About

The Utrecht Centre for International Legal Studies (UCILS) is a research and teaching unit within the Department of Law of Utrecht University. It engages in cutting-edge research in the field of international law and offers innovative teaching modules.

History

UCILS was established in 2015. It succeeded the Chair/Institute of Public International Law, set up in 1955. Research and teaching in international law at Utrecht University goes back to the early 19th century, however. Well-known international law scholars, such as J. de Louter, J.H.W. Verzijl, M. Bos, and A.H.A. Soons have filled the Chair of International Law in the past. The current Chair, and director of UCILS, is Prof. C. Ryngaert.

Research

UCILS focuses on international law from a multi-dimensional perspective. It addresses classic doctrinal questions of public international law, and issues of global/transnational law and governance reflecting changes in international law-making and legal subjectivity. These questions are researched from a broad and multi-disciplinary perspective, integrating insights from other legal fields as well as non-legal disciplines, such as political science, ethics, natural sciences, and regulation theory.

UCILS researchers are currently focusing on, inter alia, oceans governance, jurisdiction, and accountability of international organisations.

UCILS manages a number of major externally-funded multi-year research projects. In the framework of these projects, UCILS organizes international conferences, in addition to periodical UCILS discussion forums where its staff and external researchers present their own research.

Contacts

The multidimensional perspective of UCILS research is strengthened through its participation in the Utrecht-based research programmes of the Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea (NILOS), the Utrecht Center for Water, Oceans and Sustainability Law (UCWOSL), the Utrecht Centre for Regulation and Enforcement in Europe (RENFORCE), the Utrecht Centre for Accountability and Liability Law (UCALL), and the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM).

UCILS staff regularly advise national institutions, international organisations, and companies. UCILS collaborates with the international judicial institutions in The Hague, and with various universities and research institutes around the world.  

Output

UCILS staff publish in national and international journals and books.

Working papers are posted on the UCILS website.

UCILS runs its own book series, Nova et Vetera.

Teaching

UCILS organises, in cooperation with SIM, an LL.M. in Public International Law. This is a one-year master’s programme taught entirely in English, which is open to students from all over the world.  This LL.M. has a number of compulsory core subjects and two specialisations: human rights and environment/law of the sea.  

UCILS organises a number of bachelor’s courses, both at the Law Department and University College Utrecht.

It also offers tailor-made courses to public and private institutions. Its staff members regularly give guest lectures and participate in summer schools.