Applications for the 2025 Regional Course in International Law for Asia-Pacific are now being accepted. The deadline for applications is 27 June 2025.
General information
The United Nations Regional Course in International Law for Asia-Pacific is organized by the Codification Division of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs in cooperation with the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
The Regional Course will be held at the facilities of ESCAP in Bangkok, from 17 November to 10 December 2025. The Regional Course will be conducted in English. The Regional Course will accommodate up to 26 participants, including a limited number of spaces for self-funded participants.
Introduction
The Codification Division of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs organizes the United Nations Regional Courses in International Law for Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Objectives
The Regional Courses provide high-quality training by leading scholars and practitioners on a broad range of core subjects of international law, as well as specific subjects of particular interest in a given region. In addition, the interactive nature of the training allows the participants to share experiences and exchange ideas, which promotes greater understanding and cooperation on legal matters in the region.
The Regional Courses are intended to enable qualified professionals, in particular government officials and teachers of international law from developing countries and countries with emerging economies, to deepen their knowledge of international law and of the legal work of the United Nations and its associated bodies.
Course content
The Regional Courses consist of seminars given by prominent international law scholars and practitioners from different regions and legal systems.
The Regional Courses may include seminars on the following topics:
- Introduction to international law
- Treaty law
- State responsibility
- International peace and security
- Peaceful settlement of international disputes
- Diplomatic and consular law
- International organizations
- United Nations institutions and law making
- The Work of the International Law Commission
- African Union law and institutions
- Organization of American States law and institutions
- International human rights law
- Movements of persons
- International humanitarian law
- International criminal law
- International environmental law
- International watercourses
- Law of the sea
- International trade law
- International investment law
- Legal research
- Legal drafting
The Regional Courses are conducted in the form of interactive seminars and discussions to allow a maximum exchange of views. The participants are expected to contribute to the discussions on the various topics included in the curriculum of the Regional Courses.
At the beginning of the Regional Course. a comprehensive set of training materials is provided to each participant for him/her to keep.
Certificates are awarded only to those participants who have completed the Regional Course in its entirety.
Background
The United Nations Regional Courses in International Law were launched under the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, established by General Assembly resolution 2099 (XX) of 20 December 1965 and most recently mandated by General Assembly resolution 74/185 of 18 December 2019.
The Regional Courses have been held periodically since 1967 depending on the willingness of a Government to host such a course and voluntary contributions for funding the course. To date, more than thirty-five Regional Courses have been held in various countries. With the advent of regular budget funding for the Regional Courses beginning in 2016, Regional Courses are held for Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean every year.
Financial arrangements and accommodation
For those participants receiving a fellowship, the fellowship will cover travel in economy class, accommodation, medical insurance, and training materials. Fellowship recipients will also receive a modest stipend to cover other living expenses in accordance with the policies and procedures governing the administration of United Nations fellowships.
There will also be a limited number of spaces for self-funded participants. With the exception of training materials, self-funded participants bear all costs associated with their participation in the Regional Course (e.g. travel, medical insurance, accommodation and living expenses).
Reasonable accommodation may be provided to participants with disabilities upon request.
Application Process
Qualifications
To be considered for the Regional Courses, candidates must have a legal background with professional experience in the field of international law. Candidates must also be fluent in the language in which the Regional Course is offered (English). The selected participants are required to certify that they are able to attend the Regional Course in its entirety. The Regional Course accommodates up to 26 participants.
This Regional Course is open to candidates from the Member States and the observer State to the United Nations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Selection process
When selecting participants for the Regional Courses, due consideration is given to the candidates’ qualifications, to the scope of their professional duties, to the relevance of the training to their professional duties and to gender balance. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the application and selection process, and does not require information with respect to candidates’ bank accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to submit my application via my sponsoring institution or my Government?
No. Your sponsoring institution has to fill out certain parts of your application form, but you can send the completed form directly to the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs.
Can only Governments nominate candidates to attend the Regional Course?
No. The Regional Course is also open to academia and professionals from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and similar institutions engaged in international law activities in the relevant region. Current staff members of the United Nations are not eligible. Candidates who are not government officials can be nominated by the institution which they work for or with which they are affiliated.
What is the difference between fellowship participants and self-funded participants?
Fellowship participants and self-funded participants are selected through the same application process and are subject to the same selection criteria. They have the same rights and obligations in the Regional Course, attend the same lectures, participate in the same activities, and receive the same certificate at the end of the course.
For participants receiving a fellowship, the fellowship will cover travel, accommodation, medical insurance, participation in the Regional Course, and the training materials. Fellowship recipients will also receive a modest stipend to cover other living expenses in accordance with the policies and procedures governing the administration of United Nations fellowships.
For self-funded participants, costs associated with their participation in the Regional Course (e.g., travel, medical insurance, accommodation, living expenses) will not be covered. However, training materials are provided for all participants.
What does the stipend provided for fellowship participants cover?
The stipend that fellowship participants receive reflects local living costs (food, public transport, etc.) and suffices for a decent but by no means luxurious living standard. Accommodation is provided without charge. The stipend rates are set by United Nations regulations and can vary significantly from year to year, depending on the US Dollar exchange rate.
The fellowship covers medical insurance; however, many medical institutions require advance payment for services. The stipend does not include funds for such advance payments and selected fellows should therefore bear this in mind when preparing for their stay.
Does it make sense to apply for the Regional Course for someone who is still a student?
No, the Regional Courses provide training for professionals who have acquired some practical experience in the field of international law.
I have applied for the Regional Courses in the past, but was not selected. Can I re-apply this year?
Yes. You will, however, have to submit a new complete application to the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs.
Is it possible to attend only part of the Regional Course or only those courses that are of particular interest to me?
No. If selected, you undertake to attend the Regional Course in its entirety, without exception.
Can the same country nominate several candidates?
Yes. Countries are strongly encouraged to nominate several candidates, as long as they all meet the required qualifications. Please note that a candidate’s chances do not necessarily increase if he or she is the only applicant from a specific country.
Contact
For further information about the Regional Course, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have any additional questions, you are welcome to contact the Codification Division of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs at rcil-asia@un.org.