Masters Degrees in Law, Switzerland

The shifting balance between the state and the economy has given rise to new challenges at the intersections of law, business and government. Addressing these issues calls for professionals who understand their complexity and have the necessary legal skills and management capacities. The Master’s Programme in International Law (MIL) combines a specialist legal education with essential aspects of business and politics. We prepare our graduates for a wide range of careers in the corporate world, in government, diplomacy, international organisations, compliance and regulatory affairs and other public and private sector institutions.

Curriculum: structure and contents

The MIL offers students enormous latitude and flexibility in choosing courses from the programme’s rich and diverse curriculum to put together a degree course that meets their professional objectives and personal preferences. A distinctive feature of the MIL curriculum is the carefully arranged combination of compulsory courses and electives. Three compulsory courses ensure that students will acquire a sound general understanding of the normative and analytical Framework of international law. At the same time, a wide range of electives enables them to specialise in selected topics and, if they so wish, to complement their legal education with courses from related areas such as management studies or political science.

Compulsory courses
The three compulsory courses are foundational in character. They provide students with the knowledge, the analytical tools and the practical skills required for a general grasp of the theory and practice of international law. The compulsory courses are the basis upon which students can build when they attend more specialised legal classes in subsequent semesters.

Core electives
Core electives are courses designed to deepen students’ understanding of specific international law topics. Courses are organised in clusters, each concentrating on a particular subject area. Some courses seek to familiarise participants with the practical approaches to problem-solving at the intersections of law, business and politics. Others encourage theoretical reflection on basic legal issues or help to develop students’ professional skills. Students choose courses according to their own individual interests.

Legal electives
Legal electives enhance students’ legal expertise and allow them to specialise while granting great freedom of choice. Students may attend various courses from the MLaw and MLE. In addition, they are invited to participate in a variety of practice workshops, especially Moots, in which the Law School regularly takes part. They also benefit from special courses offered by visiting professors.

Independent electives
Independent electives present a wide range of options. Students choose courses according to their own preferences. They may wish to attend further core electives, legal electives, or courses offered throughout the other Master’s programmes, or they can opt for additional courses offered by the Law School.

Master’s thesis
The Master’s thesis allows students to concentrate on a research question in a specialised subject area of their own choice. Students develop their topic in consultation with their supervisor. While the subject may stem from the core studies or from a contextual discipline, it must focus on a research topic broadly related to international law. The thesis must normally be written in English.

Contextual Studies
The University of St. Gallen considers it essential that its graduates should be able to look beyond their academic specialisation and adopt a more comprehensive perspective that enables them to place contemporary issues in their wider cultural, social and historical settings. Contextual Studies complement the MIL’s core studies. Students can choose from a rich variety of options.

Exchange and double degrees

• CEMS Master’s in International Management (MIM)
• Exchange programmes with approx. 200 partner universities worldwide
• Double degree programme in preparation

Career perspectives

The MIL curriculum combines a specialised legal education with interdisciplinary training, an international perspective and an emphasis on practical problem-solving. With its innovative curriculum, the MIL opens the door to a wide array of attractive positions, preparing graduates for professional careers in multinational corporations, government, diplomacy, international organisations, compliance and regulatory affairs, business consulting, law firms, NGOs, as well as other public and private institutions. Given its strategic focus on international law and the interdependencies with global business and government, the MIL differs from standard legal programmes that focus on domestic law and are intended for students who, after their Bar exams, will go on to work as legal practitioners, particularly as attorneys or law clerks, in their national jurisdictions. Some law graduates, after completing their MLaw or MLE, might think about pursuing an international corporate or public-sector career in order to practise law in a global context. They may find that the MIL is just the academic programme they are looking for as it can make an essential contribution to fulfilling their international aspirations. Subject to the grades achieved, the MIL degree will also enable students to start a promising academic career as it provides access to Ph.D. programmes.

Language

The programme is taught in English.

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In cooperation with the University of Neuchâtel, a Master in Sports Law has been created in 2005 with the aim of allowing students to complete and further traditional teaching in legal matters related to sport and to train specialist jurists to deal with the specificities of sport problems.

Funding for the teaching of these courses is provided by FIFA.

Lectures are given by specialists of international standing such as Denis Oswald, who is also the CIES Director. The course includes complementary courses in economic law, civil law and health law.

This course is offered solely in French.

Students are to be registered with the University of Neuchâtel to attend classes and apply for the Master exams. Registration is open exclusively at the registration office of the University of Neuchâtel. No registration at CIES.


Academic year 2013 - 2014:

• Besson, Sébastien. Associations et organisations sportives. Automne 2013

• Besson, Sébastien. Les contrats dans le domaine du sport. Printemps 2014

• Besson, Sébastien. Pouvoir disciplinaire des organisations sportives et aspects choisis du contentieux sportif. Printemps 2014

• Besson, Sébastien. Structures et organisation du sport suisse et international. Automne 2013

• Diaconu, Madalina. Droit économique et sport. Automne 2013

• Rigozzi, Antonio. Droit du dopage. Printemps 2014

• Rigozzi, Antonio. International arbitration. Printemps 2014

• Rigozzi, Antonio. Statut personnel du sportif. Automne 2013

http://www.cies.ch/en/education/master-in-sports-law/


The second cycle of basic higher education, the Master degree (university 'maîtrise'), corresponds to 90 or 120 ECTS credits (obtained, in theory, over 3 or 4 semesters), and intensifies the scientific understanding of the discipline. Students at this level may also profit from the opportunity to engage in contemporary research.

The Master degree is a prerequisite for doctoral study. On obtaining a Master degree, students may undertake research leading to a PhD from the University of Neuchâtel.





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The Master’s Programme in Law and Economics (MLE) is an interdisciplinary Master’s programme of the University of St.Gallen that combines the study of law with supplementary training in the economic sciences and, in particular, prepares students for a career at the interface of law and the economy. The MLE programme continues the interdisciplinary education that was started at the Bachelor’s Level with a special focus on “Law and Economics”.

Language

The programme is taught in German.

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The FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport.

Organised by the International Centre for Sport Studies (CIES) in partnership with three universities, De Montfort University in Leicester (England), SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), and endorsed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the FIFA Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport was created to promote management education within the sports world. It has developed to become a top graduate programme developing all-round managers who can cope with the increasingly complex world of sport.

A unique programme

The FIFA Master takes its graduates on a unique journey through three different European countries to study sport. Three distinguished universities in England, Italy and Switzerland, which are among Europe's most sports oriented countries, have come together to provide a ten month programme that combines top-class academic teaching and practical case studies supplemented by guest lecturers and field visits. The course focuses on three key and inter-related aspects of sport humanities, management and law. Once the programme successfully completed, postgraduates receive a joint-diploma delivered by the three universities. 

Developing unique people

The FIFA Master offers a dynamic international environment with around 20 different nationalities represented in a class of approximately 30 postgraduates that are selected each year. The international multi-disciplinary approach provides postgraduates with the opportunity to learn a broad range of subjects and develop their analytical skills to better cope with the fast-changing trends in the sport industry.

For a unique industry

The FIFA Master offers a unique opportunity to meet top executives from high-level international sports federations, clubs, agencies and organising committees, enabling students to build up their own network of contacts - one of the keys to a successful career in sport. On top of these opportunities, each graduate also becomes a member of the FIFA Master Alumni Association (FMA). The FMA plays a crucial role in connecting all alumni of the FIFA Master, creating lifelong bonds between graduates.

CRITERIA FOR APPLYING

The FIFA Master seeks to attract a diverse profile of applicants, those who exhibit a variety of skills and accomplishments. This is in contrast to some courses which target one standard candidate profile. In order to create the most stimulating environment possible for all postgraduates, we consciously select a complementary student body, one that not only reflects a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and nationalities, but a wide range of personal interests and professional ambitions.

The common characteristics of our postgraduates are demonstrated by leadership potential and a capacity to thrive in a rigorous academic environment.

All prospective candidates must:

• Have completed a full course of university study in any discipline and successfully obtained a degree by the application date;
• Have an excellent command of English, TOEFEL minimum score of 100 Internet based test or IELTS minimum score of 7.5 (or demonstrate a level of proficiency);
• Have previous work experience;
• Have an international outlook;
• Be able to demonstrate an active level of involvement/interest in sport (not just as a participant but in the administration/management of sport);
• Be motivated and determined to succeed;
• Be flexible and able to meet the challenges of the course;
• Have an extensive general knowledge and culture;
• Be able to work in a group (group work is a key part of the course);
• Recommended but optional: submit score from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or GRE;

Failure to fulfil any of the above criteria will mean that your application will not be taken into consideration.

 

FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked No.1 Course in Europe 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, by the SportBusiness International global rankings.

Organised by CIES in partnership with De Montfort University (United Kingdom), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).

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The Master’s Programme in Law (MLaw) has a profile of its own and utilises a new training concept. It continues the legal education that was begun at the Assessment Level and pursued further at the Bachelor’s Level and it concludes with the award of the degree of a Master of Arts HSG in Law. The MLaw is aimed at graduates who will later be admitted to the Bar. It is primarily geared to Swiss legal practice and provides a demanding generalist legal education that is integrated in the HSG’s overall concept. The high percentage of elective courses also enables our students to set their own priorities in line with their personal and professional interests.

Language

The programme is taught in German.

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