni­versity renowned for its innovative­ness and unique university model within the German academic land­scape. Based on a compre­hensive and holistic edu­cation philo­sophy it con­siders itself a humanist and sustain­able uni­versity. Leuphana Law School is the first Law School in a German public research institution that offers inter­discipli­nary study pro­grammes mainly con­ducted in English. It brings together all Leuphana-based legal scholars to deliver teaching and super­vision leading to under­graduate and graduate degrees. 

The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest uni­versity in the English-speaking world and is ranked in the top 100 of the world's uni­versities (QS World Uni­versity Ran­kings). It is a founding member of the presti­gious Russell Group of leading British uni­versities and is considered a research power­house. Law has been taught at the Uni­versity of Glas­gow since the 15th century and today the School of Law is top-rated in Scot­land and in the UK. The School of Law promotes aca­demically rigorous re­search that contri­butes to the theo­retical and prac­tical advance­ment of the discipline. 

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is a dynamic institution committed to excellence in learning, teaching, research and innovation. Its law faculty is one of the top 10 law faculties in South Africa. Many of its academics are inter­nationally recognised and have received awards from the National Research Foundation. UWC brings a valuable perspec­tive from the Global South to the programme. 

The Università degli Studi di Milano Statale (Uni­versity of Milan) is one of the largest uni­versities in Europe and represents a wide range of subjects in research and teaching. It is one of the top 10 uni­versities (and law schools) in Italy and is a member of the prestigious 4EU+ Alliance.

The University of the West Indies (UWI) is the largest and most long­standing, higher edu­cation provider in the English-speaking Caribbean with main campuses in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. UWI is an inter­national uni­versity with faculty and students from over 40 countries and collabo­rative links with over 100 uni­versities around the world. The UWI Alumni net­work in­cludes one Nobel Laureate, dozens of Rhodes Scholars and more than 18 current and former Caribbean Prime Ministers and Heads of State.

You will be prepared specifically for manage­ment and advisory positions in IGOs and NGOs, multi­national companies, in both the public and private sector. Lawyers with specialised know­ledge of inter­national sustain­ability law and inter­national experience who can handle complex trans­national legal issues in English are in demand in various professions.

As a student in our programme, you have the opportunity to start your doctorate early via the Doctoral Track.

Thus, you to become part of the scientific community of our doctoral research groups at an early stage, giving you the unique opportunity to combine your Master's and doctoral studies and, with your doctorate in sight, to obtain your Master's degree en-route.

You can find all information about the admission and require­ments, the appli­cation and the selec­tion proce­dure on our "Ad­mission and Require­ments" page.

*** As of now, the pro­gramme is subject to approval by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture ***

This study programme matches your interests? Then you will find further infor­mation for prospec­tive inter­national students on resi­dence and social matters, such as visa, resi­dence permit, health in­surance or finding accommo­dation, on the following pages.

Please note that the infor­mation for in­coming ex­change students and inter­national degree-seeking students differs slightly.

Information for in­coming ex­change students

Information for inter­national degree-seeking students