LL.M. In International Peace Support Operations

The Masters in International Peace Support Operations is a one-year programme of full-time study, combining two semesters of course work and the preparation of a dissertation. It may also be completed part-time, over a two year period. It aims to prepare graduates for work in the field of international peace support operations, with international organizations, non-governmental organizations and as individual advocates.

The programme draws upon the resources of the LL.M. in International Human Rights Law, with the addition of specialised courses on peacekeeping. The course work begins with a general introduction to international peacekeeping and peace support operations, and continues with a series of specialized courses in such areas as international relations and international organizations, international humanitarian law, refugee law, conflict and post conflict studies, and international criminal law.

The programme recognizes the experience of candidates who have participated in peacekeeping activities in various parts of the world. Thus the programme provides credit for a full semester course (10 credits) in exchange for submission of a written assignment of appropriate length, reviewing field experience and lessons learned. A list of courses can be found here.

The programme may also recognize and credit a peacekeeping course of appropriate duration delivered at a Centre/Institute recognized by the NUI Galway. However, in order to allow for consistent evaluation, a written paper of appropriate length must be submitted. The maximum credits permitted in the case of any candidate in recognition of field experience or course work completed elsewhere are 15.

Before contacting us with your queries, please consult the list of frequently asked questions ( FAQ) of programmes offered in the Centre.

Duration

The programme runs from September until June, with course work over the Autumn (September-December) and Spring (January-April) semesters.

Courses

Courses each year are subject to change, but may include the following:

NB: Some of the following syllabi may be from the previous year and will be updated soon. The format, however, will be similar. 

• African and Inter-American Regional Systems of Protecting Human Rights
• Business and Human Rights
• Children's Rights
• Conflict and Post-Conflict
• Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights
• Economic, Social & Cultural Rights
• European Convention on Human Rights
• European Union and Human Rights
• Genocide
• How to Argue with an Economist
• Human Rights in the Domestic Sphere
• International Criminal Law
• International Humanitarian Law (Term I)
• International Humanitarian Law (Term II)
• International Refugee Law 
• Introduction to Human Rights
• Minority Rights
• Peace Support Operations 
• Public International Law
• Procedure before International Criminal Courts
• Right to Development
• Transitional Justice

Entry requirements

Applications will be considered normally from those candidates who satisfy one or other of the following prerequisites:

(a) Candidates with undergraduate degrees who have professional experience in peace support operations or a related field, as in the opinion of the Faculty of Law, qualify them to read for the LL.M. Candidates who have significant experience in the field of peacekeeping and/or international human rights, for example with international organizations or international non-governmental organizations, are encouraged to apply under this rubric.

(b) Suitably qualified candidates who hold, or expect to hold by the semester of entry, a degree that the Faculty normally requires to have been awarded with Second Class Honours, Grade I or its equivalent.

Students should note that the LL.M. course is instructed in English. The University requires that students are able to effectively engage in English in order to successfully complete the course (all exams are in the English language). Therefore, prospective students (not being native English speakers) are required to undertake an English language course before undertaking the LL.M. The required scores are: IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL (paper-based): 580; TOEFL (computer-based): 240; and TOEFL (internet-based): 92.  

For more information, and to discuss the programme, contact the programme director Dr. Ray Murphy, or the Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, Prof. William Schabas.

The final closing date for consideration of applications for each coming academic year falls in mid July. Applications should be made online to the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC) which can be accessed on the National University of Ireland, Galway webpage.

The precise closing date for the academic year 2008/2009 will be announced on this website.

Scholarships Available to prospective students from Ethiopia, South Africa and Sri Lanka

Galway has a long tradition of involvement in providing education for students from developing countries. In keeping with this tradition the NUI Galway International Scholarship Programme was launched in 2005. The programme builds on NUI Galway's tradition of offering opportunities to talented students from the developing world, and " is aimed at developing the capacity of outstanding individuals who can assume leadership roles in their fields of study, and whose work will enhance the development of their own society" (President Ó Muircheartaigh). The benefit to the University is in attracting high calibre postgraduate students to our programmes and adding to the cultural diversity we wish to nurture on campus. The scholarship provides recipients with EUR15,000 plus tuition fees and is currently open to applicants from South Africa, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka. Full details of the programme are available at the following link:

http://www.nuigalway.ie/international_affairs_office/fees/scholarships.html

Important information for non-EU students applying to any of the LL.M. programmes can be found at the link below.

http://www.nuigalway.ie/human_rights/non_eu_students.html

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