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 2019
Winter Academy 2019 courses are as follows:
WTO Law on Border Measures and Trade Facilitation
21 – 24 January
Lecturers: Davide Rovetta and Roy Santana
ECTS: 3
Course description here.
GATT, SPS and TBT Law on Internal Taxation and Regulation versus National Policy Space
28 – 31 January
Lecturers: Arthur Appleton and Gabrielle Marceau
ECTS: 3
Course description here.
WTO Law on Anti-Dumping and Safeguard Measures
4 – 7 February
Lecturers: Fernando Piérola and Edwin Vermulst
ECTS: 3
Course description here.
WTO Law on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
12 – 15 February
Lecturers: James Flett and Claudio Dordi
ECTS: 3
Course description here.
Visit our CAS / DAS Programmes page to learn how you can apply these courses towards a certificate or diploma.
Summer Academy courses 2019
Summer Academy 2019 courses are as follows:
Innovation and Intellectual Property Protection
3 – 6 June
Lecturers: Felix Addor and Thomas Cottier
ECTS: 3
Applied General Equilibrium Modelling on Trade Policy and Development
3 – 7 June
Lecturers: Eddy Bekkers, Joseph Francois, Hugo Rojas-Romagosa
ECTS: 3
Course description here.
Latest Developments in International Investment Law and Dispute Settlement
11 – 14 June
Lecturers: Roberto Echandi and Georgios Petrochilos
ECTS: 3
Course description here.
Trade and Agriculture: New Challenges
17 – 20 June
Lecturers: Lee Ann Jackson and Christian Häberli
ECTS: 3
Course description here.
Visit our CAS / DAS Programmes page to learn how you can apply these courses towards a certificate or diploma.
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 copy of your CV, a short biography and portrait photo (head and shoulders) of yourself 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 it is 2,200 Swiss francs
- Tuition for three weeks it is 3,200 Swiss francs
Participants receive a Certificate of Attendance upon completion of each course.
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.
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.
The 2019 Joint Academy runs from 3 to 28 June.
Week 1 (3 – 8 June 2019)
Essentials of WTO Law and Policy
Lecturers: Prof. Peter Van den Bossche (WTI, Bern) and Ms. Shailja Singh (Centre for WTO Studies, Delhi)
Agreement on Agriculture
Lecturers: Prof. Abhijit Das (Centre for WTO Studies, Delhi) and Ms. Anuradha R.V. (Clarus Law Associates, Delhi)
Week 2 (10 – 15 June 2019)
Investment Law
Lecturers: Prof. Krista Nadakavukaren Schefer (Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, Lausanne) and Prof. Prabash Ranjan (South Asian University, Delhi)
SPS and TBT
Lecturer: Dr. Arthur Appleton (Appleton Luff International Lawyers, Geneva)
Week 3 (17 June – 22 June 2019)
Trade in Services
Lecturers: Mr. Jan Bohanes (Advisory Centre on WTO Law) and Prof. James Nedumpara (Centre for Trade and Investment Law)
Trade and IPR
Lecturers: Ms. Jayashree Watal (WTO) and Ms. Chandni Raina (Centre for WTO Studies, Delhi)
Week 4 (24 – 28 June 2019)
The Law & Policy of Trade Remedies
Lecturers: Mr. Edwin Vermulst (VVGB Advocaten, Brussels) and Prof. Mukesh Bhatnagar (Centre for WTO Studies, Delhi)
Miscellaneous WTO Issues
TBC
International Bachelor Summer School for Climate Change Research
Confronting Climate Change – from Science to Policy
5 – 16 August 2019
University of Bern, Switzerland
Co-organized by the OCCR and the WTI
The 2nd 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.
Successful participants will receive a certificate and will be awarded 6 ECTS.
The deadline for applications is 17 May 2019.
For detailed information about this summer school, including registration and tuition fees, please visit the
Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research website.