Deadline: March 30, 2026
Applications are open for the United Nations International Law Fellowship Programme 2026. The Fellowship Programme provides high-quality training by prominent international law scholars and practitioners on a broad range of core topics of international law. In addition, the interactive nature of the training allows the participants to share experiences and exchange ideas, which promotes greater understanding and cooperation on contemporary issues of international law.
The Fellowship Programme is intended to enable qualified professionals, in particular government officials and teachers of international law from developing countries and countries with emerging economies, to deepen their knowledge of international law and of the legal work of the United Nations.
2026 Fellowship
The 2026 Fellowship Programme will be held at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands, from 29 June to 31 July 2026. It will be conducted in English.
The topics that will be covered in the seminars and lectures organized by the Codification Division may include:
- Introduction to international law
- Treaty law
- International responsibility
- International peace and security
- Peaceful settlement of international disputes
- Diplomatic and consular law
- International human rights law
- International humanitarian law
- International criminal law
- International environmental law
- Law of the sea
- International trade law
- International investment law
Costs
- The fellowships cover the fellowship recipient’s travel costs in economy class, accommodation, medical insurance, participation in the Fellowship Programme, the training material and the registration fee for the public international law session at The Hague Academy of International Law. In accordance with the policies and procedures governing the administration of United Nations fellowships, participants will also receive a stipend to cover other living expenses.
- Qualified candidates may also apply for self-funded positions. Self-funded participants bear all costs associated with their participation (travel, accommodation, living expenses and registration fee for The Hague Academy of International Law). Training materials are provided to all self-funded participants free of charge.
Eligibility
- To qualify for the Fellowship Programme, candidates must have a legal background with professional experience in the field of international law. The selected candidates are required to certify that they are able to attend the Fellowship Programme in its entirety.
- The Fellowship Programme will be conducted in English in 2026. Fluency in spoken and written English is required.
Application
Complete the application form in English, typewritten. Answers should be clear and as detailed as possible. If you need extra space, you may attach additional pages. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The “Letter of Transmission” must be completed and signed by a senior official of the institution that is presenting the candidate’s application.
A candidate whose mother tongue or language of instruction is not English must submit evidence of their ability to attend and participate in lectures and seminars conducted in English (e.g., diploma of courses conducted in English, language test certificate, extensive work experience in English). Applications without a valid language certification will not be considered.
The application should be sent by email to: [email protected]
Two versions of the application form must be submitted:
- One scanned copy of the signed original (for example in PDF or JPG)
- One electronic MS Word version (or equivalent) of the application
Click here to download the application form
For more information, visit United Nations International Law Fellowship.
