Master's Programme (MILE)

The MILE is a non-consecutive Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) conferred by the World Trade Institute, University of Bern. The MILE programme counts for 90 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System Points).

Course work accounts for 75 ECTS and the mandatory master’s thesis is awarded 15 ECTS. 

Regular course attendance is required from mid-September until the end of June, with the master’s thesis being researched and written over the summer. The programme can also be taken on a part-time basis within three years.

The MILE begins with a foundational semester during which students are given a solid basis in international economic law, international micro- and macroeconomics and global political economy. The second semester consists of courses based on lectures and case studies that deliver an in-depth analysis of relevant topics in international trade and investment. 

As part of many of the MILE courses, students are regularly given writing assignments to be completed within a 12-hour time frame. These assignments are designed to prepare students for real world scenarios, and reflect what is expected of professionals working in the fields of international trade and investment.

The MILE programme culminates in a challenging yet rewarding moot court exercise – a simulation of a fictitious trade dispute between two countries in front of a panel composed of top WTO law experts.

The MILE curriculum is interdisciplinary, combining law, economics and political science. You will study the global economy, international macroeconomics and applied economics, trade facilitation, competition law, investment law, dispute settlement, trade remedies and much more. The WTI attaches great importance to its teaching methods. Courses consist of lectures and case studies, offering students opportunities for classroom discussions, group workshops, and individual research. For a full list of available courses, please refer to the MILE curriculum (link to the right).

External participants interested in taking single weekly courses can do so on an 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.

Fall Semester Courses (15 September to 24 December 2021)

15 & 16 September
Induction days at the WTI

Foundations of Economics
20 September – 24 December
Lecturers: Achim Vogt, Irene Garcés Iriarte, Patrick Tomberger (Microeconomics) & Octavio Fernandez- Amador (Macroeconomics)
ECTS: 15
Course description here
Syllabus here

International Trade Regulation
20 September – 24 December
Lecturer: Michael Hahn
ECTS: 10
Course description here
Syllabus here

International Investment Law
20 September – 24 December
Lecturer: Krista Nadakavukaren Schefer
ECTS: 5
Course description here
Syllabus here

Academic Support
23 September, 21 October, 18 November, 2 December and 16 December
Lecturers: Peter Van den Bossche and Rodrigo Polanco
Syllabus here

Global Political Economy
20 September – 24 December
Lecturer: Manfred Elsig
ECTS: 5
Course description here
Syllabus here

Global Economic Governance Seminars – Fall Series
21 September – 23 December
ECTS: 1.5
Course description here
Syllabus will be up soon
Every session features an expert lecturer. Please visit the Events page for a list of seminars.

**Other optional courses available at UNIBE

Winter Academy Courses 2022

WTO Law on Border Measures and Trade Facilitation
24 – 28 January 2022
Monday – Friday 10 am – 3 pm (Central European time)
Lecturers: Anna Jerzewska and Roy Santana
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here

WTO Law on Anti-Dumping and Safeguard Measures
31 January – 4 February 2022
Monday – Friday 10 am – 3 pm (Central European time)
Lecturers: Fernando Piérola and Edwin Vermulst
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here

WTO Law on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
7 - 10 February 2022 (Take-home assessment on 11 February)
Monday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm (Central European time)
Lecturers: James Flett and Luca Rubini
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here

The Law and Policy of Trade in Services
14 - 17 February 2022 (Take-home assessment on 18 February)
Monday – Thursday 9 am – 4 pm (Central European time)
Lecturers: Pierre Sauvé and Jan Bohanes
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here

Spring Semester Courses (21 February – 24 July 2022)

International Economic Dispute Resolution
21 February – 3 June
Lecturer: Peter Van den Bossche
ECTS: 5
Course description here

International Economic Law and the Pursuit of Core Societal Values and Interests
21 February – 3 June
Lecturer: Peter Van den Bossche
ECTS: 5
Course description here

International Economics II (Block course)
18 March, 25 March, 1 April
Lecturers: Patrick Tomberger, Valentino Desilvestro, Selina Hauser, Achim Vogt
ECTS: 15
*Course description coming soon.

Sustainable Development and Environment
7 March - 20 May
Lecturer: Patrick Tomberger, Hugo Rojas-Romagosa
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here

Global Economic Governance Seminars - Spring Series
21 February – 3 June
ECTS: 1.5
Every session features an expert lecturer. Please visit the Events page for a list of seminars.

Introduction to International Negotiations
18 and 25 March, 1 and 8 April 2022
Lecturers: Felix Addor, Katie Rüeggsegger
ECTS: 3
Course flyer
Course description here
Syllabus here
*This course is also open to external participants

**Other optional courses available at UNIBE

Summer Academy Courses 2022 (Optional)

Foundations of Trade Policy and Trade Policy Data
7 -10 June 2022
Lecturers : Patrick Tomberger, Manfred Elsig, Achim Vogt, 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 
13 - 17 June 2022
Lecturers: Octavio Fernández-Amador, Achim Vogt, 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

Introduction to Input-Output and Applied General Equilibrium Models
20 - 24 June 2022
Lecturers: Patrick Tomberger, Hugo Rojas-Romagosa
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

The Proposed  EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): its Legality, Effectiveness and Impact
20 - 24 June 2022
Lecturers: Peter Van den Bossche, Yuliia Kucheriava, Joseph Francois, Christian Häberli, Ilaria Espa, Nicolas Lockhart, Dominic Coppens and Manfred Elsig
Description: This course focuses on the European Commission’s proposal for a carbon border adjustment mechanism as it is currently being discussed in the European Parliament and by EU Member States. The course will discuss this proposal, possible amendments and alternatives from a legal, economic and international relations perspective. In a series of lectures and roundtable discussions involving policy makers, representatives of interest groups and academics from the EU and other WTO Members, the course will address the consistency of the CBAM proposal, possible amendments, and alternatives with the WTO and other international agreements. The course will also address the economic impact and effectiveness of the proposed CBAM as well as its effect on international efforts to address climate change.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here

Innovation and Intellectual Property Protection: Foundations and Challenges
20 - 24 June 2022
Lecturers: Thomas Cottier and Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
Description: Intellectual property rights play an increasing role in international trade and the process of globalization and regionalization. Global value chains and division of labour strongly depends upon intellectual property protection which in turn also influences trade flows. The course expounds the fundamental principles of IP protection in the multilateral trading system of the WTO and preferential trade agreements. It offers and introduction to different forms of rights, scope of rights, and students are exposed to leading case law. It particularly focuses in a case study on the implications of patents on public health and pharmaceuticals in the developing world. The course offers an introduction into trademarks and geographical indications and explains the different modes of registration of intellectual property rights and research tools for patent and trademark landscaping.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here

Week 4

Applied Trade Policy Modeling using Computational General Equilibrium Models
27 June - 1 July 2022
Lecturer: Eddy Bekkers
Description: This course covers how to model trade policy instruments in the framework of computational general equilibrium models. The course covers topics such as the structure of the main multi-country, multi-sector general equilibrium models specially designed for the analysis of trade, the definition of shocks, the calibration of the model, and how to read the results.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here

WTO Law on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) & Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)
27 June - 1 July 2022
Lecturers: Arthur Appleton and Christian Häberli
Description: This course builds on basic knowledge regarding GATT obligations and applies this knowledge to trade-related regulatory issues that affect operators along various value chains. These regulatory issues are of considerable interest to civil society. The classroom activities will focus on the policy space that Members have under the WTO Agreements on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) to regulate trade in goods, including the social and environmental implications. Based on participant interest in societal concerns, we will discuss trade and investment-related issues arising under the WTO and regional trade agreements (RTAs) including climate change mitigation, the pandemic and public health, food safety, consumer protection, child and forced labour, public morals, the protection of the environment, and similar issues. Particular attention will also be given to the needs of the business community – businesses thrive when government regulations are legitimate, transparent, and stable.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here

Intellectual Property and the Digital Economy
27 June - 1 July 2022
Lecturers: Thomas Cottier and Mira Burri
Description: This course is dedicated to exploring the relationship of international trade, intellectual property and competition law in the digital economy. Expounding the law of copyright and domain name protection, turns to new challenges in the field of competition law. New and unresolved issues of big data, data protection, artificial intelligence and IP protected technical standards are discussed, also in relation to the US-Sino trade war. The module also includes treatment of enforcing intellectual property rights which is particularly challenges in digital trade.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here

Week 5

More Agrifood Trade Governance 
4 - 8 July 2022
Lecturers: Ken Ash and Christian Häberli
Description: In this course we look at the history of, and the economic justification for, the rules in the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and related agreements. We then examine how these rules which were created in response to the agricultural policy landscape of the 1980's fit the current global context for food security, food safety, and climate change mitigation. In addition to participating in interactive lectures and exercises, participants will be invited to identify, and present, specific agriculture-related issues of their choice. In addition to the challenges mentioned above, topics could include sustainable development goals, “land grab”, human rights and gender issues, obesity and malnutrition, water allocation and wood scarcity, fish, biofuels and biotechnology. On the fourth day of the week, participants will lead a discussion on the selected topics highlighting the interaction between existing trade rules and policy space.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here

Week 6

Latest Developments in International Investment Law and Dispute Settlement
11 - 15 July 2022
Lecturers: Michele Potestà, Krista Nadakavukaren and Rodrigo Polanco
Description: This course will examine the latest trends in the negotiation and implementation of international investment agreements (IIAs), placing them into their political economy and public policy context,  including issues such as the connection with poverty and the digital divide.
The sessions will devote particular attention to the criticism that the current investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system is facing and the various reform efforts that States and other stakeholders are making to address such criticism. The course will in particular deal with the work of UNCITRAL Working Group III with respect to ISDS reform, including the proposals of tribunals, ad hoc and standing multilateral mechanism (multilateral advisory centre, stand-alone review or appellate mechanism, and standing first instance and appeal investment court, with full-time judges); arbitrators and adjudicators appointment methods and ethics (ISDS tribunal members' selection appointment and challenge, and code of conduct); treaty Parties' involvement and control mechanisms on treaty interpretation; cost management and related procedures (expedited procedures, and principles/guidelines on allocation of cost and security for cost); and third-party funding, as well as the possible mechanisms to implement the reform options. The course will also address the recent ICSID Rules amendments which have reformed the ICSID arbitration framework in a number of significant respects and which will come into effect in July 2022.
Additionally, the course will examine investor-State conflict management, as well as alternatives to replace it with other mechanisms, including the use of non-litigious means for addressing investor-State conflicts. It will also address issues of dispute prevention and mitigation, such as the strengthening of dispute settlement mechanisms other than arbitration (ombudsman, mediation).
Finally, this course will also analyse the latest developments of a possible future Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement as part of the joint statement initiative (JSI) at the WTO, as well as the investment facilitation provisions that have been already included in existing IIAs
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here

Trade and Sustainable Social Development 
11 - 15 July 2022
Lecturers: Damian Raess and Dora Sari
Description: This course focuses on trade, globalization and labor standards. It asks: Is globalization good or bad for labor standards in developing countries? Is the level of labor protection a curse or a blessing for economic development? How does the International Labor Organization incentivize or constrain its Members to comply with internationally recognized labor standards, and with what degree of success? To answer these questions, the course analyzes the effects of global governance tools such as preferential trade agreements, private regulation, and the ILO on compliance with labour standards and trade relationships. We relate the discussion of these issues to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG #8 on inclusive and sustainable growth and decent work for all.
ECTS: 3
Syllabus here

 
End of term

WTI Moot Court
*Preparation during term. Oral pleadings at the end of the school year.
Lecturers: Iryna Polovets and Max Gustafson
ECTS: 5
Course description here

For questions about the curriculum, please contact the Academic Coordinator.

We have a few places left for the MILE and TRAIL+ programmes and are accepting applications on a rolling basis! 

Admission requirements
To be considered for admission to the Master of Advanced Studies in International Law and Economics (MILE) programme at the World Trade Institute, we require you to have completed, at minimum, an undergraduate degree.
 
The majority of our students have a background in law, economics or political sciences. If you have a background in a different field, you are nonetheless encouraged to apply. A graduate degree in a related field and/or work experience in the field of international trade give you a bonus when the selection committee evaluates your application.

• To apply for the MILE programme, and for details of our requirements, please click on the MILE Application Form (Word document) on the right. IMPORTANT: Please follow the submission guidelines in the application form.
• To apply for a weekly course, please visit the Winter and Summer Academy page. Here you will find a current list of à la carte courses, course descriptions, and fee information.

Please send your complete application by email or by mail to World Trade Institute, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

English language requirements
The MILE programme is taught exclusively in English and you need to arrive at the WTI with a level of English that allows you to fully benefit from the courses. In particular, your level of English needs to allow you to express yourself effectively in and outside the classroom, deliver on weekly writing assignments and adequately cover a weekly reading load of up to 200 pages.

When evaluating your application, the selection committee pays close attention to evidence of your proficiency in English. As is common for graduate programmes, you are required to submit objective test scores of one of the accepted tests listed below:

Test                          Minimum Score  
TOEFL ibT                100 points or above   

TOEFL Paper           600 points or above   

IELTS                        7.0 or above   

Cambridge CAE        A    

Cambridge CPE        C or higher   

Exemptions
The following applicants are exempt from submitting test scores:

• Native English speakers
• Students with an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from an institution in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand, where English was the primary language of instruction and the degree was awarded no longer than five years ago.

You may apply for exemption from submitting test scores if you are:

• A student with an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction and the degree was awarded no longer than five years ago,
• A student who has completed at least one year of study in an English speaking country and at an institution where English was the primary language of instruction immediately prior to joining the MILE programme.

Please contact us if you are unsure of your exemption status and we will be glad to help. However, please be advised that exemptions from the language requirement are rarely granted. Important: Independent of your exemption status, you are required to fill in the section on English language in the MILE application form and submit a two-page essay in English as part of your application.

Tuition fees

• Tuition for the MILE programme is CHF 18'000 for both full and part-time studies.
• Tuition for single weekly courses can be found on the Winter and Summer Academy page.

Tuition for the MILE programme covers all courses, master’s thesis supervision, a range of extracurricular activities, and several trips to Geneva with visits to the WTO and other international and non-governmental organisations. Tuition does not cover travel costs, accommodation, health insurance, or any other expenditures incurred during your stay in Switzerland.

Tuition payments are not required until you have been accepted to the programme. You may benefit from either one of the following two payment methods:

• A 2% discount is applied if you pay your entire tuition fee prior to the first day of the programme (September).
• Alternatively, the first instalment (1/3 of your tuition fee) is due prior to the first day of the programme (September), the second instalment (1/3 of your tuition fee) is due prior to the first day of the second semester in January and the third instalment (1/3 of your tuition fee) is due prior to the first day following the spring break (April).
• No discounts apply to tuition paid in instalments. 

Registration fee

Application for the MILE programme is free. A one-time, non-refundable registration fee of CHF 200 is required upon admission to the programme. We will provide you with bank details once we confirm your admission to the MILE programme.

Any charges incurred during transfer of the tuition fee or registration fee must be borne by the applicant.

Full tuition waiver
A full tuition waiver will be awarded to one person for an outstanding performance during the Grand Final of the Final Oral Round of the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition (formerly ELSA Moot Court).

Global Impact Association (GIA) Scholarships
The newly launched Global Impact Association (GIA) offers scholarships to talented students from least-developed and developing countries, who wish to pursue advanced master studies in international economic law and policy. Click here for more information (scholarship offers, application process, deadlines etc.)

The Global Impact Association (GIA) provides financial and/or other support to WTI master's students who wish to do an internship upon completion of their studies.

John H. Jackson Internship Scholarship
The John H. Jackson Internship Scholarship was set up to honour the legacy of John Jackson, the most influential academic of his era in the field of international trade law and policy. Prof. Jackson was a long-term friend and supporter of the WTI. Established in close consultation with his family, the Scholarship offers financial support to one WTI master's student each year to pursue an unpaid internship at an NGO or public institution. During his or her internship, the student will be expected to work on a multidisciplinary project relating to trade and/or investment law and policy.

Luzius Wasescha Internship Scholarship
Named after the late Luzius Wasescha, former Swiss ambassador to the WTO and long-term Chair of the WTI Board, the Luzius Wasescha Internship Scholarship allows one WTI master's student per year to pursue an unpaid internship at an international organisation, Geneva-based diplomatic mission, non-governmental organisation or law firm active in the field of international economic law and policy.

Thomas Cottier Internship Scholarship
The Thomas Cottier Internship Scholarship was set up to honour Thomas Cottier, the founder and first Managing Director and Director of Studies of the World Trade Institute (WTI). This Internship Programme allows one WTI master’s student per year to pursue an unpaid internship at an international organization, diplomatic mission, non-governmental organization or law firm active in the field of international economic law and policy.

Geneva Internship Scholarship
Funded by Pierre Sauvé, Senior Trade Specialist at the World Bank Group in Geneva, and WTI faculty member, the Geneva Internship Fund offers financial assistance to one deserving WTI master's student per year to pursue an unpaid internship at a Geneva-based international organisation, diplomatic mission or non-governmental organisation active in the field of international economic law and policy. Eligibility for financial support is contingent on a candidate’s selection to an unpaid internship in Geneva subsequent to completing WTI course work, financial need, overall academic performance at the WTI, quality of participation in WTI courses taught by the sponsor and propensity to laugh heartily at all his jokes. Students interested in being considered for financial assistance should send a short motivational message to Pierre Sauvé at psauve@worldbank.org by 15 June. Funding decisions will be announced annually at the Closing Ceremony of the MILE and TRAIL+ programmes.

Visit the Global Impact Association (GIA) website for more details.

Internship opportunities at international law firms and organisations
Other internship opportunities to well-qualified WTI graduate students include:

• Appleton Luff, Brussels, http://appletonluff.com/brussels-office/
• Fratini Vergano, Brussels, http://www.fratinivergano.eu/en/
• VVGB, Brussels, Brussels, http://www.vvgb-law.com
• WTI Advisors, Geneva, http://www.wtiadvisors.com
• Universal Postal Union, Bern, http://www.upu.int/en.html

1. I cannot decide whether to take the MILE or the TRAIL+ programme. How do the two differ?

The MILE has been our flagship programme since 1999 and taps into the expertise of the world’s leading academics and practitioners in the field of international economic governance. The uniquely multidisciplinary MILE programme includes law courses as well courses in economics and political science.  Upon completion of the programme, the student is awarded a Master of International Law and Economics (MILE) degree, which is equivalent to a Master of Advanced Studies. 

The TRAIL+ programme is a newly-launched programme which includes more law courses and fewer courses on economics and political science and is more suitable for students wishing to pursue a career as a practising lawyer or a PhD in law. The TRAIL+ programme is offered by the World Trade Institute in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of the University of Bern. Upon the successful conclusion of the TRAIL+ programme, the student is awarded an LL.M. in International Trade and Investment Law, as well as a Diploma of Advanced Studies in International Law and Economics.  

2. Which programme helps me qualify for a PhD in law programme?

Graduates of the TRAIL+ programme qualify for pursuing a PhD in law. They are eminently well qualified for pursuing doctoral studies in the field of international economic law. MILE graduates with an LL.M. or JD also qualify. However, MILE graduates with a BA, LLB or equivalent degree do not qualify.

3. I am an alumnus / alumna of the MILE programme with a degree in law. Can I get my LL.M. retrospectively?

Please contact the WTI to determine your eligibility for the TRAIL+ programme. Please note, however, that credits already used to obtain the MILE degree cannot be used again to obtain an LL.M.

4. Is the application process the same for the MILE and for the TRAIL+?

Yes. There are two separate forms to fill out with nearly identical information. Please refer to the 'Admission' section of our website for information on how to apply for each programme. The application requirements are the same for both.

5. Why do both programmes have the same amount of ECTS points, but only one qualifies me for a PhD in law programme?

The TRAIL+ programme qualifies students for a PhD in law programme*, because the academic course offering of the Faculty of Law gives them the amount of ECTS points needed to receive an LL.M. (60 ECTS). In addition, TRAIL+ students take additional courses on international law and economics (30 ECTS). Hence the +. Students completing these courses are awarded, in addition to an LL.M. in International Trade and Investment Law, a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in International Law and Economics. Such students are eminently well prepared to pursue a PhD in international economic law. 

TRAIL+ students have more law courses and fewer courses in economics and political science than MILE students. Both the MILE and the TRAIL+ programmes are demanding 90 ECTS programmes. The MILE programme is tailored to those students who wish to work in the field of international economic governance as multi-disciplinary experts, while the TRAIL+ programme is more suitable for students wishing to pursue a career as a practising lawyer in this field or wishing to pursue a PhD in law. 

6. I am currently employed and want to take the MILE or the TRAIL+ programme on a part-time basis. Is this possible?

Yes, TRAIL+ and MILE courses can be taken on a part-time basis over a two to three year period. If you are interested in taking a programme part-time, please indicate so on your application form. Upon admission to the programme of your choice and in consultation with the WTI Director of Studies, you will be able to pursue the programme on a part-time basis.

7. I see that it is possible to receive financial aid for the MILE programme. How about the TRAIL+ programme?

All MILE and TRAIL+ applicants are, on request, considered for financial aid. For more information on financial aid, visit the 'Financial Aid' section of our website.

* Article 6 (1) of the Promotionsreglement of the University of Bern Law Faculty stipulates that law students must have received grade 5 or higher in their LL.M. degree to be admitted to the Faculty's PhD programme.

Students at the WTI can look forward to a range of extra-curricular activities during their time in Bern.

In September, students are invited to join the Director of Studies for a walk down the Gurten mountain, one of Bern’s iconic view points, followed by a welcome apéro.

Students also have the opportunity to attend the WTO Public Forum and the UNCTAD World Investment Forum in Geneva, both of which are excellent platforms for networking and getting significant insights into the world of trade law and investment.

In-house, we organise an annual table football competition in which students, professors, researchers and staff members alike can participate and compete against each other. The competition involves a preliminary round, a semi-final round and final round.

In addition, Bern has some noteworthy public events and traditions scattered throughout the year which will undoubtedly add to a positive experience during your time here. More information can be found on www.bern.com