International Operational Law
The master’s programme International Operational Law is your path to a career as legal advisor in international law focused on peace, crisis and armed conflict.
Degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.)
This is a practice-oriented one-year programme, focused on international law that governs armed conflicts and crises. The programme leads to the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Operational Law.
The programme especially focuses on the legal scope available for states and other actors linked to crisis management, defence and security. You will, for example, study states’ and non-state actors’ right to make use of force, the legal framework for cyber operations and hybrid warfare and how war crimes are legally prosecuted and handled in international and national courts of law.
"Honestly it felt a little bit too good to be true. Because I'm really interested in defence and I thought it was very special that I could study at the Defence University."
Jedidja van Keulen, one of our international students, about why she chose to study here.
Voices on the programme
It was fun having international jurists in front of us, people who work within the system that most of us wish to work in. It was particularly rewarding to see their acquiescing of particular arguments or responses. That made me feel confident.
– Emma Gonzales-Puell.
Emma played the role of defence lawyer in the role play with the ICC judges
Our task was to act as legal advisers. It simply meant that we did not primarily try to find room for law to prohibit efforts or operations that the officers saw as possible to carry out, but rather that we tried to use the law to arrive at a good result together.
– Victor Melin.
War games sharpen skills for a
career as a legal advisor
I’m certain that this one year programme at the Swedish Defence University will widen my horizon, give me more knowledge of how to address the issues that interest me, and, of course, provide experience.
– Nkechinyere Chukwu.
From Nigeria to Stockholm -
to study international operational law
A unique academic environment
Five reasons to study here
Are you interested in defence, crisis management and security? Here you have five reasons to study a master's program with us.
How to apply and entry requirements
Here we guide you through the application process, explain the entry requirements, admissions and other important things that you need to know when applying to our programmes and courses.
New in Sweden
For you to be ready to embark on your studies we offer some practical information about the most important fundaments for living in Sweden.
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