What qualifications are needed for acceptance to the Diploma Course?
 Can international civil servants participate in the Course?
 Is the Course open to citizens from developed countries?
 Is it entirely a distance-learning Course?
 How are the Course materials sent? By post or email?
 Is there a minimum/maximum time period for completing the Course?
 Is it possible to apply for the Course modules separately so that a participant can choose only those of direct interest?
 When can I start the Course?
 What type of Certificate/ Diploma is a participant entitled to after completion of the Course?
 Is the UNITAR Diploma recognized?
 Is there an online system for submitting course Assignments?
 How can I apply for the Course?
 How should I compose my application file?
 What is the tuition fee for the Course?
 Can I pay for one unit at a time as I take the Course?
 Does UNITAR offer financial aid or scholarships?
 Is there any special fee for NGO workers?
 Shall I make the payment of the Course fees together with my application?
 Is there an online payment system for making the course fee payment through credit card?
 Can I contact the Course instructors?
 Are there any potential career outcomes of the Course?
 What is the starting date of the Course?
 I would like to pursue further studies in the field of environmental law, where can I can look?

What qualifications are needed for acceptance to the Diploma Course?

The Course is designed to strengthen the legal and institutional capacities of countries, enabling them to improve environmental management and realize the goal of sustainable development. It can be followed by any person interested in improving their knowledge of international environmental law; a prior legal background is not necessary. For further information please consult the Diploma’s ‘Admission Procedure’

Can international civil servants participate in the Course?

Yes, civil servants are encouraged to apply to participate in the Course.

Is the Course open to citizens from developed countries?

The Course is open to the participation of any person without any restriction based on nationality or gender.

Is it entirely a distance-learning Course?

Yes, it is entirely a distance-learning and self-study Course. Participants complete the Course from their country of residence and have the option to submit assignments by email or postal service.

How are the Course materials sent? By post or email?

Course materials (10 course books, a participant’s guide, and a research material CD-ROM) are sent by regular postal mail, directly to the participant’s address. Participants may submit their end of course assignments (due at the end of each course book) and may seek clarifications/ additional information, either by email or by postal mail.

Is there a minimum/maximum time period for completing the Course?

You have 18 (eighteen) months to complete the course. After your acceptance and registration, you will receive a detailed schedule with dates for the submission of your assignments. In order to follow this schedule, we strongly advise you to study on a regular basis and to prepare the requested assignment shortly after reading the respective course book. Each participant is responsible for monitoring their participation and allotting adequate study time within their schedule. The Programme Facilitators will analyse requests for extensions, but the request must be made formally and have a valid basis.

Is it possible to apply for the Course modules separately so that a participant can choose only those of direct interest?

The Course is not divided into modules or sessions, therefore it must be followed in its totality. Participants are required to complete the 10 course books and submit the corresponding assignments if they wish to obtain the Diploma.

When can I start the Course?

Applications for the Course are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. However, they are processed four times a year (January, April, July, and October) when the Evaluation Committee holds its session. Selected participants are able to start the Course after formal acceptance by the Committee and after paying the enrollment fee.

What type of Certificate/ Diploma is a participant entitled to after completion of the Course?

The Course comprises of 10 course books dealing with various subjects of international environmental law. Each participant is required to complete one assignment per course book for the course books 1 to 9 (i.e. 9 assignments in total). Out of these 9 assignments submitted, each participant must receive a pass grade in a minimum of 7 assignments, that is, achieve a minimum grade of 70%. This means that a participant can fail 2 out of the total 9 assignments submitted and still obtain accreditation.

Participants who succeed in achieving an overall grade of 80% in the Course (which includes receiving a pass grade in the final essay) are entitled to receive UNITAR’s Diploma in International Environmental Law. Participants who are not successful in passing the final essay, but who have received an average of 70% in the course assignments corresponding to courses 1 to 9, are eligible to receive a Certificate of Course Completion.

Is the UNITAR Diploma recognized?

UNITAR is a training institution and does not provide academic recognition for this Course which is offered as continuous and/or non-formal education.

Is there an online system for submitting course Assignments?

No, we do not have such a system. The end of course assignment corresponding to each course book must be submitted either by postal mail or by email and corrections and comments are sent to the participants in the avenue of their choice.

How can I apply for the Course?

Applications can be made online, sent by email (elp@unitar.org), by fax (+41 22 917 8993), or by postal mail to:

UNITAR / International Law Programme,
Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland.

How should I compose my application file?

An application file should include a completed Application Form (which can be downloaded from the Diploma’s ‘Admission Procedure’ section), Curriculum Vitae, and Letter of Motivation. Only complete files will be considered.

What is the tuition fee for the Course?

The fee for the entire Course (course books 1 to 10) is USD 2,000. A special fee is applied for candidates from several developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

Can I pay for one unit at a time as I take the Course?

No. The Course is facilitated in its entirety and cannot be broken down. Therefore, registered participants must follow the complete series of books. The payment should be made in one sum at the time that the candidate is accepted to participate in the Course. Following this, course materials are dispatched to participants for enabling them to commence their study.

Does UNITAR offer financial aid or scholarships?

Apart from providing a special discounted fee (see What is the tuition fee for the Course?), the UNITAR’s International Law Programme has no conditions to offer any financial support, grants or scholarships. Interested candidates should explore other sources of financial assistance to cover their participation in the Course.

Is there any special fee for NGO workers?

The fee policy is based on the citizenship of the candidate and follows the information provided above (see What is the tuition fee for the Course?).

Shall I make the payment of the course fees together with my application?

No. We kindly ask you to wait for the confirmation of acceptance following the decision of the Evaluation Committee. In this communication you will also receive information on the course fee (if you qualify for the special discounted fees) and how to process the payment, including banking details. No payment should be made before a candidate receives the confirmation of acceptance.

Is there an online payment system for making the course fee payment through credit card?

No. Participants who are accepted to participate in the Course receive direct instructions on how to make the payment of the course fees, which is done either by bank transfer or check.

Can I contact the Course instructors?

The Course is self-tailored, designed to be followed on a self-study basis. Nevertheless, the ILP Team is at your disposal for any questions that you may have during the learning process. Contact can be made via email: elp@unitar.org

Are there any potential career outcomes of the Course?

UNITAR is unable to offer any career opportunities. However, the Invironmental Law Programme offers an Internship Programme, details of which can be found under the ‘Internship Programme’ section of this Website. The Internship is for a period of six months on a full-time and unpaid basis at UNITAR headquarters in Geneva, Switzertland.

What is the starting date of the Course?

The date on which a participant is registered is considered to be the starting date of the Course. A candidate has a maximum period of 18 (eighteen) months to complete the Course from the starting date.

I would like to pursue further studies in the field of environmental law, where can I can look?

The Internet is the best source for information on education and training opportunities in the field of environmental law. For example: UNEP’s website lists a number of Environmental Education and Training Programmes http://www.unep.org/training/programmes/programmes.asp; You may also find useful information on the website of UNEP’s Environmental Law Programme http://www.unep.org/dpdl/law/index.asp; The IUCN also has an Environmental Law Programme http://www.iucn.org/themes/law/elp01.html.