Could you benefit from a refresher course at the WTI? Are you interested in our programmes but cannot commit to an entire year? Now is your chance to get a taste of what we offer and earn a certificate of attendance, Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) or a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS).
CAS and DAS Programmes
For public and private sector professionals
Our offer
The WTI offers you a unique opportunity to update and deepen your knowledge of international economic governance, trade and investment by participating in intensive, week-long courses on a wide range of topics. These interdisciplinary courses, which are part of the Master in International Law and Economics (MILE) programme and the Master in International Trade and Investment Law (TRAIL+), are taught by a faculty of renowned experts and practitioners.
Certificate of Advanced Studies in International Law and Economics (CAS ILE)
Participants who earn 8 ECTS in course work (3 courses) and 4 ECTS by writing a research paper are awarded a Certificate of Advanced Studies in International Law and Economics (CAS ILE).
During the academy year 2022/2023, we also offer four different CAS specialisations (details below):
- specialisation Trade Law - 23 January-16 February 2023
- specialisation Applied Trade Policy Modeling (TRADEMOD) - 12-30 June 2023
- specialisation International Climate Governance (CLIMGOV) - 10-28 July 2023
- specialisation Trade, Investment and Sustainable Development (TRADESUS) - 3-21 July 2023
Diploma of Advanced Studies in International Law and Economics (DAS ILE)
Participants who earn 22 ECTS in course work (8 courses) and 8 ECTS by writing a research paper are awarded a Diploma of Advanced Studies in International Law and Economics (DAS ILE).
If you cannot commit to a CAS, you can take single weekly courses on à la carte basis, as a part of our Winter and Summer Academies. Visit the Winter and Summer Academy page for a current list of à la carte courses, course descriptions, and fee information.
CAS ILE with a specialisation on International Climate Governance (CLIMGOV) (10-28 July 2023)
IMPORTANT: you have to pass all three courses below and write a paper to obtain a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) or you can pick one alternative course of the Summer Academy offer to replace one of the indicated courses.
Week 1 | Challenges to International Climate Governance
3-7 July 2023
Lecturers: Christoph Raible, Gabriele Spilker and Eddy Bekkers
Description: This course will be divided in 3 parts: a) The first part will give first an overview of the current knowledge of Climate Change and its impacts. Thereby, the latest assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will be presented; b) The second part of the course deals with the political challenges to climate change governance and covers both the international level and the domestic level; c) the third part of the course will address International economic structures and climate change drivers.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here
Week 2 | International Law and Policy Options for Climate Mitigation
17-21 July 2023
Lecturers: Nicolas Lockhart, Dominic Coppens and Elena Cima
Description: There is broad concensus on the urgent need to pursue climate mitigation but not on the ways to do so. This course will guide particpants through the internatinal law framework governing climate mitigation, and then explore the climate mitigation policies that public and private actors can pursue consistently with the framework. This course is for anyone interested in the law and policy of climate change – policymakers, academics, NGOs, and lawyers working on sustainability issues.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here
Week 3 | International Energy Law and Governance
24-28 July 2023
Lecturers: Anna-Alexandra Marhold
Description: Europe and the World are confronted by a pressing, multi-level energy crisis propelled by the perfect storm of rapidly progressing climate change and Russia’s war in Ukraine. Globally, as well as in Europe, a fine balance must constantly be maintained between ensuring a secure, competitive, affordable, but also a sustainable energy supply. The transition to a low carbon economy is moreover accompanied by many obstacles (regulatory, geo-political and technical). This course aims to give a comprehensive insight into international energy law and governance and the challenges ahead. Participants will gain a solid understanding of the relevant actors and international and regional agreements in the area of energy. It will centre on the intricacies of cross-border energy trade regulation under the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and Preferential Trade Agreements. The course will always link energy law and governance to timely case studies, such as the shift of European energy regulation as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as to decarbonization and climate change mitigation.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here
CAS ILE with a specialisation on Trade, Investment and Sustainable Development (CAS TRADESUS) (3-21 July 2023)
IMPORTANT: you have to pass all three courses below and write a paper to obtain a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) or you can pick one alternative course of the Summer Academy offer to replace one of the indicated courses.
Week 1 | Technical Barriers to Trade in Pursuit of Sustainable Development
3-7 July 2023
Lecturers: Christian Häberli and Arthur Appleton
Description: This course will explore how to harness the international trade system to advance sustainable development. We will look at what is now permitted under the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and what should be permitted were the international regulatory architecture to be revised to better meet the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). First, the legal foundation of GATT Articles III and XX and the TBT Agreement will be discussed from the perspective of the SDGs; then we will explore whether existing international trade rules are adequate to meet environmental, governmental, labour and human rights challenges. Our thesis is that international trade rules and standards and regulations must evolve to meet the SDGs in general, and climate change in particular. Our case studies will draw upon the Climate Change agreements, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and over-exploitation of palm oil in environmentally sensitive tropical regions.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here
Week 3 | International Investment Law and Sustainable Development
17-21 July 2023
Lecturers: Marie-Clare Cordonier and Markus Gehring
Description: International investment flows, and principles and accords which governs them, can either foster or frustrate global sustainability. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) lay out a common policy agenda, 169 time-bound targets under 17 Goals to guide a transition to a more sustainable world. Advancing these SDGs, which address key global priorities such as poverty, hunger, universal access to health and education, clean water and energy, climate change, biodiversity protection, justice and more, requires significant investment, which can be incentive by international investment law. This course examines international investment treaty law, highlighting procedural innovations and objectives, exceptions, substantive obligations and collaborative measures which can help rather than hinder sustainability in different regions and countries. The course also surveys recent dispute settlement decisions and arbitral awards related to sustainable development, and examines how international investment promotion and governance mechanisms could promote nature positive and net zero development, more sustainable management of natural resources, and realisation of indigenous and human rights.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here
CAS ILE with a specialisation on Applied Trade Policy Modeling (TRADEMOD) - 12-30 June 2023
Goals and content
The integration of national economies into a global multilateral economic system is one of the landmarks of the recent economic history. The growth of international trade has been boosted by the recent trends of globalization and trade liberalization and policy coordination. The current international trade system is a complex network shaped by trade regulation and policies. It is therefore a demand for informed policy-making to provide a quantitative evaluation of the effects of such policies.
The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) on Applied Trade Policy Modeling (TradeMod) offers a research-oriented teaching in the field of trade policy. The courses provided show the different theories and quantitative models and techniques used to analytically evaluate the past effects of trade policies. Applied econometric and applied general equilibrium modeling approaches are covered, as well as the management of the relevant trade policy databases. These tools are the standard used in specialized units in international organizations and national institutions. The courses are applied and will emphasize the use of econometric and computational programs and specialized software.
Structure and courses
The CAS TradeMod is structured around four one-week courses and a research paper that students write under the supervision of one of the lecturers. Students are required to take a minimum of three of the courses, but have the right to follow all four as part of the program.
The summer 2023 courses will be:
Week 1 | Foundations of Trade Policy and Trade Policy Data
12-16 June 2023
Lecturers: Achim Vogt and Selina Hauser
Description: This course presents the theory of trade policy instruments (tariffs, preferential trade agreements, non-tariff measures, trade facilitation) and introduces the students to the use of the main international datasets covering those policy instruments.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here
Week 2 | Econometric Analysis of Trade Policy
19-23 June 2023
Lecturers: Joseph Francois, Octavio Fernández-Amador, Achim Vogt and Irene Garcés Iriarte
Description: This course presents the main econometric framework to perform ex-post analysis of trade policies: the structural gravity model of trade. This model predicts bilateral trade flows based on size and distance between exporter and importer units, e.g. geographical, cultural and policy-related barriers to trade. The students are also introduced to the management of bilateral trade data and the main gravity variables.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here
Week 3 | Input-Output and Applied General Equilibrium Models
26-30 June 2023
Lecturers: Patrick Tomberger
Description: This course shows the use of input-output tables and social accounting matrices, which constitute the data basis for applied general equilibrium models. After that, students are introduced to the basics of computable general equilibrium models.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here
IMPORTANT NOTE: These course are offered on-site only, for students with strong economic background
Admission
Requirements
For the CAS/DAS programmes, we accept applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree in law, economics, finance, commerce, international relations, or political science, or in an unrelated field when supplemented by relevant working experience. Participants are expected to have a strong command of written and spoken English and should be ready to read a large amount of material in English both prior to and during the courses. Students whose first language is not English are required to provide TOEFL or IELTS test results (see MILE Admission). Exceptions may be granted on further examination, particularly where students have obtained their previous degree from a programme conducted entirely in English.
For the CAS and DAS programmes, applicants must demonstrate outstanding academic ability and provide credible references bearing witness to their research abilities. They also should possess at least one year of professional experience in a related field (lawyer, diplomat, export industry representative, trade economist, civil servant, etc). Exceptions to this rule may be granted upon reviewing individual applications.
How to apply
If you are interested in pursuing a CAS or DAS programmes, please:
- Consult the course offering above and choose the courses you wish to follow.
- Express your interest by email to inquire@wti.org
Deadline
Applications are accepted until the maximum number of participants is reached.
Cancellation policy
The following deadlines and penalties apply for persons who apply and have been accepted to the programme, but who subsequently withdraw:
- Cancellations 8 weeks before the course: the WTI refunds the tuition fee but deducts a 100 Swiss franc administration fee
- Cancellations 4 weeks before the course: the WTI refunds 70% of tuition fee
- Cancellations 2 weeks before the course: the WTI refunds 50% of tuition fee
- No show = no refund
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are due prior to starting your course(s). Information on courses will not be provided until the tuition fee has been paid.
The CAS and DAS tuition fees do not cover costs such as meals, housing or local transportation.
Weekly Courses
Participants may join one or more course(s) as a weekly student and receive a Certificate of Attendance upon completion.
The tuition per week is 1,200 Swiss francs.
*Week-long WTI PhD courses also count towards meeting the requirements for a CAS or DAS.
Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
Participants who earn 8 ECTS in course work and 4 ECTS by writing a research paper are awarded a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in International Law and Economics.
The tuition fee for a CAS is 4,000 Swiss francs.
Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS)
Participants who earn 22 ECTS in course work and 8 ECTS by writing a research paper are awarded a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in International Law and Economics.
The tuition fee for a DAS is 10,000 Swiss francs.
Financial aid
Special rates apply to students registered at the University of Bern.
A 50% tuition waiver is applicable to participants affiliated with the UNCTAD Virtual Institute (staff and students of university and think tank members, with proof of institutional affiliation and/or registration). For detailed information, please visit the UNCTAD VI website.
If you are a Bulgarian national, you are eligible for the exclusive financial support of the Fonds Katzarovi, specially designed for Graduate and PostGraduate studies in Switzerland. Deadline 15 March. More info here.
The WTI does not offer tuition waivers for CAS/DAS programmes or weekly courses. Financial aid, if needed, should be requested from other organisations or institutions.