Interested in broadening your knowledge of issues related to international law and economics? Our Winter and Summer Academies in Bern can be taken à la carte on a weekly basis or with the aim of obtaining a certificate or diploma. We also offer a Joint Academy on International Trade Law and Policy in Delhi with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. See below for details.
Winter Academy, Summer Academy, and more
Choose from a range of short-term study options
Winter and Summer Academy
The Summer Academy at WTI has it all - academic rigour, inspiring lecturers... and fellow participants who add both to the fun and your network.
Ingrid E. Persson, Manager Government Affairs International Trade and Customs, Nike
The WTI Winter and Summer Academies cover cutting-edge issues in trade and investment law and policy. They are designed for private and public sector and civil society professionals as well as higher-education students. In lectures, discussions and case studies, renowned experts will teach you how to blend the policy aspects of trade and investment with thorough legal interpretation and economic analysis. Becoming a part of the WTI community, you will establish valuable contacts with fellow-minded professionals and lecturers.
Winter and Summer Academy modules can be taken individually on an à la carte basis. Students who take multiple courses in the Winter or Summer Academy can become eligible for a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) or a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in International Law and Economics. Visit our CAS / DAS Programmes page to learn more.
Winter Academy courses 2021
Winter Academy 2021 courses are as follows:
Please keep in mind that all courses will only be offered online.
WTO Law on Border Measures and Trade Facilitation
25 – 29 January 2021
Monday – Friday 10 am – 3 pm (Central European time) with a take-home assessment on January 30
Lecturers: Anna Jerzewska and Roy Santana
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
WTO Law on Anti-Dumping and Safeguard Measures
1 – 5 February 2021
Monday – Friday 10 am – 3 pm (Central European time) with a take-home assessment on February 6
Lecturers: Fernando Piérola and Edwin Vermulst
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
WTO Law on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
8 - 11 February 2021
Monday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm (Central European time) with a take-home assessment on February 12
Lecturers: James Flett and Luca Rubini
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
The Law and Policy of Trade in Services
15 - 19 February 2021
Monday – Friday 10 am – 3 pm (Central European time) with a take-home assessment on February 20
Lecturers: Martin Roy and Jan Bohanes
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
Visit our CAS / DAS Programmes page to learn how you can apply these courses towards a certificate or diploma.
Summer Academy courses 2021
*Below is an idea of what might be offered. Specifics still to be determined. More information and details about the second half of 2021 will be posted here soon. Thanks for checking back!*
WTO Law on TBT & SPS Measures
Course dates TBC
Lecturers: Arthur Appleton and Christian Häberli
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
Video message by Christian Häberli
Module I: Innovation and Intellectual Property Protection: Foundations and Challenges
Course dates TBC
Lecturers: Thomas Cottier, Jayashree Watal, Matthias Käch, Kamran Houshang Pour, Erik Thevenod Mottet, Martin Girsberger, Julie Poupinet and Lucas von Wattenwyl
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
Applied General Equilibrium Modelling on Trade Policy and Development
Course dates TBC
Lecturers: Eddy Bekkers and Hugo Rojas-Romagosa
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
Module II: Intellectual Property and the Digital Economy
Course dates TBC
Lecturers: Mira Burri, Thomas Cottier, Andreas Heinemann, Philippe Lionnet and Andreas Lobsiger
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
Trade and Agriculture: New Challenges
Course dates TBC
Lecturers: Lee Ann Jackson and Christian Häberli
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
Video message by Christian Häberli
International Investment Law & Dispute Settlement: Current Developments
Course dates TBC
Lecturers: Roberto Echandi and Georgios Petrochilos
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
Trade and Sustainable Development
Course dates TBC
Lecturers: Damian Raess and Dora Sari
ECTS: 3
Course description here
Syllabus here
Admission
Requirements
We accept individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree in law, economics or political science, or in an unrelated field supplemented by relevant working experience. Participants are expected to have a strong command of English and should be ready to read a large amount of material in English both prior to and during both the Winter Academy and Summer Academy.
How to apply
Applying to the Winter or Summer Academy is straightforward:
- Consult the course offerings above and choose the courses you wish to follow.
- Fill out the application form (found on the right side of this page) and send it, together with a CV, to us by email.
We charge a non-refundable registration fee of 50 Swiss francs which will be offset against the tuition fee, and is due at the time of application. See the application form for payment details.
Deadline
Applications are accepted until the maximum number of participants per week 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
The tuition fee is due upon acceptance to the programme and must be made in Swiss francs. Information on courses will not be provided until the tuition fee has been paid.
The Winter and Summer Academy tuition fees do not cover costs such as meals, housing or local transportation.
Fee structure: Winter Academy and Summer Academy
- Tuition for one week is 1,200 Swiss francs
- Tuition for two weeks is 2,200 Swiss francs
- Tuition for three weeks is 3,200 Swiss francs
Participants receive a Certificate of Attendance upon completion of each course.
Financial aid
Master's students registered at the University of Bern who wish to audit (without obtaining credits), can take Winter and Summer Academy courses for free. For Master's students who wish to obtain ECTS credits special rates apply. All University of Bern students who register need to provide a confirmation of matriculation 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.
The winning team in the Final Oral Round of the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition are awarded a tuition fee waiver for two weeks of the Winter or Summer Academy. The winning team in any of the Regional Rounds of the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition are awarded a tuition fee waiver for one week of the Winter or Summer Academy.
In all other cases, the WTI does not offer tuition waivers for the Winter and Summer Academies. Financial aid, if needed, should be requested from other organisations or institutions.
General information
Accommodation
Due to the high prices of hotel accommodation in Bern, it is highly recommended that you rent a room (double or single) in one of the student residences run by the Bernese Student Lodging Association. Please note that the WTI is not in a position to guarantee accommodation in Bern and cannot rent an apartment or other accommodation for you.
Important IT information
Participants registered for the Winter and/or Summer Academy will have login information for the University of Bern/World Trade Institute online course management system sent to them via email in December and June respectively. With this login information, participants will have access to the course syllabi and readings.
Visas
Students need to apply for a visa at the Swiss embassy or consulate in their home country. The visa application process should be started as early as possible, as it can take several weeks for the Swiss immigration office to correspond with its Swiss embassies abroad. Citizens from EU and EEA countries do not require a visa.
Joint Academy in India
The Joint Academy on International Trade Law and Policy run by the WTI and the Centre for WTO Studies (CWS) of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is held annually in Delhi. It was established in 2014 to provide law students and legal professionals in India with an opportunity to increase their knowledge of trade regulation and governance issues.
*PLEASE NOTE THAT THE 2020 JOINT ACADEMY HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 2021 DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 SITUATION. MORE INFORMATION WILL FOLLOW SOON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
International Bachelor Summer School for Climate Change Research
Confronting Climate Change – from Science to Policy
The third International Bachelor Summer School for Climate Change Research, co-organised by the WTI and the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR), is scheduled to take place from 2 to 13 August 2021, in Bern, Switzerland. The International Bachelor Summer School will focus primarily on the following areas: The Physical Climate System, Climate Economics, Governance and Knowledge Transfer. It will include traditional keynote lectures, teamwork in workshops and self-study. Click here for more details.
More information can also be found in this flyer.