International Law of Security, Peace and Sustainable Development (MA; Erasmus Mundus Joint Master)

Overview This Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme, taught in English, is designed for students who want to explore the intersections of international law, sustainability and international relations. It offers a focused curriculum on the international law dimensions of global security, peace and sustainable development, suited to those looking to combine legal analysis with broader policy and normative perspectives.

Teaching approach and structure The programme takes a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach, bringing together legal, political and sustainability perspectives to address contemporary challenges in security and peacebuilding. As an Erasmus Mundus joint degree, teaching and study take place across partner institutions, giving students comparative and cross-border perspectives on legal frameworks and policy responses.

Outcomes and international context Graduates receive a joint Master of Arts degree awarded by Leuphana University Lüneburg, the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) and a third partner university chosen by the student. The programme’s international orientation and multidisciplinary training are valuable for careers in international organisations, NGOs, diplomacy, policy-making and research, and for further academic study.

Key facts and admissions considerations

• Degree type: Master of Arts (Erasmus Mundus Joint Master)
• Field: Law
• Language of instruction: English
• Focus: International law of global security, peace and sustainable development; multidisciplinary coursework
• Degree awarded jointly by Leuphana University Lüneburg, Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) and a third partner university selected by the student
• Suitable for applicants with interests or backgrounds in international law, sustainability and international relations

This Erasmus Mundus joint master's is delivered across several European universities and combines legal, security and development perspectives. In the first semester you study at Leuphana University Lüneburg, where the focus is on the intersections of international law, security, peace and sustainable development—laying a normative and legal foundation for the rest of the programme. The second semester takes place at the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals and concentrates on theories of international security, giving you the conceptual tools to analyse contemporary security challenges.

In the third semester you move to one of the partner universities to follow a specialised study track that matches your interests: University of Glasgow (International Law & International Security), Université Libre de Bruxelles (Security & Conflict), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (Globalisation, Law & Security) or University of Tartu (International Law & Human Rights). The fourth semester is spent at that same partner institution completing an independent research-based master’s thesis, allowing you to develop advanced research skills and produce a substantive piece of scholarship on a topic that bridges law, security, peace and sustainable development.

Curriculum at a glance

• Semester 1 (Leuphana University Lüneburg): International Law of Security, Peace and Sustainable Development — legal frameworks and normative approaches to peacebuilding, human security and sustainability.
• Semester 2 (Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals): Theories of International Security — conceptual and theoretical approaches to security studies, risk analysis and international governance.
• Semester 3 (choose one partner and track):
  • University of Glasgow — International Law & International Security
  • Université Libre de Bruxelles — Security & Conflict
  • Universidade NOVA de Lisboa — Globalisation, Law & Security
  • University of Tartu — International Law & Human Rights
• Semester 4: Remain at the chosen third-semester university to research and write your master’s thesis.

Key learning outcomes

• Mastery of international legal principles relevant to security, peace and sustainable development.
• Ability to apply major theories of international security to real-world policy and legal problems.
• Specialized knowledge according to chosen track (e.g., human rights law, conflict analysis, globalisation and security, or the nexus of law and security).
• Research competence in legal and interdisciplinary methods, culminating in an independent master’s thesis suitable for academic or policy work.
• Cross-cultural and comparative perspectives gained through mobility across multiple European institutions.

Graduates are prepared for careers that require strong expertise in international law, security policy and sustainable development. Typical sectors include international organisations, governmental and diplomatic services, international and regional NGOs, policy and research institutes, and compliance or advisory roles in law firms and consultancies focused on international law and security.

The programme’s mobility, multilingual environment and interdisciplinary training also create a solid foundation for doctoral research and academic careers, as well as specialist advisory positions in programme design, peacebuilding and sustainability policy.