Master of Laws – Public International Law

If you decide to apply for this Master’s programme, please make sure that you fulfil the following requirements.

1.     Pre-studies

In order to proof the academic qualifications for this course, applicants must hold:

• At least a Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B.)

In special circumstances, applicants who are practicing lawyers and/or passed the bar exam in their respective countries may be admitted without a LL.B. (e.g. applicants that passed the First State Examination („Erstes Staatsexamen“) in Germany fulfil this requirement).

• A first academic degree in a related field with a law component

Related fields include, but are not limited to, the following:

• International Relations
• Political Sciences
• International Business
• Human Rights

2.     English skills

Applicants for the Master’s programme Public International Law must also provide evidence of English language skills at least at a C1-level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages of the Council of Europe. The proof can be provided in the form of an internationally recognized, standardized language test. 

The language level C1 corresponds to a score of at least

• 500 on the TOEFL Paper-based Test (pBT)
• 80 on the TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT)
• 627 on the TOEFL ITP Plus for China at Level 1
• 6,5 on the IELTS Academic Module
• 105 on the Duolingo English Test
• 176 for the Cambridge Certificate English C1 Advanced (CAE)

The following applicants are not required to provide proof of language proficiency.

• applicants whose native language is English
• applicants who have obtained their high school diploma in an English-speaking country or at an English-speaking school in their home country
• graduates who have completed a university programme on at least Bachelor’s level (in presence) at a recognized post-secondary educational institution in an English-speaking country or one that teaches its courses in English
• employees of the United Nations and its affiliated international organizations
• employees with a job reference from their employer, that states that the main working language within the organization is English

3.     Professional Experience

This Master Programme requires professional experience.

• Applicants with an LL.B. or equivalent law degree must prove at least two years of professional experience in a legal field by the start of the programme. Experience during legal traineeship, e.g. Austrian Gerichtsjahr or German Referendariat, will be considered.
• Applicants that hold a first academic degree from a related field (see –Pre-studies) require three years of professional experience within the UN, another international organisation or a NGO.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding the work experience requirement. We are open to considering exceptional cases where other qualifications or achievements fulfill the program’s standards.

Please make sure that you fulfil all three requirements before you apply!
Find a quick checklist below to see if you qualify:

1. Academic qualification (LL.B. or related Bachelor with at least 12 ECTS in legal courses)
2. English C1 (or equivalent)
3. Professional work experience (2 years for lawyers, 3 years for qualifying Bachelors in relevant environments)

Procedure of the admission process

Step 1: Please click on the “Apply Online” button at the top of this page. You will receive the link to our Application Platform after the initial contact via our contact and application form.

Step 2: Please register, fill out the online forms inside the Application Platform and upload the required documents

For proof of general personal data:

• letter of motivation (at least half a DIN A4-page)
• copy of your passport or identity card
• high school diploma

To prove academic qualifications (see Admission requirements, 1. Pre-Studies):

• degree certificate

To prove English proficiency (see Admission requirements, 2. English proficiency):

• English certificate OR
• proof of English as main medium of instruction at your university

This requirement doesn’t apply for native speakers or applicants that work in mainly English speaking environments.  

To prove professional work experience (see Admission requirements, 3. Professional Experience):

• Curriculum Vitae
• proof of work experience (Certification of Service)

For administrative purposes:

• payment confirmation of the admission fee

Step 3: Invitation for an admission interview

Step 4: Signing of the contract

An official letter of acceptance can only be issued once the contract is signed and 50% of the first semester fee (4,000€) has been paid.

Application deadlines

Start in winter semester: September 29th 2025

Application deadline for non-EU Citizens to study on-site in Vienna: April 14th, 2025

Application deadline for EU Citizens, holders of EU residence permits or the citizens of  Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland to study on-site in Vienna: August 31st, 2025

Application deadline for online courses: August 31st, 2025

Credits

Successfully completed courses at other higher education institutions can be recognized as long as they are part of the Public International Law curriculum. In case of recognition, the tuition fees will be reduced. Nonetheless, students are welcome to attend courses that have already been credited (free of charge) in order to refresh their knowledge. The recognition is carried out by analogous application of sec. 78 para. 1 and para. 3 of the Austrian Universities Act (UG) 2002.
Please send us your collective certificate in advance by e-mail to: jus@sfu.ac.at

The Public International Law program offers both in-person and fully online attendance options. The program’s structure and goals remain consistent across both formats.

The Master’s programme Public International Law is divided into four modules to which the courses are assigned to as follows:

Module 1: Core Fields of Public International Law

• Sources and Principles of Public International Law
• International Organizations Law
• International Humanitarian Law
• International Human Rights Law
• Recent Challenges in Public International Law

Module 2: Theory and Practice of Global Diplomacy

• Theories of International Relations
• Introduction to Global Diplomacy
• Introduction to the Work of the United Nations
• Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Module 3: Legal Thinking and Communication in International Contexts

• Comparative Public Law
• Regional Actors under International Law
• Negotiation Skills and Techniques in Intercultural Contexts
• English Report Writing Skills

Module 4: Examination Phase

• Master Seminar
• Master Thesis
• Oral Examination

The Master’s programme has a strong focus on practice. It starts with a UN Immersion Week at the Vienna International Center (VIC), where students get a first hand experience of the United Nations.

As several courses are implemented by UNITAR, instructors are highly experienced practitioners in the diplomatic field. These include current and former ambassadors, high-level UN staff or other distinguished individuals from the public and private sector. The contents of the specific courses along with the study plan are presented in detail in the Module Handbook. Overall, the programme aims, to provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills, and aims to guide them towards independent academic work and employment with recognized international actors.

The Master in Public International Law is a university programme designed to deepen students’ knowledge of existing international law and its foundations, to provide insight into international relations and the activities of global actors, namely international administrations, and to impart practical skills for working in global contexts. 

The programme brings together international students from different cultural contexts, who exchange views on global challenges and possible solution strategies under academic guidance. It deepens students’ interest in working for international organizations, especially under the umbrella of the United Nations.

The programme helps to connect future leaders in the international sphere. It qualifies students for a doctoral programme in international law and provides proof of advanced knowledge of the English legal language on the job market.

The Master’s programme in Public International Law does not aim to prepare students primarily for access to a regulated profession (lawyer, public prosecutor, judge, and notary). Rather, the international scope of the degree programme opens up a wealth of career prospects.

Potential employers include first and foremost international organizations, such as the United Nations, which in the form of UNITAR as a cooperation partner of the programme implements a significant part of the master´s curriculum.

Other potential future employers could be the European Union, foreign ministries of student´s respective countries or other government bodies in general. For those who already have access to the regulated professions, the Master Public International Law can also serve as an additional qualification.

Graduates of the Master’s programme are also potential employees for internationally operating companies and law firms. Legal advisory work outside the traditional legal professions as well as work for a chamber, an association or a foundation present further career possibilities.

Links:

• https://careers.un.org/lbw/Home.aspx
• https://unjobs.org/duty_stations/vie

Costs

The total tuition fees are limited to the number of semesters of the standard duration of studies (Master Public International Law: 2 semesters).
Extending the programme by one year does not increase the total cost of the programme.
Costs: 8.000,- € / semester
Application fee: 200,- € (payment as part of the online application)

Account details

Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität Wien GmbH
IBAN: AT86 1813 0310 0096 0007
BIC/SWIFT-Code: BWFBATW1

Tax deductibility

If the study programme is a further education or retraining measure, the tuition fees can be claimed under the Income Tax Act. The entire fees are then tax-deductible.

• General payment modalities

Various funding bodies in Austria provide support for financing continuing education and training programs. As funding opportunities and eligibility criteria can differ, we recommend contacting the relevant organizations directly for detailed information.

Austrian Database for Scholarships and Research Grants https://grants.at/en/

European Commission Erasmus+ https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/

Fastweb scholarships https://www.fastweb.com/

Erwachsenenbildung.at (in German) https://erwachsenenbildung.at/bildungsinfo/kursfoerderung/

Educational leave: Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) (in German) https://www.ams.at/arbeitsuchende/aus-und-weiterbildung/so-foerdern-wir-ihre-aus–und-weiterbildung-/weiterbildungsgeld

Vienna Employment Promotion Fund (waff) (in German) https://www.waff.at/foerderungen/bildungskonto/das-bildungskonto-fuer-umfangreiche-weiterbildung/

waff: Karenz und Wiedereinstieg (in German) https://www.waff.at/beruf-weiterbildung/karenz-und-wiedereinstieg/

waff: Frauen und Beruf (in German) https://www.waff.at/beruf-weiterbildung/frauen-und-beruf/

Deutsche Bildung – student loans (in German) https://www.deutsche-bildung.de/

DAAD scholarships (in German) https://www2.daad.de/ausland/studieren/stipendium/de/70-stipendien-finden-und-bewerben/

Prof. Konrad Lachmayer
Director of Studies – LL.M. Public  International Law
Professor for Public Law and European Law
E-Mail

Prof. Ralph Janik, LL.M.
Academic Coordinator – LL.M. Public  International Law
Assistant Professor for International Law
E-Mail

Dr. Henriikka Hannula, MA
Studycoordinator – LL.M. Public International Law
E-Mail

Sigmund Freud Private University
Faculty of Law
Lassallestraße 3, 6. Stock,
1020 Wien
A – 1020 Wien
Telefon: +43 1 4700 104 12
E-Mail: jus@sfu.ac.at

Rebecca Schöngut, a student from Austria, talks about her passion to work in the United Nations, her unique group of colleagues with international, diverse backgrounds and the opportunity to get practical insights in the Master’s programme Public International Law.

Faizer Shahid, a student from Sri Lanka, provides insights of diverse perspectives, the campus atmosphere and employment opportunities in the Master’s programme Public International Law.

CAN I WORK WHILE STUDYING IN THE PROGRAMME?
Our hybrid format allows for flexibility, but it is important to note that the first semester (October 2024-February 2025) requires a lot of work and will be a major time commitment. Though we offer flexibility, this is a full time study program. Ultimately, the ability to work during this programme will vary by applicant. You know your resources best, so it will be up to you to determine whether it makes sense or is possible for you to work and study simultaneously.

HOW DO ONLINE CLASSES LOOK LIKE?
All classes are recorded in high-quality audio and video and are uploaded to our learning platform, Moodle, where they can be viewed at your convenience. Attendance (i.e. watching the lectures) is mandatory, and for online classes will be tracked by adding quiz questions to the end of each lecture. Regular attendance leads to better learning outcomes, so it is important that you attend, or watch, each lecture.

CAN I ATTEND SOME MODULES IN PERSON AND SOME ONLINE?
Yes. For example, we encourage all students to travel to Vienna for the UN orientation week (30.9-4.10) at the beginning of the programme, even if you plan on attending mostly online. This, however, is not a requirement and each student will have the freedom to determine what combination of in person and online study works best for them.

ARE THERE SCHOLARSHIP OPTIONS? CAN I GET A TUITION FEE WAIVER?
No. Unfortunately, the university is not providing tuition fee waivers. We encourage you to explore external funding opportunities. You can do so through portals like this one: https://oead.at/en/to-austria/grants-and-scholarships.

CAN YOU GUARANTEE A JOB/INTERNSHIP AT THE UNITED NATIONS OR OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS?
No, but we do offer a number of networking opportunities and direct communication with international organizations, especially within the UN. Additionally, we offer visits to other international organizations with a seat in Vienna. All of these opportunities are advantages for those looking to advance their careers in the international sphere, and we encourage our students to take advantage of them.

I HAVE A DEGREE IN A RELATED FIELD BUT NOT LAW. WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REEQUIREMENTS?
For non-law degrees, we typically require 12 ECTS (or the international equivalent) in law courses. In some cases, when your degree is in one of the core fields of the programme, such as diplomacy or international relations, we offer some leniency on this requirement. If you are unsure about your specific case, please contact us prior to applying at jus@sfu.ac.at.

MY MOTHER TONGUE IS ENGLISH OR I HAVE STUDIED/WORKED IN ENGLISH, DO I STILL NEED TO TAKE AN ENGLISH TEST?
No, this requirement doesn’t apply for native speakers or applicants that work in mainly English speaking environments. Instead, please upload a declaration of your language skills in the application. If possible, upload supporting materials, such as a declaration from your employer that the company language is English.

HOW DOES THE ADMISSION PROCESS WORK?
After submitting your application online, allow a couple of weeks for us to assess your application. At that time, if we determine that we are interested in moving forward with your application, we will invite you to an online interview. Because we admit students on a rolling basis, you will typically receive an admissions decision within a few days of your interview.

WHY IS THERE A 200 EURO APPLICATION FEE?
This fee covers administrative costs and ensures that all of our applicants are serious about the programme.

WHEN IS THE TUITION FEE PAYMENT DUE?
Once you have been accepted to the programme and signed the study contract, you will be required to pay half of the first semester’s tuition, €4000, as a deposit. Your deposit is due 4 weeks after you receive the invoice. The second half will be due at the start of the semester. The entirety of your second semester´s tuition will be due at the beginning of the second semester.