Master of Advanced Studies in International Law and Economics (MILE)

Established in 1999, the MILE is the flagship programme of the World Trade Institute. It is one of the world’s leading programmes of advanced studies in the field of international trade regulation and has close ties to the WTI’s research portfolio. The programme uniquely combines a multidisciplinary perspective with a strong applied focus. In addition to our resident faculty, we bring in the world’s leading trade experts from law firms, international organisations, policy research institutes and top universities.

To find out if the MILE programme is right for you, check out the 'frequently asked questions (FAQs)'.

What we offer

• A one-year, intensive graduate programme (can also be taken part-time)
• Teaching and guidance from world-class scholars and practitioners - recruited from leading universities, international organisations, think tanks and global law firms
• Highly applicable real-world knowledge and the latest research developments in international trade and investment regulation, and economics
• A vibrant alumni network with over 600 members worldwide
• Strong networks and mentoring programmes to help students secure internships and entry-level positions. More info here.

What you bring

• The MILE is designed for students and professionals with a background in law, economics, international relations or political science, who wish to embark on a career in international trade and investment

For information about living and studying in Switzerland, click here.

The MILE is a non-consecutive Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) counting 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 short 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).

ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024 - KEY DATES

11, 14 & 15 September 2023
Induction days at the WTI

12 & 13 September 2023
WTO Public Forum

18 September 2023
Courses begin

FALL SEMESTER (18 September to 22 December 2023)

Foundations of Economics
Lecturers: David Baumann (Mathematics and Statistics), Irene Garcés Iriarte (Microeconomics), Octavio Fernandez- Amador (Macroeconomics) (TBC)
ECTS: 8
Syllabus

International Trade Regulation
Lecturer: Michael Hahn
ECTS: 10
Syllabus

International Investment Law 
Lecturer: Rodrigo Polanco
ECTS: 5
Syllabus

Academic Support: Research and Academic Writing Seminar
Dates: September 21, October 26, November 16, November 30 and December 7
Lecturers: Rodrigo Polanco

Global Political Economy
Lecturer: Manfred Elsig
ECTS: 5
Syllabus

Global Economic Governance Seminars – Fall Series
ECTS: 1
Every session features an expert lecturer. Please visit the Events page for a list of seminars.
Syllabus

WINTER ACADEMY 2024
All courses in January/February 2024 (Winter Academy) here.

SPRING SEMESTER (19 February to 7 June 2023)

International Economic Dispute Resolution
Lecturer: Peter Van den Bossche
ECTS: 5

International Economic Law and the Pursuit of Core Societal Values and Interests
Lecturer: Peter Van den Bossche
ECTS: 5

International Economics
Lecturers: Octavio Fernández-Amador, Joseph Francois and TBC
ECTS: 7

Development economics and environmental sustainability
21, 22, 23 and 28, 29 February 2024
Lecturers: Patrick Tomberger (Environmental Sustainability), Jesús Crespo Cuaresma (Development Economics)
ECTS: 3

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

Moot Court
ECTS: 5
Coaches: Svetlana Chobanova and Iryna Polovets

Introduction to International Negotiation
1 March, 8 March, 15 March and 22 March 2024
ECTS: 3
Lecturers: Felix Addor and Katie Rüegsegger

Trade Policy Making and the WTO
TBC March 2024
ECTS: 1
Lecturer: Victor do Prado

Research Tutorials for Thesis Writing
Dates: TBC
Lecturer: Patrick Wagner

Academic Support: Research and Academic Writing Seminar
Dates: TBC
Lecturer: Rodrigo Polanco

Download all course descriptions here.

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

Faculty

MILE course offerings draw on a global, highly experienced faculty. For a list of lecturers, please see the in-house and external faculty lists on the WTI People page and visit the University of Bern Faculty of Law page.

IMPORTANT: Application deadlines

• Early bird: 1 December (applications submitted before this deadline will be given priority)
• Regular deadline: 31 January (applications submitted after the deadline will still be considered if space allows, however please be mindful of Visa regulations and timings for your nationality)

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 use our online 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.

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 be exempt 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: If you believe you are exempt from a English test score, please add this to the comment box in the online application form.

Tuition for the TRAIL+ programme is CHF 18'000 for both full and part-time studies.

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.
• If you are not able to pay in full, there is the opportunity to pay in installments. Please contact us to discuss.

Registration fee
Application for the TRAIL+ 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 TRAIL+ programme. Any charges incurred during transfer of the tuition fee or registration fee must be borne by the applicant.

Financial support
Opportunities for financial aid are available here.