Why should I study International Law?

What is International Law?

Attempting to put something that wide-reaching simply, international law is the study of law governing the legal relations between one or more countries. In more detail, international law is interested in the rights and duties of countries in times of war and peace. It aims at creating and ensuring stable relations between nations. Should you wish to study international law, you will be able to experience a highly varied and exciting student life with a multitude of career options following your graduation.

Three reasons to study International Law:

  1. Studying international law allows you to enjoy quite some flexibility in terms of your professional life. Because it is a rather encompassing field that also covers aspects of international economics and international politics, international law majors are able to learn about all aspects of the legal relations between countries and beyond.
  2. Some universities specialise in the international law of particular parts of the world or countries. This means that in addition to any political and economic aspects, you can also learn the languages spoken in those countries as part of your studies.
  3. If you decide to study the international law of a specific part of this world, you are able to travel the world for an internship/traineeship abroad.

How to study International Law?

Courses in international law combine practical and theory work with a mixture of lectures, seminars, but may also be able to go on field trips. Should you choose to study international law, you will be acquiring argumentation skills, but also start off with learning about the basics of law and how international and national organisations and institutions work. Once you completed this phase, you will be able to specialise in international economic law or criminal law. Given the international nature of this subject, most universities will ask you for proof of sufficient knowledge of the English language.

While most universities offer law degree programmes, this is not the case for international law. This means that you will have the opportunity of moving to another city and get to know new people. Assessments will vary across exams, coursework and presentations. Students will often be required to conduct research of their own, to answer a question of their choosing – generating exactly the sort of skillset that employers are seeking. This is often in the context of small study groups or in tutorials, so you will be developing their skills in communications, delegation, research and management.

What kind of job can I get by studying International Law?

Should you decide to opt for a degree in international law, you will be able to choose from working in the public services/sector just as well as for private corporations. You may work for an international organisation, for a law firm or provide an enterprise with legal advice.

If you wish to climb the career ladder further, you may opt to add a masters degree to your undergraduate degree. Depending on the country in which you wish to practice, it may be necessary to complement your studies with special state examinations.

How can U-Multirank help me find the best International Law study programme for me?

If you’re considering pursuing a degree in international law, then let us help you find the best university for you. U-Multirank’s ‘For students track offers personalised university comparisons, so you can find the university that best matches you. U-Multirank’s subject rankings provide the feedback of more than 100,000 current students studying at the respective universities, offering a unique student perspective to the rankings via our Teaching & Learning dimension. Create your own personalised rankings today and compare universities according to what matters most to you.  To start, make sure to select international law as your subject of interest and we’ll help guide you through the rest.

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