Doctoral Research Skill in Public International Law

Doctoral Research Skill in Public International Law (DRSPIL) 

A Professional Specialized Skill Training Program by Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI)

• Eligibility: Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with Masters and any research or work experience.

• Total Fees: Rs. 9,500/-
  (Everything Included from Admission, Course Fees and Delivery of Certificate, no additional Fees Apart from it)

• Mode: Online

• Study Material:  Will be provided through Learning Dashboard/Portal

• Learning Type: Self Paced

• Duration:  3 Months (Preferably, but can be completed anytime as soon as you give the Exam)

• Enrollment:  Any Time, there is no Fixed Enrolment Date or Day. A candidate can choose any time and the enrolment will be processed real time.

• Exam: One Online Exam, MCQ and Subjective Type Questions of 100 Marks. Passing Marks 40%. If unsuccessful, you can give additional two attempts.

• Procedure: Fill the Apply Now Form →  Pay the Requisite Amount of Fees by Clicking Pay Now Button → Then Click on Payment Confirmation button and fill the form with all the Details → Then login to the Dashboard.

Course Overview

Public International Law (PIL) provides the normative framework governing sovereign states, international organizations, and non-state actors across maritime zones, conflict areas, human rights regimes, and global dispute bodies. The Doctoral Research Skill in Public International Law (DRSPIL), offered by the Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI), is an advanced training program designed for experienced scholars, legal practitioners, and postgraduates who seek to develop research methodologies specifically tailored to doctoral scholarship (Ph.D., S.J.D., or LL.D.) and high-impact international legal analysis.

Traditional research approaches often prove inadequate when addressing the multi-source, decentralized nature of international legal authority. The DRSPIL program addresses this by grounding researchers in the specialized investigative and interpretive toolkits required to navigate international jurisprudence. Scholars examine the interplay between state practice and opinio juris, the dynamics of international tribunals (such as the ICJ, ITLOS, ICC, and PCA), and the normative conflicts emerging between multilateral treaties and peremptory norms (jus cogens).

Beyond foundational theory, the course emphasizes the technical execution of international legal writing and research design. Candidates learn how to construct rigorous problem statements, deploy doctrinal and empirical methodologies, evaluate archival and diplomatic sources, and adhere to international citation metrics. The program also investigates modern critical frameworks, such as Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), feminist international jurisprudence, and law-and-economics models of state compliance.

Through guided study and analysis of landmark judgments, advisory opinions, and state-to-state arbitral awards, participants learn to identify unsettled legal questions, formulate defendable hypotheses, and draft academic proposals suitable for doctoral admissions, funded research grants, and peer-reviewed legal journals. Supervised within the professional framework of the Indian Arbitration Institution, the DRSPIL equips researchers with the scholarly rigor and structural clarity required to contribute meaningful scholarship to contemporary international law and inter-state dispute resolution.

Course Structure and Modules

The tentative modules are as follows:

Module 1: Advanced Sources and Epistemology of Public International Law

• Critical analysis of Article 38(1) of the ICJ Statute and non-traditional legal sources.

• Evidentiary thresholds for Customary International Law (opinio juris and state practice).

• Soft law instruments, resolutions of international organizations, and normative hierarchy (jus cogens and erga omnes obligations).

Module 2: Treaty Hermeneutics, Codification, and Vienna Convention Rules

• Advanced application of Articles 31–33 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT).

• Resolving systemic integration issues, interpretive conflicts, and treaty fragmentation.

• Travaux préparatoires, subsequent agreements, state practice, and the dynamics of reservations.

Module 3: International Dispute Settlement and Adjudicative Jurisprudence

• Contentious and advisory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

• Inter-state arbitration under the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and specialized arbitral bodies.

• Procedural mechanisms: provisional measures, preliminary objections, and third-party interventions.

Module 4: Sovereign Immunity, Jurisdiction, and State Responsibility

• Jurisdictional immunities of states and their officials: customary developments and domestic judicial treatment.

• The ILC Draft Articles on State Responsibility: attribution, breach, circumstances precluding wrongfulness, and reparations.

• Extraterritorial jurisdiction, universal jurisdiction, and international criminal liability.

Module 5: Law of the Sea, International Commons, and Environmental Jurisprudence

• Maritime boundary delimitation methodology under UNCLOS and international tribunals.

• Legal regimes of the high seas, the international seabed area, and air/space commons.

• Transboundary environmental obligations, precautionary principles, and climate change litigation before international courts.

Module 6: Theoretical Frameworks and Critical Approaches to International Law

• Doctrinal analysis versus empirical and socio-legal methods in PIL research.

• Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) and decolonial legal critique.

• Realist, liberal institutionalist, and constructivist frameworks in international legal compliance.

Module 7: Archival Research, Diplomatic Records, and Advanced Source Verification

• Investigating UN repositories, state department archives, and diplomatic correspondence.

• Evidentiary assessment of open-source intelligence, satellite imagery, and NGO documentations before international tribunals.

• Research ethics, declassification rules, and qualitative data management.

Module 8: Doctoral Dissertation Architecture, Research Proposal, and Academic Publishing

• Formulating a viable doctoral research question, hypothesis testing, and literature gap mapping.

• Technical mastery of international legal citation schemes (OSCOLA, Bluebook, and international style guides).

• Drafting, revising, and defending a comprehensive Ph.D./S.J.D. research proposal and submitting to high-impact indexed journals.

Importance of Doing this Course

Carrying out original research in public international law requires specialized investigative competence and interpretive dexterity that standard postgraduate curricula rarely provide. The DRSPIL bridges this technical gap, equipping researchers to address the systemic complexities of international legal scholarship.

First, the program trains scholars directly in doctoral research design. Standard legal research often defaults to regional or domestic case analysis, leaving researchers unprepared for the multi-layered evidentiary demands of public international law. DRSPIL trains scholars to evaluate international treaties, customary practices, and international tribunal awards systematically, enabling them to produce viable, competitive doctoral research proposals for leading universities worldwide.

Second, the curriculum addresses modern cross-border challenges. Evolving questions surrounding cyber operations, maritime delimitation, transboundary environmental damage, and state immunity require nuanced methodological approaches. DRSPIL prepares researchers to examine these current crises critically, generating scholarship that contributes directly to international legal policy discussions.

Third, the program emphasizes peer-reviewed publication standards. Participants learn how to construct publishable legal arguments, reference archival materials, and avoid the methodological pitfalls that lead to journal rejections. Supported by the Indian Arbitration Institution, this certification demonstrates verifiable expertise in international dispute mechanisms, treaty interpretation, and scholarly methodology.

Career Prospects

The Doctoral Research Skill in Public International Law credential supports multiple career pathways in academia, international practice, and policy research:

• Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Researcher: Serves as a foundational research credential for admission to Ph.D., S.J.D., and LL.D. programs, as well as competitive international research grants and fellowships.

• University Faculty and Academic Lecturers: Strengthens credentials for academic positions teaching Public International Law, International Organizations, and Law of the Sea at universities and law schools.

• International Tribunals and Arbitral Registries: Prepares legal professionals for research associate, clerkship, and registry officer roles at institutions such as the ICJ, PCA, ITLOS, and international criminal courts.

• Diplomatic and Foreign Affairs Services: Enhances qualifications for legal advisers and researchers within ministries of foreign affairs, defense departments, and diplomatic missions.

• Policy Think Tanks and Intergovernmental Organizations: Provides research and analytical competence for positions in international policy institutes, UN specialized agencies, and strategic defense institutes.

• Public International Law Practice Groups: Equips practitioners and research associates within specialized law firm practice groups to conduct treaty research, draft memorial pleadings, and assist in state-to-state disputes.

Necessary Details

The Indian Arbitration Institution offers the DRSPIL through a structured digital learning framework designed to accommodate researchers, legal practitioners, and working professionals worldwide.

Eligibility Applicants must hold:

• Any Basic Qualification or Formal Education with a Master's degree (completed) along with any relevant research or work experience.

This requirement accommodates candidates with diverse academic and professional backgrounds—including law, international relations, political science, defense studies, and public policy—who are preparing for advanced research careers.

Total Fees The all-inclusive fee for the program is Rs. 9,500/-. This covers the entire program from admission, digital access to the learning portal, all curriculum materials, online examination fees, to the physical printing and courier delivery of the final certificate to the candidate's postal address. There are no additional charges or hidden fees.

Mode and Study Material The program is conducted entirely Online. Enrolled participants receive individual login credentials for the dedicated IAI Learning Dashboard/Portal. Complete Study Material—including instructional texts, foundational treatises, case summaries, and methodology reference guides—is provided directly through the dashboard.

Learning Type and Duration The program follows a flexible, Self-Paced format. While the recommended duration is 3 Months, candidates may progress at their own speed. The course can be completed earlier as soon as the candidate reviews the curriculum and sits for the examination.

Enrollment Enrollment is open Any Time throughout the year. There are no fixed enrollment cycles or semester batch dates. Candidate registrations are processed in real time, granting immediate access to the dashboard.

Examination Structure The course concludes with One Online Exam carrying a total of 100 Marks, comprising both Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Subjective analytical questions.

• Passing Marks: 40%

• Re-attempt Facility: Candidates who do not achieve the qualifying mark on their first attempt receive two additional attempts at no extra cost.

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Fill out and submit the official Apply Now Form on the IAI portal.

2. Pay the requisite course fee of Rs. 9,500/- by clicking the Pay Now button.

3. Click the Payment Confirmation button and complete the verification form with the required transaction details.

4. Log into the Learning Dashboard to access study materials and start the program.