Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Trade and Investment Law and Diploma in International Law and Economics (TRAIL+)

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Blaze a TRAIL for your career!

Are you a law graduate looking to take the next step in your career or in academia? If so, you are on the right path. The TRAIL+ programme at the WTI targets students and professionals with a legal background who are interested in specialising in international economic law with cross-disciplinary study of the global economy and trade and investment agreements.

Applications for the Fall 2024 intake are now open! Secure your spot now!

Contact / Request Information Apply now

Why the TRAIL+?

The TRAIL+ is an advanced master of laws programme (LL.M) in trade and investment law combined with a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in international law and economics”. This programme is offered at the World Trade Institute in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of the University of Bern. The programme includes more law courses and fewer courses on economics than the MILE programme.

To find out if the TRAIL+ 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 leading scholars and practitioners
  • The latest research developments in international trade and investment regulation, and economics
  • The opportunity to join a vibrant WTI 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

You are a student or a professional with a law degree and wish to further your legal career as a lawyer, or wish to pursue a PhD in international economic law.

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

Admission

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 TRAIL+ programme at the World Trade Institute, you are required to have completed a degree in law (licentiate or master's degree), or have a degree that is deemed equivalent, i.e. a degree in law which entitles you to sit for the bar exam or equivalent in your country of origin.
 
WHAT TO INCLUDE

To be considered for the TRAIL+ programme, please make sure to upload in the online application ALL the documents below. Please upload electronic copies of your documents, preferably in PDF format (jpg/png/gif are accepted), limited to 20MB:

  • Detailed CV
  • Letter of motivation (write about your academic & professional accomplishments, and explain why you believe the TRAIL+ will benefit you and your career)
  • Transcripts and degrees of all completed college/university courses
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Evidence of English proficiency for non-native speakers (please see requirements above)
  • A two-page essay in English (instructions can be found here)

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for the TRAIL+ programme, and for details of our requirements, please use our online application form.

 

About the English language requirements:
The TRAIL+ is taught exclusively in English. Therefore, you must arrive at the WTI and the University of Bern 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 before joining the TRAIL+ programme.

Please contact us if you are unsure of your exemption status. 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 an English test score, please add this to the comment box in the online application form.

Tuition and registration fees

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.

Interest Form