CAS in International Contracts & Arbitration

The expansion of global trade has resulted in an increasingly high degree specialization in international contract practices. The jurisdictional complexity of such contracts has led to a rapid growth in the role of alternative dispute settlement mechanisms. Many international corporations now have separate divisions within their own legal departments tasked with the drafting, negotiation, monitoring and enforcement of their international contracts – and with the settlement of any disputes they may give rise to. Other companies work with international law firms specializing in this demanding area.

A successful career in international contract law requires a thorough familiarity with multiple legal regimes – including the differing cultures they reflect and how they interact. When disputes arise, mastery of the ever-growing thicket of international conventions and standards is essential.

The remarkable expansion of global trade in recent decades has resulted in an increasingly high degree of specialization in contract practices. The jurisdictional complexities involved in modern commercial contracts have simultaneously led to a growing willingness on the part of international commercial partners to seek alternative means of resolving their differences and avoid traditional litigation procedures in ordinary courts.

Negotiating and drafting international contracts, and putting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to effective use, requires a thorough familiarity both with different national legal regimes, and with the applicable international conventions and standards.

The Fribourg Law Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in International Contracts & Arbitration offers students who already possess fundamental lawyering skills an opportunity to acquire – or refresh – their knowledge in areas of the law specific to international contracts and arbitration, in a brief but concentrated program of focused study.

The CAS in International Contracts & Arbitration will help you to deepen your understanding of the civil law and common law foundations of international contract law, gain familiarity with the workings of applicable international conventions and standards, and to keep abreast of the most recent developments in specific areas of international contract law and alternative dispute resolution. The program offers a wide range of different areas for students to focus on, including the international sale of goods and services, international construction agreements, international distribution agreements, and others.

Please see the Program Structure, IBL Student Handbook and Code of Conduct and the IBL Student Guide for more information about studying at the Institute for International Business Law, University of Fribourg. 

• Who is eligible for the Fribourg Law CAS Program?

  The Fribourg Law Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in International Contracts & Arbitration is designed to meet the demands of practicing lawyers within this area of law whether from independent law firms, companies operating internationally, non-governmental or other international organizations.

  The program is also open to university graduates with degrees in disciplines other than law with professional experience in international contracts and dispute resolution.

• Your career options

  The Fribourg Law Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in International Contracts & Arbitration will prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities in the contracts or dispute resolution divisions of law firms and companies and organizations with international operations, or non-governmental organizations around the world.

  The CAS in International Contracts & Arbitration provides essential preparation for management positions for which expertise in contract law is a significant requirement.

• The curriculum

  The Fribourg Law Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) consists of both core and elective course units. Each successfully completed unit awards students the corresponding ECTS credits, reflecting the time and effort required. Depending on the selected unit, students may attend between 3 and 18 hours of lectures, which can be distributed across several sessions throughout the semester.

  Students have the flexibility to choose any combination of lectures from the semester's offerings, allowing them to tailor their pace of study to align with their individual interests and needs. In addition to attending lectures, students must complete a Master's Thesis or Management Project.

  For details about the course units offered in the current academic year and the specific CAS credit requirements, please refer to the Program Structure.

• Program features - full-time & part-time

  The academic year lasts approximately nine months, divided into two semesters. Students may choose to start the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) program in either the Fall or Spring semester each year. The fall semester runs from mid-September to mid-December while the spring semester runs from mid-February to mid-June. In addition to the inter-semester breaks, there are several official local holidays throughout the year as typically observed in Switzerland.

  Students planning to study in person who require an entry visa should ensure their start date aligns with their visa issuance date to facilitate timely entry into Switzerland.

  The program is conducted entirely in English. Lectures can be attended live in person or online via Zoom – there is also flexibility to take a hybrid approach combining both. Whether the student studies full-time or part-time, the program offers more course units than are needed to complete the certificate, allowing for maximum flexibility and customization in building their study curriculum. Typically, each course unit is offered once a year, either in the fall or spring semester.

  Full-time

  The CAS program is designed to be fully completed within one semester. The full-time CAS program has a minimum duration of one semester and a maximum duration of three semesters. After three semesters, additional tuition fees will apply. Students may pause their studies for valid reasons, such as maternity, illness, professional or family commitments, without incurring additional fees, provided written confirmation is received from the program director.

  Part-time

  The part-time CAS program offers a flexible duration ranging from one to three semesters. After the third semester, additional tuition fees will apply. Students have the flexibility to take each course unit during their first, second, or third semester. Alternatively, they can choose to complete the entire part-time CAS program within a single semester.

  The option to study part-time is specifically tailored for candidates who are full-time professionals or those who, for various reasons, seek a flexible study schedule. The program allows students to progress at their own pace with the convenience of online attendance and access to recorded lectures (where available).

• Graduation

  To receive their Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS), full- and part-time students must complete curriculum units to earn a minimum of 10 ECTS credits, including:

  • 8 ECTS credits for coursework;
  • 2 ECTS credits for the preparation of a master’s thesis, or completion of a management project.

  Graduation ceremonies are held twice a year, in July and February. The CAS certificate, issued by the University of Fribourg's Faculty of Law, certifies the completion of a Certificate of Advanced Studies and includes the graduate's chosen specialization, name, age, and academic distinction. The certificate is accompanied by a transcript detailing the curriculum units completed, the corresponding ECTS credits, grades achieved, and the overall GPA.

• Tuition fees

  The full tuition fee for the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) program is CHF 8,000, which must be paid in full before graduation. There is no scholarship available for the CAS.

  Application costs

  For successful applications, an administrative fee of CHF 150 and a registration fee of CHF 1,500 is charged. These non-refundable fees must be paid within 10 days and will be credited toward the total tuition.

  Payment options

  A 10% discount is offered for full tuition payments made before the semester starts for students not eligible for scholarships.

  Other fees

  An administration fee of CHF 75 will be charged for any changes to the program track or when switching between CAS and LL.M. programs.

  From fall 2024, as of the 13th credit, an additional charge of CHF 500 per ECTS credit earned will apply, payable before graduation.

  After the third semester, additional tuition fees will apply.

  IBL Tuition Terms and Conditions: Click here