Law is challenging, and international law adds another layer of complexity. To help prospective students compare options, we have compiled this list of leading international law schools around the world.
Top International Law Schools in the World
1. Harvard University
A well-known Ivy League institution in Massachusetts, Harvard University is one of the leading law schools for students interested in international and comparative law. Harvard Law School was founded in 1817, and its library remains the largest academic law library in the world.
Harvard Law School offers the Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and Doctor of Juridical Science. It also offers joint and coordinated degree options involving law and business, government, public health, urban planning, and other fields, as well as the Harvard Law School and University of Cambridge J.D./LL.M. Joint Degree Program.
At Harvard Law School, J.D. students who matriculated in fall 2019 or later must complete an upper-level international or comparative law course requirement. The school also offers extensive international, foreign, and comparative law courses, reading groups, clinics, projects, and research opportunities.
2. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford in England is among the world’s most prestigious and oldest universities. Teaching existed at Oxford as early as 1096, and the university has since built a strong reputation for academic excellence in many fields, including law.
The University of Oxford offers a part-time degree program for aspiring lawyers and human rights advocates who want to focus on international human rights law. This degree is the MSc in International Human Rights Law, which is completed over two academic years.
The MSc in International Human Rights Law helps students develop a deeper understanding of the depth, application, and implementation of international human rights law. It is delivered through online learning and summer residential sessions at New College, Oxford.
3. University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) is a public research university in Sydney, Australia. The university is highly ranked internationally, placing 20th in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 79th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
UNSW Law & Justice is a leading Australian law school and offers an International Law specialization within its Master of Laws program. Through this pathway, students can study topics such as international law, human rights, the United Nations system, international criminal law, world trade law, and dispute resolution.
4. Yale University
Like Harvard University, Yale University is a private Ivy League institution. This university was founded in 1701 in New Haven, Connecticut, and is the third-oldest higher education institution in the United States.
Yale Law School offers five degree-granting programs: Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, Doctor of the Science of Law, Master of Studies in Law, and Doctor of Philosophy in Law. Joint degrees with other Yale schools and departments are also available.
The law school’s international law offerings bring together courses, workshops, centers, student-generated courses, clinical opportunities, and other options for students interested in global legal issues. These opportunities help students explore international law both inside and outside the classroom.
5. Stanford University
Among the leading international law schools, Stanford University is located in Stanford, California, and is widely recognized as one of the world’s top universities.
In international law, Stanford Law School offers an LL.M. program in International Economic Law, Business, and Policy. The program covers subjects such as international trade, international dispute resolution, business transactions, environmental law, and other legal issues affecting international business. It is intended for students who earned their first law degree outside the United States.
Stanford Law School also offers the Stanford Program in International Legal Studies, which leads to the Master of the Science of Law (J.S.M.) degree. In addition, the law school offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D., and several joint degree options.
6. The London School of Economics and Political Science
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a member institution of the University of London and a university in its own right. It was founded in 1895 and began awarding degrees in its own name in 2008.
The institution’s law school offers several degree-granting programs, including the undergraduate LLB, the LLM Master of Laws, the Executive LLM, and the Ph.D. in Law. LSE Law School also has international partnership opportunities, including an LSE-Columbia Law School JD/LLM exchange scheme.
Public international law is an important part of teaching and research at LSE Law School. Students can study public international law at undergraduate and master’s levels, including advanced and specialized courses, and doctoral students can pursue research in international law under faculty supervision.
7. Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York, or Columbia University, is an Ivy League university founded as King’s College in 1754. It is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and among the oldest in the United States.
Recognized as one of the most prominent law schools for international and comparative law, Columbia Law School offers the Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, Executive Master of Laws, and Doctor of the Science of Law. It also has an area of study that focuses on international and comparative law.
8. University of California – Berkeley
Founded in 1868, the University of California – Berkeley, more commonly known as UC Berkeley, is California’s first land-grant university and the founding campus of the University of California system.
The university is known for ranking among the world’s top universities and offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs across its colleges and schools.
Berkeley Law is known for its strong teaching, internationally recognized faculty, and more than 25 research centers and initiatives. Prospective students can choose from the three-year J.D. program, LL.M. options, the J.S.D., and the Jurisprudence and Social Policy Ph.D. program.
9. University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago) is a private research university founded in 1890 in Chicago, Illinois. UChicago is considered a leading institution in many academic disciplines and is highly selective in choosing potential students.
The University of Chicago Law School offers prospective students an engaging learning environment designed to develop them into competent professionals. The Law School offers more than 170 elective courses, including more than 30 electives that focus on international and comparative law. Students interested in international legal work can pursue the J.D. and, when eligible, advanced programs such as the LL.M. or J.S.D.
10. Georgetown University
Founded as Georgetown College in 1789, Georgetown University is a private research university in Washington, D.C., and the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the United States. The university is well known for its location in the nation’s capital and for its selective admissions.
Georgetown Law offers extensive coursework and academic pathways in international and comparative law. J.D. students can pursue international and comparative law courses and joint or dual degree options, while graduate students can apply for programs such as the LL.M. in International Legal Studies and the LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law.
11. University of Amsterdam
Dating back to 1632, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a public research university in the Netherlands. UvA is one of Europe’s major research universities and is regarded as a strong option for students interested in international and European law.
UvA is also known for strong teaching and research across many fields. Its Communication and Media Studies subject area was ranked first in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for the ninth consecutive year.
The university offers a Public International Law track within its International and European Law Master’s program. This one-year LL.M. track allows postgraduate students to deepen their understanding of general international law while building expertise through compulsory courses, electives, and a thesis.
12. University College London
Founded in 1826, University College London (UCL) is a public research university in the United Kingdom. UCL Laws traces its roots to the appointment of the first professors of law in 1827 and has been involved in the study and research of law for almost 200 years.
The university has also contributed to the development of national and global legal scholarship. Students interested in learning about international law can apply for the LLM in International Law, which gives students a grounding in public international law and access to a wide range of international law subjects.
13. New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private research institution chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature. It remains one of the world’s well-known universities and is ranked 55th in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
NYU School of Law is known for its intellectual breadth and global perspective. The law school organizes its curriculum around 16 areas of study and offers extensive options in international, comparative, and foreign law.
Aspiring law students can pursue the J.D. program, while graduate students can choose from several LL.M. degrees, specialized LL.M. pathways, and the J.S.D. program.
14. University of Melbourne
Founded in 1853, the University of Melbourne is a public research university in Victoria, Australia. It is Australia’s second-oldest university and a member of the Group of Eight, Universitas 21, and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities.
As one of the strong schools for international law, Melbourne Law School offers a competitive learning environment and a wide variety of study areas, including international humanitarian law, international criminal law, international economic law, finance, tax, law and development, and international arbitration.
Students interested in international law can take the Graduate Diploma in International Law or the Master of Public and International Law through Melbourne Law Masters.
15. George Washington University
Chartered by the United States Congress in 1821, George Washington University (GW) is a private, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C.
GW Law is considered the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. At GW Law, students can study international legal theories, institutions, and doctrines with the goal of becoming competitive and practical on the world stage.
The university offers J.D. and LL.M. pathways in international and comparative law. Aspiring students interested in this field can choose from more than 50 specialized international and comparative law courses.
FAQs about Studying International Law
What’s the Difference Between an LLM and JD Degree?
In the United States, a J.D. is the standard professional law degree for people who want to become lawyers. A full-time J.D. program typically takes three years after a bachelor’s degree, and graduates must also meet the bar admission requirements of the jurisdiction where they want to practice. An LL.M., or Master of Laws, is a graduate law degree for people who already have a first law degree and want to specialize, deepen their legal knowledge, or, depending on the jurisdiction and their prior education, support bar eligibility as a foreign-trained lawyer.
We hope that you found this article on the world’s leading international law schools informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out other available programs for international students to know more!
