United Nations International Law Fellowship Programme

The United Nations International Law Fellowship Programme is organized by the Codification Division of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs.

Objectives
The Fellowship Programme provides high-quality training by prominent international law scholars and practitioners on a broad range of core subjects 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 and its associated bodies.

The Fellowship Programme accommodates up to 21 participants.

The Programme
The Fellowship Programme consists of an annual six-week summer course at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands. The participants attend lectures and seminars in international law organized by the Codification Division as well as the public international law session at The Hague Academy of International Law.

The lectures and seminars organized by the Codification Division are given by prominent international law scholars and practitioners from different regions and legal systems. 

 

Do I have to submit my application via my sponsoring institution or my Government?

No. Your sponsoring institution has to fill out certain parts of your application form, but you can send the completed form directly to the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs. 

Can only Governments nominate candidates to attend the Fellowship Programme?

No. The Fellowship Programme is also open to academia and professionals from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and similar institutions engaged in international law activities in the relevant countries. Current staff members of the United Nations are not however eligible for fellowships, but on an exceptional basis, may be considered for attendance on a self-funded basis. Candidates who are not government officials can be nominated by the institution which they work for or with which they are affiliated. 

What is the difference between fellows and self-funded participants?

Fellowship participants and self-funded participants are selected through the same application process, and are subject to the same selection criteria. They have the same rights and obligations in the Fellowship Programme, attend the same lectures, participate in the same activities, and receive the same certificate at the end of the course.

For fellowship participants, the travel, accommodation, medical insurance, the training materials, as well as the registration fee for The Hague Academy of International Law are provided for. In accordance with the policies and procedures governing the administration of United Nations fellowships, fellowship participants will also receive a stipend to cover other living expenses.
Self-funded participants are invited to apply on the understanding that they, or the government or organization that nominates them, will cover all costs entailed for participation in the Fellowship Programme. The training material is, however, provided to all participants.

What does the stipend provided by the Fellowship Programme cover?

The stipend that fellows receive reflects local living costs (food, public transport, etc.) and suffices for a decent but by no means luxurious living standard. We remind you that accommodation is arranged by the Fellowship Programme free of charge. The stipend rates are set by United Nations regulations and can vary significantly from year to year, depending on the US Dollar exchange rate.

Does it make sense to apply for the Fellowship Programme for someone who is still a student?

No, the Fellowship Programme provides training for professionals who have acquired some practical experience in the field of international law.

I have applied for the Fellowship Programme in the past, but was not selected. Can I re-apply this year?

Yes. You will, however, have to submit a new complete application to the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs.

Is it possible to attend only part of the Fellowship Programme or only those courses that are of particular interest to me?

No. If selected, you undertake to attend the Fellowship Programme in its entirety, without exceptions.

Can the same country nominate several candidates?

Yes. Countries are strongly encouraged to nominate several candidates, as long as they all meet the required qualifications. Please note that a candidate’s chances do not necessarily increase if he or she is the only applicant from a specific country. 

Moreinfo: http://www.un.org/law/ilfp