Students have the opportunity to form professional thinking in an intercultural environment, gaining the skills to work with graduates of Western European law schools, which is, nowadays, necessary in order to be able to compete in the international legal services market.
The «International and Comparative Law» Program provides much more opportunities than any other program.
If you want to not only get a degree in international law field, but a broad understanding and analytical thinking to the field of your future profession, there is no better program to choose. I assure you that you will not regret it.
The Program Scientific Director
About the Program
The legal profession is one of the most prestigious and in-demand.
With globalization, new forms of international cooperation, interstate and corporate disputes, the need for highly qualified international lawyers naturally increases every year.
Students studying in Geneva have a unique opportunity to be immersed in an international environment, to know the European mentality, to gain invaluable experience of multicultural communication and learn the profession in the traditions of the European law school.
Leading specialists from Russia, Switzerland, and Europe, practicing lawyers, employees of international organizations, top managers and entrepreneurs are involved in teaching. Every day students acquire knowledge and communicate with outstanding specialists in law who are highly qualified and have vast practical experience.
Upon successful completion of the Program and the curriculum, graduates receive two diplomas:
- Russian Diploma – from MGIMO University
- Swiss Diploma – from Swiss School for International Relations
Advantages
The «International and Comparative Law» Program was developed jointly by the MGIMO International Law School and Swiss School for International Relations:
Curriculum
The curriculum is organized on a modular basis with a study of a subject for a few weeks followed by a pass/fail or exam. Simultaneously with law subjects, students have English and French languages lessons.
Starting from the third year in Geneva, the teaching of disciplines of specialization in English is introduced, including lectures and seminars by guests lecturers, representatives of international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the World Trade Organization, as well as practicing lawyers from Julius Baer banks, Credit Suisse and law firm partners.
*The curriculum is subject to modifications. Below are some examples of disciplines.
Foreign Languages
An integral part of the professional training of any modern specialist is the study of foreign languages.
Foreign languages are taught according to the system adopted at MGIMO, which combines both the best traditions accumulated by the Soviet and Russian schools and new approaches developed by leading European experts.
Alongside with the core subjects, students study intensively English and French taught in Geneva by native speaking instructors and, in Moscow – by professors from MGIMO University. The language training starts with English and French skills tests to place students in one of six instructional levels: from A1 (Basic) through C2 (Highly Advanced).
The training system allows students to take international certification exams without additional preparation.
Our classrooms are kept small — with 6-8 students – to ensure an individual approach to each student and provide the best conditions for high-quality language training.
Overall, the languages courses represent more than 1800 academic hours in the course of four years while the state standard is 130 hours of language training.
Throughout their studies in Geneva, students study English intensively using methods developed by experts in the field of language training for international lawyers, leading professors of MGIMO and Swiss School for International Relations, reaching the final C1/C2 level. Students with initially high language level have the opportunity to study with native speakers in C1/C2 groups.
Students take a unique, professionally-oriented course that includes legal concepts and categories in English, as well as the theory and practice of interpretation and translation, and a business correspondence course. The course lays the foundation of knowledge of public and private international law and basic terminology of international conventions and treaties for future professional activities.
French is a must for anyone who wants to get involved in international law, because French is an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, and most international organizations.
Once students reach B1 level, classes in French law and basic translation (Français Juridique) are introduced. The programs focus on international law, Swiss and French law, etc.
One of MGIMO’s oldest departments, the German Chair has extensive experience and tradition in training international specialists with a professional command of German. Students study using modern textbooks that preserve the achievements of the Soviet school and have been revised to reflect new trends.
The main purpose of this course is to teach you how to write the basic documents needed to find an internship or job (resume, cover letter), how to go through the various stages of the interview, the process of analyzing a potential employer.
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Internships
Internships are part of the curriculum and offer a hands-on training permitting the transfer of the knowledge acquired in the classroom in professional activities. Our students have a unique opportunity to undertake internships not only in Russia, but also in Switzerland and the Europe.
During their studies, students meet with practicing lawyers, visit numerous international organizations in Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich and the «Capitals of International Law».
Our students have a unique opportunity to do internships in Russia, in Switzerland and Europe in international organizations, law firms, multinationals and non-profit institutions.
Students learn to understand negotiation dynamics in international setting, including mastering a foreign language, to plan and accompany various international projects, to defend their point of view and resolve differences, to be able to work in a team and to take a leading position.
Admission
The education process is carried out on a contractual basis.
The enrollment to the «International and Comparative Law» Program is decided, as a separate selective process, on the basis of the results of the Unified State Examination (USE):
- English (60 points),
- Social Sciences (60 points),
- Russian (60 points).
No additional entrance examinations.
More information about the Admission Rules you can find here.
Contact
For more information about the Program, please contact us 8 (800) 302-80-79 (call is free in Russia) or fill out the form:
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Swiss School for International Relations