The Winter Courses

Introduction

The Academy’s Winter Courses, introduced in 2019 and held at the Peace Palace, form one of the pillars of its academic activity. Like the Summer Courses, they offer in-depth instruction in both Public and Private International Law, but are delivered in a single three-week session. These courses are intended for students and practitioners who already possess a solid foundation in international law and wish to deepen their understanding of the discipline.

Each Winter Courses session includes a General Course that spans the full three weeks, alongside Special Courses lasting one week each, covering six distinct topics in total. The programme also features afternoon seminars and guest lectures. All courses and lectures are delivered by renowned academics, practitioners, and diplomats from prestigious institutions around the world. The courses are conducted in either English or French, with simultaneous interpretation into the other language.

Since opening its doors in 1923, the Academy’s Summer Courses have welcomed thousands of participants from over 100 nationalities. Since 2019, participants have also had the opportunity to attend the Winter Courses. Over the years, many alumni – having engaged with leading figures in international law – have gone on to become distinguished academics, legal practitioners, diplomats, and professionals in related fields.

After being delivered, the courses are published in the Collected Courses book series, which now includes 450 volumes. This prestigious collection ranks among the most important encyclopaedic publications in the field of public and private international law.

The registration period for the 2026 Online Winter Courses is open until 4 January 2026.