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LL.M. A.W.Ar.D.S (Assas World Arbitration and Disputes Settlement)
LL.M. A.W.Ar.D.S (Assas World Arbitration and Disputes Settlement)
2025/2026
Direction: M. Malik LAAZOUZI
LLM - Droit
University Degree: Postgraduate
306 study hours / 306 heures
Formation continue
► Présentation
The LL.M. AWArDS combines the excellence of academics and practitioners in the field of international and investment arbitration (lawyers, counsels, arbitrators, quantum experts, managers of third-party funders, artificial intelligence researchers, etc.).
Courses are delivered in the heart of Paris (at the Institut de droit comparé and at prominent law firms).
The program covers both international arbitration and investment arbitration. It combines the French perspective with a comparative approach. It also deepens other core aspects of dispute resolution mechanisms: mediation, negotiation, settlement agreements, international business litigation, etc.
► Objectifs
Core objectives:
- To master the fundamental elements of both international arbitration and investment arbitration.
- To comprehend the relationship between arbitral proceedings and state courts.
- To broaden the understanding of international arbitration from a comparative perspective.
- To acquire the indispensable knowledge from international arbitration and litigation practitioners (drafting clauses, briefs, pleadings, evidence, examinations and cross-examinations, establishing the quantum of damages, etc.)
- To understand the functioning and distinctive features of the main arbitration centres and their rules.
The LL.M. program is offered in Paris, one of the most prominent international arbitration venues, internationally recognized as such.
The curriculum achieves the proper balance between an academic approach and a more empirical and practical approach to confront students, as prospective arbitration practitioners, with the complex realities of this multifaceted field of practice.
► Admission
Bac +4
► Profil recommandé
Expected number of students
The training targets to enroll between 20 and 30 students. The objective of this training is to welcome non-French-speaking foreign students to Paris-Panthéon-Assas University as part of a specialized training.
LLM AWArDS' candidates come from China, Brazil, Georgia, Germany, Greece, the Philippines, Turkey, as well as from three US partner law schools (Duke Univ., Georges Washington Univ., University of Virginia).
Access conditions
The selected students will be:
- holders of an English-language training provided by a foreign university at a level equivalent to Master 2 (fifth year). For example, without exhaustiveness, in business law, contract law or civil business law, private international law or international trade law) and wishing to further develop their grasp of the law of international arbitration;
- United States’ students who are enrolled in or have completed 2nd or 3rd year of legal training (JD);
- practitioners (lawyers, in house counsels, etc.), with at least two years' experience, wishing to acquire new skills outside their current field of activity or wishing to further their training in their current field of business.
The selection will be made on the basis of an application file, if necessary, after an interview (including by videoconference).
The level of English of applicants, whose mother tongue is not English, will be assessed by the presentation of the TOEFL results:
- 100 for the internet version (iBT) of the test (with 25 for each section);
- 600 for the paper version (PBT) of the test (with 60 for each section and 5 for the Test of Written English).
If the applicant is unable to present the results of these tests, the level of English may be established differently, subject to an interview by videoconference with the head of the LL.M., if necessary.
► Organisation de la formation
Organisation of the LL.M.
The programme will be carried out over one year from September to June, for a total of 306 study hours. It will take place in Paris, in Saint-Germain des Prés (Institute of Comparative Law).
► Programme
Content of the LL.M.
Fall Semester
Fundamental Course
- International Arbitration I
Specialization Courses & Case studies
- Energy Disputes
- Construction and Engineering Disputes
- Sports Disputes
- Mining Disputes
- Evidence in Arbitration Proceedings
- Complex Arbitration Proceedings
Optional courses (choice of 2 courses out of 4)
- International Commercial Litigation
- International Arbitration Agreement - Comparative Approach
- Negotiation, Mediation and International Settlement Agreements
- International Investment Contracts
Workshops
- Provisional and Protective Measures
- Conduct of Arbitral Proceedings
- Drafting skills and written advocacy
- Assessing Damages in International Arbitration
- Oral Advocacy
- ICC Arbitration
- French as a Foreign Language (optional)
Spring Semester
Fundamental Course
- International Arbitration II
Specialization Courses & Case studies
- M&A Disputes
- Disputes and Compliance
- Energy Disputes II
- Competition Disputes
- Intellectual Property Disputes
- Third Party Funding
Optional courses (choice of 2 courses out of 4)
- Protection of Foreign Investments
- Law of International Contracts & Contract Law in International Arbitration
- Enforcement of International Awards – Comparative Approach
- Foreign and Comparative Perspectives
Workshops
- Experts and Witnesses – Examination and Cross-Examination
- Main Arbitration Centers & Arbitration Rules
- Expedited procedures
- Artificial Intelligence in the Arbitration Arena
- Research Project
► Plus d'informations
http://www.assas-universite.fr/en/courses/programs-taught-english/llm-awards-assas-world-arbitration-disputes-settlement► More information
Application deadline
December 1st, 2025-May 31st, 2026
Academic Year
September 2026- May 2027
Cost of training
€ 20,000
Program eligible to the LPDP scholarship. Please contact Lpdp.prancis@ifi-id.com for more information
Program eligible to the Jean Monnet scholarship (Turkey)
► Contact
Malik LAAZOUZI,
Professor of Law, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University
► Testimonial
Stavros Tsiovolos (LL.M. AWArDS, 2024)
“The LL.M. AWArDS provides a perfectly crafted balance between academic excellence and practical experience. The University of Panthéon-Assas rightly bears the title as one of the leading universities in Europe. This distinction combined with the teaching by distinguished professors of arbitration and international law provides all those academic prerequisites for academic excellence. However, what distinguishes this master’s degree is the teaching by seasoned practitioners of international arbitration. A first-hand experience with top-tier law firms arms the candidate with the practical background to further excel his/hers professional advancement. The modules are structured in a way as to prepare the candidate for the international arbitration practice. Moot-courts, memorial drafting and oral advocacy assessments lead to the creation of a complete profile of the candidate. As arbitration in its essence is inclusive, so is this LL.M. by establishing one of the most diverse communities. Thus, the candidate is offered the rare opportunity to obtain valuable knowledge of common and civil law background. Post graduation, I have received an offer from one of the leading
Patryk J. Dobrowolski
LL.M. AWArDS 2025 - Paris
“What sets the LL.M. AWArDS programme apart is its immersive nature. From the very beginning, students are not only introduced to the theoretical foundations of arbitration but are immediately immersed in its real-world practice. The programme is led by seasoned practitioners, which allows for a swift and meaningful integration into both the legal frameworks and the vibrant Parisian and international arbitration communities. Current trends, challenges, and practical applications are integrated into every aspect of the curriculum, providing a comprehensive understanding of the field.
The balance between academic rigour and social engagement ensures that you don’t just learn arbitration. From day one, you become part of a dynamic and growing community. The faculty’s accessibility and genuine willingness to guide and support students, even beyond the classroom and into extracurricular activities, make the experience all the more impactful.”
Presentation
The LL.M. AWArDS combines the excellence of academics and practitioners in the field of international and investment arbitration (lawyers, counsels, arbitrators, quantum experts, managers of third-party funders, artificial intelligence researchers, etc.).
Courses are delivered in the heart of Paris (at the Institut de droit comparé and at prominent law firms).
The program covers both international arbitration and investment arbitration. It combines the French perspective with a comparative approach. It also deepens other core aspects of dispute resolution mechanisms: mediation, negotiation, settlement agreements, international business litigation, etc.
Objectives
Core objectives:
- To master the fundamental elements of both international arbitration and investment arbitration.
- To comprehend the relationship between arbitral proceedings and state courts.
- To broaden the understanding of international arbitration from a comparative perspective.
- To acquire the indispensable knowledge from international arbitration and litigation practitioners (drafting clauses, briefs, pleadings, evidence, examinations and cross-examinations, establishing the quantum of damages, etc.)
- To understand the functioning and distinctive features of the main arbitration centres and their rules.
The LL.M. program is offered in Paris, one of the most prominent international arbitration venues, internationally recognized as such.
The curriculum achieves the proper balance between an academic approach and a more empirical and practical approach to confront students, as prospective arbitration practitioners, with the complex realities of this multifaceted field of practice.
Expected number of students
The training targets to enroll between 20 and 30 students. The objective of this training is to welcome non-French-speaking foreign students to Paris-Panthéon-Assas University as part of a specialized training.
LLM AWArDS' candidates come from China, Brazil, Georgia, Germany, Greece, the Philippines, Turkey, as well as from three US partner law schools (Duke Univ., Georges Washington Univ., University of Virginia).
Access conditions
The selected students will be:
- holders of an English-language training provided by a foreign university at a level equivalent to Master 2 (fifth year). For example, without exhaustiveness, in business law, contract law or civil business law, private international law or international trade law) and wishing to further develop their grasp of the law of international arbitration;
- United States’ students who are enrolled in or have completed 2nd or 3rd year of legal training (JD);
- practitioners (lawyers, in house counsels, etc.), with at least two years' experience, wishing to acquire new skills outside their current field of activity or wishing to further their training in their current field of business.
The selection will be made on the basis of an application file, if necessary, after an interview (including by videoconference).
The level of English of applicants, whose mother tongue is not English, will be assessed by the presentation of the TOEFL results:
- 100 for the internet version (iBT) of the test (with 25 for each section);
- 600 for the paper version (PBT) of the test (with 60 for each section and 5 for the Test of Written English).
If the applicant is unable to present the results of these tests, the level of English may be established differently, subject to an interview by videoconference with the head of the LL.M., if necessary.
Organisation of studies
Organisation of the LL.M.
The programme will be carried out over one year from September to June, for a total of 306 study hours. It will take place in Paris, in Saint-Germain des Prés (Institute of Comparative Law).
Program
Content of the LL.M.
Fall Semester
Fundamental Course
- International Arbitration I
Specialization Courses & Case studies
- Energy Disputes
- Construction and Engineering Disputes
- Sports Disputes
- Mining Disputes
- Evidence in Arbitration Proceedings
- Complex Arbitration Proceedings
Optional courses (choice of 2 courses out of 4)
- International Commercial Litigation
- International Arbitration Agreement - Comparative Approach
- Negotiation, Mediation and International Settlement Agreements
- International Investment Contracts
Workshops
- Provisional and Protective Measures
- Conduct of Arbitral Proceedings
- Drafting skills and written advocacy
- Assessing Damages in International Arbitration
- Oral Advocacy
- ICC Arbitration
- French as a Foreign Language (optional)
Spring Semester
Fundamental Course
- International Arbitration II
Specialization Courses & Case studies
- M&A Disputes
- Disputes and Compliance
- Energy Disputes II
- Competition Disputes
- Intellectual Property Disputes
- Third Party Funding
Optional courses (choice of 2 courses out of 4)
- Protection of Foreign Investments
- Law of International Contracts & Contract Law in International Arbitration
- Enforcement of International Awards – Comparative Approach
- Foreign and Comparative Perspectives
Workshops
- Experts and Witnesses – Examination and Cross-Examination
- Main Arbitration Centers & Arbitration Rules
- Expedited procedures
- Artificial Intelligence in the Arbitration Arena
- Research Project
Knowledge check
Knowledge assessment and graduation
Article 1: Fundamental Courses, Optional Courses, Specialization Courses and Worshops are subject to an assessment. This assessment is part of the exams organised at the end of each semester and covering the courses given during that semester.
The exams are conducted in English.
All subjects are marked on 20 points. The fundamental courses (Fundamental Courses) have a coefficient of 2. Optional courses and Specialization Courses have a coefficient of 1 and workshops have a coefficient of 0.5.
Fundamental and optional courses are subject to a written exam in each subject. The completion of a Research Project is optional and, if chosen, replaces the assessment of the workshops in the second semester (Spring Semester).
Specialization Courses are subject to an oral examination or a continuous check mark. The form of the rating chosen is proposed by the teacher(s) of the specialisation course before the beginning of the semester and validated by the person in charge of training. When the oral exam is selected, it can be organized in common, the student draws a subject at random relating to the subjects of specialization of the semester. If a common oral examination is organised for several specialisation courses, the mark obtained is awarded to all the specialisation courses in the semester covered by the common oral examination.
The workshops give rise to one examination per semester. This examination covers one of the subjects of the semester, drawn by lot. The score obtained is assigned to all worshops in the semester in question.
The rating of the Research Project is associated with a coefficient of 4.
Article 2: A mark of 10/20 is required to obtain the LL.M. Assas World Arbitration and Disputes Settlement.
The diploma includes the following information, depending on the average obtained:
- from 10, passable
- from 13, quite well,
- from 15, well,
- from 17, very good.
More information
Application deadline
December 1st, 2025-May 31st, 2026
Academic Year
September 2026- May 2027
Cost of training
€ 20,000
Program eligible to the LPDP scholarship. Please contact Lpdp.prancis@ifi-id.com for more information
Program eligible to the Jean Monnet scholarship (Turkey)
Contact
Malik LAAZOUZI,
Professor of Law, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University
Testimonial
Stavros Tsiovolos (LL.M. AWArDS, 2024)
“The LL.M. AWArDS provides a perfectly crafted balance between academic excellence and practical experience. The University of Panthéon-Assas rightly bears the title as one of the leading universities in Europe. This distinction combined with the teaching by distinguished professors of arbitration and international law provides all those academic prerequisites for academic excellence. However, what distinguishes this master’s degree is the teaching by seasoned practitioners of international arbitration. A first-hand experience with top-tier law firms arms the candidate with the practical background to further excel his/hers professional advancement. The modules are structured in a way as to prepare the candidate for the international arbitration practice. Moot-courts, memorial drafting and oral advocacy assessments lead to the creation of a complete profile of the candidate. As arbitration in its essence is inclusive, so is this LL.M. by establishing one of the most diverse communities. Thus, the candidate is offered the rare opportunity to obtain valuable knowledge of common and civil law background. Post graduation, I have received an offer from one of the leading
Patryk J. Dobrowolski
LL.M. AWArDS 2025 - Paris
“What sets the LL.M. AWArDS programme apart is its immersive nature. From the very beginning, students are not only introduced to the theoretical foundations of arbitration but are immediately immersed in its real-world practice. The programme is led by seasoned practitioners, which allows for a swift and meaningful integration into both the legal frameworks and the vibrant Parisian and international arbitration communities. Current trends, challenges, and practical applications are integrated into every aspect of the curriculum, providing a comprehensive understanding of the field.
The balance between academic rigour and social engagement ensures that you don’t just learn arbitration. From day one, you become part of a dynamic and growing community. The faculty’s accessibility and genuine willingness to guide and support students, even beyond the classroom and into extracurricular activities, make the experience all the more impactful.”