Law of International Trade and Dispute Resolution

The programme seeks to meet growing demand for international lawyers proficient in foreign languages. This demand comes from export-oriented and transnational companies, Russian and international law firms, governmental agencies, and international organizations. 

One of the programme’s key advantages is that it is taught in English in an international environment: Russian students study alongside people from all over the world (India, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Azerbaijan, Germany, Indonesia and other countries).

The programme’s lecturers include not only leading teachers from the HSE Faculty of Law, but also invited international lecturers and practicing lawyers who come with vast experience in international economic relations and international trade dispute resolution.

The programme attracts the top graduates of Russian and international universities who have an interest in international law. During their studies, students actively participate in international law competitions (moot courts) for which they have won numerous awards and prizes. They also conduct research, both individually and in teams, at laboratories and research centres of the HSE Faculty of Law and publish their papers in leading law journals.

Learning is focused on providing graduates with competencies experiencing the highest demand. These include the ability to properly draft legal documents, maintain correspondence, communicate in English, effectively resolve cross-border and international conflicts with the use of the most recent experience of court and out-of-court settlements; information search in Russian and international databases, and familiarity with contemporary legal research methods.

The master’s program study plan includes five units, which include most demanded courses for international lawyers specializing in regulation of international economic relations.

First Unit

This unit consists of basic, fundamental subjects that are essential for contemporary international economic law practice. They include, in particular:

• Theory of International Law and Contemporary Issues of International Economic Law
• Legal Writing and Methods or Research
• Law of International Treaties

Second Unit

This unit focuses on the specifics of movement of goods and services in international trade. The priority of this track is the law of the World Trade Organization. In particular, this track includes the following courses: Law and Jurisprudence of the World Trade Organization, International Regulation of the Protection of Intellectual Property and Information, International Business and Human Rights Law.

Third Unit

This unit is dedicated to regional integration and free trade and investment agreements. Students study institutional foundations of European and Eurasian economic integration, as well as the most recent trends within USMCA, MERCOSUR, CARICOM, SACU, and others free trade agreements.

Fourth Unit

This unit is devoted to cross-border capital movement. Students will concentrate on functioning of the modern international financial system, counter-money-laundering measures, economic sanctions, etc. The subjects in this unit include International Investment Law; International Regulation of Countering Money Laundering, Financing of Terrorism and Corruption; International Trade, Global Finance and Sustainable Development; International Investment Law.

Fifth Unit

This unit focuses on dispute settlement and resolution of international and cross-border disputes. It includes courses such as International and cross border dispute resolution, Inter-State litigation in International Law, Advanced International Arbitration.

Educational Tracks

In addition to general study plan students may choose one of the two additional tracks, such as «International Dispute Settlement» (supervised by Prof. Michael Galperin),  and «International Trade Law» (supervised by Professor Daria Boklan), both of them are practice-oriented. Choosing these tracks students may gain deeper specialization and participate in different activities of the corresponding HSE departments, centers, and laboratories.

Graduates of the master’s programme learn the necessary skills to pursue successful careers in international trade, finance and international integration. Knowing the specifics of legal regulation in the global economy, integration processes, as well as international standards and best practices in various spheres of international economic law will help when it comes to building a career in national public and international organizations, which are in a need of specialists who are able to undertake new and highly important responsibilities.

The following companies and organizations are key partners of the programme:

Governmental agencies and international organizations

• Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
• Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor)
• Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation
• Eurasian Economic Commission

Non-profit organizations

• WTO Expertise Centre
• Institute of Law and Public Policy
• Russian Arbitration Centre
• St. Petersburg International Legal Forum

Consulting and legal companies

• Baker McKenzie
• White & Case
• ALRUD
• KPMG
• PwC
• Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners
• BGP Litigation
• Ivanyan and Partners

Companies

• Adidas
• Renaissance Insurance
• Tatnefteproduct
• X5 Retail Group

Enrollment to the Master's Programme "Law of International Trade and Dispute Resolution" can be done via two paths:

1. Portfolio competition

Documents for the portfolio competition are submitted online only. Programme applicants upload their scanned documents (in .pdf) to their Personal Profile on the HSE Admissions Committee website. The scans should be made from originals or notarized copies. Files should be uploaded no later than 6 pm on the last day of admissions, Moscow time. Documents that are uploaded after this deadline cannot be considered in the portfolio competition.

Dates of application for the master’s programme in 2025: June 20 through August 8.

2. Olympiad for university students and graduates

The Olympiad is organized annually in February for everyone who wants to apply to master’s programmes at HSE University.

The Olympiad welcomes all students from higher education institutions, at bachelor’s or specialist’s levels, as well as university graduates, regardless of their nationality.

By decision of the Academic Council, Olympiad winners and runners up receive benefits for application to master’s programmes the align with the Olympiad’s field. Participation in the Olympiad is open and free of charge.

Both Russian citizens and citizens of other countries are eligible to participate in the Olympiad.

Special Terms & Conditions for Foreign Citizens

Foreign citizens can apply for HSE University scholarships and grants with full or partial coverage of tuition costs. International applicants must complete the procedure for recognition of foreign degrees (see HSE Admission Rules, paragraph 3.12). The Centre for Recognition of Foreign Education is responsible for procedure-related issues: recognition@hse.ru. 

On November 1, 2024, the application period opens for foreign citizens to compete for the master’s programme for the 2025/2026 academic year. The competition for master’s programmes is both for state-funded (Russian Government scholarship) and fee-paying slots. For more information on admissions, please visit the webpage.