We use various third-party cookies to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Please use the options below to manage your cookie settings. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Please be aware, if you deny cookies, certain features of our website may not work.
This will apply to all services
Google Analytics
YouTube
Why should I choose the Geneva Academy?
What Distinguishes the MTJ from the two other master programmes offered at the Geneva Academy?
Does the MTJ offer practical work experience with leading actors in the field?
Do you offer scholarships for the MTJ?
What job opportunities are available after I complete the MTJ?
Can I do a PhD after I complete the MTJ?
Does the MTJ offer distance-learning courses?
Is it possible to take part in an exchange programme abroad during the MTJ?
Which degree will I receive after successfully completing the MTJ?
What are the criteria for admission to the MTJ?
If my application is not successful, can I reapply next year?
If I have been admitted to the programme, can I defer my offer to next year?
Do I need a visa to study on this programme?
What are the advantages of living and studying in Geneva?
What are the costs of living in Geneva?
How do I find accommodation in Geneva?
Transitional justice is a well-established, multidisciplinary field of academic inquiry and practical policy-making. It examines how societies that emerge from periods of civil war or oppressive government can deal with the legacy of human rights (HR) abuses.
In theory and practice, it focuses on practical measures and mechanisms such as criminal prosecutions, truth commissions, reparations and institutional reform, including post-conflict rule of law building (See, for example, the UN Secretary General’s report on the rule of law and transitional justice).
The Geneva Academy is a leading education and research institution in the field of transitional justice. Students enrolled in our Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law (MTJ) programme are taught by leading academics and practitioners.
We have developed close collaborations with Geneva-based agencies active in the area of transitional justice, human rights and the rule of law. We regularly welcome their experts at events, policy discussions and taught sessions. Thanks to these collaborations and our internships, our MTJ programme offers students the opportunity to gain practical experience and make useful contacts for their careers.
The Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law (MTJ) is a one-year full-time postgraduate degree designed for highly qualified and open-minded candidates interested in acquiring knowledge and practice in this field. As one of the few programmes on this subject worldwide, its cross-disciplinary approach combines legal, political, historical, anthropological, philosophical and field perspectives, and promotes both academic excellence and independent critical thinking.
Alongside the core courses that provide a firm grounding central theoretical and practical transitional justice issues, the programme also allows students to tailor their studies to their particular interests via optional courses, internships, participation in a moot court and a series of extracurricular activities.
The Geneva Academy proposes three distinct master’s programmes: a Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law, an LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and an Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflicts.
Our Master on Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law (60 ECTS) is a one-year full-time postgraduate degree. It is designed for highly qualified and open-minded candidates interested in acquiring high-level academic education and real-world practice in the field of transitional justice, human rights and the rule of law. Primary focus is placed on strengthening interdisciplinary knowledge and preparing students for future professional activities.
Our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (60 ECTS) is a one-year full-time postgraduate degree. It is designed for intellectually curious and thoughtful candidates with a law degree who want to gain advanced, comprehensive and practical training in international humanitarian law, international human rights law in armed conflict, international criminal law and the interplay between them.
Our Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflicts (60 ECTS) is a part-time programme designed for professionals - diplomats, legal advisers and professionals working in emergency situations who are active within the UN, other international organizations and NGOs- who want to gain a thorough understanding of the laws of war and how to apply them in complex contemporary contexts.
During Spring Semester, our students acquire first-hand professional experience via internships with leading actors and agencies in the field of transitional justice.
Places in this internship programme are offered via a competitive selection process carried out by our partner organizations. Internships are a mandatory part of the programme.
The Geneva Academy offers a number of full scholarships (covering tuition fees and living expenses in Geneva for ten months) and partial scholarships (covering tuition fees).
Scholarships are awarded to outstanding candidates who lack the financial resources to cover the tuition fee and/or cost of living in Geneva.
The MTJ combines theoretical knowledge with practical work. It thus provides a solid foundation for careers in transitional justice with international organizations, NGOs, international courts and tribunals, development agencies, governments and academic institutions.
During the year, our students have access to a rich network of experts and practitioners. They also receive individual guidance and one-to-one counselling by means of academic mentoring and career coaching. Furthermore, they can use the Careers Service of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.
The Geneva Academy does not offer PhD programmes. The MTJ is however recognized by the Law Faculty of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies as diplomas accepted to enter the PhD programmes. A number of graduates have been accepted in PhD programmes in other universities.
In the Spring Semester, our students may be selected to undertake an extended masters paper, which involves increased supervision and mentoring and participation in academic activities. This track is particularly suited to students with an interest in pursuing a PhD or further research after the programme.
The MTJ is a full-time programme and no distance-learning courses are offered.
The MTJ is a one-year programme and does not provide for exchange programmes.
Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law (60 ECTS credits), awarded by the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.
We are looking for students who possess a law degree or an equivalent degree relevant to transitional justice (such as international relations, political science, sociology, anthropology or history); have a demonstrable interest in legal issues related to transitional justice and are proficient in English. Practical experience and a command of French are an asset.
You may apply for the MTJ during the last year of your degree. We will consider and assess your application based on a current transcript and grades obtained so far.
If we offer you a place, it will be conditional and you must send your final results and evidence that your degree has been awarded as soon as these become available. The final decision will depend on whether you meet the specific requirements (minimum grades) that the Admissions Committee sets.
Previously unsuccessful candidates can reapply. This will not have a negative influence on the selection process.
Deferrals are exceptionally possible, but only for the next academy year following original admission offer.
Students who are nationals of countries outside the European Union (EU) need a visa to enter Switzerland and to stay for more than three months.
Students should consult the nearest Swiss embassy about the procedure. Because the visa process may take several weeks to a few months, students should apply to the nearest Swiss embassy as soon as they have been admitted to the programme.
Geneva offers an excellent quality of life: international quality of life indices consistently rank it among the top ten cities in the world.
As the European headquarters of the United Nations (UN) and the most active location in the world for multilateral diplomacy, Geneva is home to dozens of international organizations, more than 250 NGOs and 174 state representations, with more than 29,000 persons employed in this sector.
Every week, events organized by the Geneva Academy, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, the University of Geneva, international organizations and NGOs feature leading experts in the area of transitional justice, human rights and the rule of law. These events directly touch upon topics addressed in the programme.
The city is clean and safe, with high-quality public facilities. It is easy to get around either by bicycle or public transport.
As a multicultural city with more than 180 nationalities, Geneva has a vibrant cultural life – a broad range of music concerts, music festivals, dance, opera, a variety of movies, art galleries, theatres and museums. A significant number of these cultural offers are accessible to English speakers.
Geneva Academy students have access to the University of Geneva’s sports and cultural facilities. At the Graduate Institute Ciné-club, students can attend free film screenings, which are followed by a debate.
To meet living costs, students will need a minimum of about 1,600–2,000 Swiss Francs per month if they live in a student's residence and 1,900–2,100 Swiss Francs per month if they live in a private residence.
Students should start looking for accommodation as soon as they have been admitted to the programme.
The Geneva Academy can only provide a few places in student accommodation. We therefore encourage students to look for their own accommodation and not count on what is available via the Geneva Academy.
Our students receive a residence permit on arrival, which allows nationals from the EU to work up to 15 hours a week. It is possible to work full-time (40 hours a week) during official holidays.
Non-EU students, however, are not allowed to undertake paid work for the first six months of their stay. After six months, they can work up to 15 hours a week, except during official holidays when it is possible to work full-time (40 hours a week).
As the MTJ is a full-time intensive programme, we would not advise our students to find intensive employment that might interfere with their academic performance.
Students of the MTJ can extend their residence permit for up to six months following the completion of the programme (July to December) to undertake an internship or a temporary assignment related to their studies in a Geneva-based institution, and/or to look for a job in Geneva or Switzerland.
