By the shores of Lake Geneva — close to sports federations and key figures in sports law — the LL.M. in International Business Law at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, is sharpening legal minds for the global stage.
“I highly recommend this programme for those wishing to meet a diverse background of both professors and students,” says Derek Heath, a US law graduate.
That’s no exaggeration. The LL.M. classes at UNIL are deliberately small to offer the best teaching experience, but your perspective will broaden as you become classmates with experts from Italy, Chile, Kenya, the UK, Turkey, and more. UNIL itself unites a community of nearly 15,000 students and 5,000 staff members, comprising about 120 nationalities.
Mid-career lawyers often pursue an LL.M. to take their domestic careers to the global stage. It’s a surefire path to a career boost, with many earning a higher salary after graduation or landing a more senior role. In fact, in the US, first-year associates with an LL.M. are typically paid at the same level as the second-years, who have a median salary of US$130,000. Recently, PPG, employer of LL.M. student Natalia Shkarban, was listed by the Financial Times as one of the 10 winners of the “Most innovative in-house legal team in Europe” award — a testament to the programme’s outstanding graduates.
There are plenty of reasons why UNIL is the ideal institution to pursue an LL.M. in International Business Law. Multilingual professionals with an international outlook see an LL.M. in International Business Law as a great way to forge a global career, particularly in one of the six specialisations offered.
For example, those passionate about sports regulation can choose the International Business Law and Sports specialisation. For those focused on cross-border disputes, the International Business Disputes track offers the training to navigate complex, high-stakes cases across jurisdictions. The programme is built for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s. You can check out the rest of the specialisations here.
UNIL was ranked among the top 150 universities by Shanghai Ranking in 2025. Source: University of Lausanne
For many students, the chance to work while studying is what draws them to UNIL’s programme. Graduate Ekaterina Chistiakova from Russia was one of the first LL.M. candidates to conduct research at the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) in Rome. Her topics were Compliance, Digital Assets, and Economic Evaluation of Law Reforms.
“The internship at UNIDROIT offers an exceptional chance to work at the global heart of International Private Law,” she says. “Interns have the unique chance to conduct research alongside top UNIDROIT legal experts and consultants from diverse professional backgrounds who are involved in developing new guidelines and instruments for international private law.”
With the LL.M. in International Business Law programme, you can tailor the curriculum to meet your career goals and match your schedule. It’s taught in a hybrid format, combining online and in-person courses. You can arrange your schedule in either two- to three-day blocks or four- to six-day blocks, depending on your interests and commitments. Students may even write their LL.M. thesis under remote supervision or at partner universities.
Courses are taught fully in English by world-class law professors who are involved in diverse fields of study and research. If your interest lies beyond the specialisations offered, you can also opt for a bespoke pick-and-choose structure and select courses that benefit you, from “Technology and Dispute Resolution” to “Energy Arbitration” to “Philanthropy and Innovation.”
You can also enrol in a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programme. These include certificates in International Business Disputes, Climate Change Law and Litigation, and the Regulation of Global Sport. CAS credits can be obtained through 10-15 days of mandatory and optional courses. Students are evaluated based on a short paper and an in-class presentation of a case study.
LL.M. students have received scholarships through UNIL’s partnership with the Spark Hope Foundation in Canada and United States. Source: University of Lausanne
Beyond the classroom, learning opportunities are just as vast. With career support from the LL.M. administration, many students have secured internships at renowned companies and institutions, including FIFA, the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Quantis, and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Prathiba Karthikeyan, a law graduate from India, completed an internship with Impact Philanthropy Advisors as an LL.M. student. “After the successful completion of our very unique course ‘Practice of Philanthropy,’ I was selected for the internship,” she says.
There, she took part in developing a critical evaluation methodology for philanthropy projects. “This is the time, now more than ever, when the world needs every helping hand possible,” she says.
Students may participate in exchange programmes in China, India, or the US, and follow a selection of courses at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law in London (including a Summer School on Law and Technology), which broaden their perspective and help them build an international network as well.
And thanks to deep connections across the legal world, the LL.M. programme plays an active role in advancing global standards. For example, the LL.M. programme was involved in the drafting of the Updated International Bar Association Guidance Note on Business and Human Rights. They’ve co-hosted international conferences and manage an award-winning, scopus-indexed book series with BRILL.
LL.M. students are equally active on campus, participating in three associations managed by Swiss lawyers, focused on Art and Law, Sports Law, and Climate and Innovation — a key facet in helping them build a local network. Many also choose to become ADR-ODR-accredited Civil and Commercial Mediators or Digital Dispute Resolution Specialists, made possible with UNIL’s partnership with ADR-ODR International.
Learn more about the LL.M. in International Business Law at the University of Lausanne.
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