Master of Laws – Public International Law

The programme is conducted in cooperation with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research – UNITAR. Headquartered in Geneva (Switzerland) UNITAR is the official training arm of the United Nations thus adding a strong practical focus to the programme. The programme is the only LL.M. programme of its kind offered in cooperation with UNITAR.

Apart from the legal qualifications, the joint Master in Public International Law also offers a direct connection to the United Nations and its agencies:

• experience the UN work environment in Vienna first-hand
• build personal relations with UN experts and staff members
• benefit from tailormade UN career development sessions
• gain support and access to entry points into the UN system

The programme has been designed in a hybrid format. This means that the participants have the flexibility to attend the program either in person in Vienna or online, providing diverse learning options tailored to individual preferences and circumstances. The participants can also decide to attend some parts of the programme on site in Vienna, while completing most of the courses online. We particularly encourage in-person attendance on the UN Orientation Week, taking place on the first week of October.

• for non-EU Citizens to study on-site in Vienna: 31.08.2026
• for EU citizens, holders of EU residence permits, or citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland for on-campus study in Vienna: 15.09.2026
• for online courses: 21.09.2026

Start of Studies: 28.09.2026
We strongly encourage early applications as we process applications on a rolling basis. If we reach maximum student capacity before August, applications will close early.

*After these dates have passed, please contact the university to see if places are still available (admissions@sfu.ac.at)

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.

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

• for non-EU Citizens to study on-site in Vienna: 31.08.2026
• for EU citizens, holders of EU residence permits, or citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland for on-campus study in Vienna: 15.09.2026
• for online courses: 21.09.2026

Start of Studies: 28th September 2026

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: anerkennungsstelle@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.

Tuition fees: €8.000,- per semester
From the winter semester 2026/27, tuition fees will amount to €8.569,- per 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/

Application and Admission

For general questions on the application process and admission to this programme, please contact:

Deidree Diño, MSc, PGCM
Head of Student Recruitment and Admissions
Tel.: +43 1 798 40 98 391
E-Mail: admissions@sfu.ac.at

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

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

Asmahan Melissa Sekulic, B.A.
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:  0043 1 4700 104 15
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.

1. What is the LL.M. in Public International Law at Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna?

The LL.M. in Public International Law is a one year, 60 ECTS Master of Laws programme offered by Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna in cooperation with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, UNITAR. It combines advanced academic study in public international law with practical exposure to international institutions, diplomacy, and Vienna’s wider international legal environment.

2. Who is the programme designed for?

The programme is designed for students and professionals seeking serious academic study in international law and a deeper understanding of its contemporary challenges. It is particularly relevant for those interested in international organisations, diplomacy, government, academia, advocacy, international legal advisory work, and related professional fields.

3. What makes this LL.M. distinctive?

The programme is built around two connected pillars: advanced academic study and meaningful exposure to international practice. Students receive rigorous instruction in public international law while also engaging with the institutions, practitioners, and professional environments that shape international law in practice.

4. Why study public international law in Vienna?

Vienna is one of the world’s leading centres of diplomacy, international organisations, and multilateral law making. Students study in a city shaped by the United Nations, the OSCE, diplomatic missions, international organisations, human rights work, security cooperation, and a wider community of lawyers, officials, advocates, and scholars working across international fields.

5. Is the programme available only in person?

No. The programme is offered in person, online, or in a hybrid format. This allows students to choose the mode of study that best fits their professional, academic, and personal circumstances.

6. Can online students also experience Vienna in person?

Yes. Online students are not separated from the Vienna dimension of the programme. They may come to Vienna for intensive in person teaching, UN immersion, site visits, and direct engagement with institutions and practitioners. This allows students to combine flexible online study with meaningful on site international exposure.

7. Is the online option a different degree?

No. The online, in person, and hybrid options are different ways of participating in the same LL.M. programme. Students follow the same academic programme and work toward the same degree, while choosing the form of participation that best suits their circumstances.

8. What subjects are covered in the programme?

Students engage with advanced coursework in public international law, international human rights law, international humanitarian law, international organisations, diplomacy, conflict analysis and resolution, comparative public law, and related fields. The programme is designed to give students both a strong legal foundation and a broader understanding of the institutional and political context in which international law operates.

9. Who teaches on the programme?

The programme is taught by a strong faculty of scholars and practitioners. Students learn from instructors who bring together academic expertise, institutional experience, and practical insight into the real challenges facing international law today.

10. Does the programme include research and thesis work?

Yes. Students are expected to develop as researchers. The LL.M. includes substantial thesis work, academic writing, supervision, and the opportunity to pursue a sustained research project in an area of public international law.

11. How does the programme combine theory and practice?

The programme combines academic rigour with practical exposure. Students study the principles, structures, and debates of public international law, while also encountering international law as a field of professional practice through institutional engagement, site visits, in person teaching opportunities, and interaction with practitioners.

12. What kind of practical exposure does the programme offer?

Students benefit from engagement with Vienna’s international environment, including international institutions, diplomatic settings, and practitioners working in fields connected to public international law. This may include institutional visits, site visits, UN immersion, and exchanges with professionals from international organisations, foreign ministries, humanitarian organisations, international legal institutions, and related fields.

13. What career paths can this LL.M. support?

The programme can support careers in international organisations, diplomacy, government, academia, advocacy, international legal advisory work, and related professional fields. It provides a strong foundation in legal theory while also giving students insight into the professional environments in which international law is used, interpreted, and developed.

14. What kind of student community does the programme attract?

Students come from different countries, professions, and legal traditions. Over the course of the programme, they study with scholars and practitioners, engage with international institutions in Vienna, and become part of a genuinely international academic community shaped by diverse perspectives and shared engagement with public international law.

15. Is there a single path into public international law?

No. There is no single path into public international law. Students come to the field from different academic, professional, and national backgrounds. Strong teaching, close access to faculty, research training, and the opportunity to study in one of the world’s great diplomatic capitals provide an excellent foundation for those seeking to enter or deepen their work in the field.

16. Why choose this programme rather than another international law LL.M.?

This programme offers a distinctive combination of academic depth, flexible study, UNITAR cooperation, and access to Vienna’s international legal and diplomatic environment. Students may study in Vienna, online, or through a hybrid format, while benefiting from a programme designed around both rigorous legal education and meaningful exposure to international practice.

17. Are applications open now?

Yes. Applications are open for the 2026/27 LL.M. in Public International Law, subject to the applicable deadlines and available capacity.