The International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL), based at Villa Ormond in Sanremo, Italy, runs the 55th Online Course on International Refugee Law in English from 23 November to 18 December 2026. The course is developed and organised by the Institute's Department of International Refugee Law and Migration Law.

The course presents the key aspects of international protection and refugees' rights: International Refugee Law and its complementarity with other bodies of law, international protection principles, the causes that force people to flee, protection risks across the displacement cycle, and the search for durable and sustainable solutions. It is conducted in light of the international responses, including the Global Compact on Refugees, and includes sharing of experiences from participants, governments and people with lived experience of displacement.

Programme (agenda outline)

Session 0: Preliminary activities (self-paced, by Monday 23 November)
Session 1: Opening of the Course and Keynote Address (23 November)
Session 2: The International Legal Protection Framework (25 November)
Session 3: Who is a Refugee (27 November)
Session 4: Institution of Asylum and Security Considerations (30 November)
Session 5: Mixed Movements and Categories of Persons on the Move (2 December)
Session 6: Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (4 December)
Sessions 7 to 9: Protection at Sea; Detention and Alternatives to Detention; Climate-induced Displacement and International Protection (7, 9 and 11 December)
Session 10: Mechanisms for Refugee Protection: Intersectional Needs and Shared Responsibility (14 December)
Session 11: Protection and Development (self-paced, by 16 December)
Session 12: Durable Solutions and Complementary Pathways (16 December)
Session 13: Capstone and Closing of the Course (18 December)

Format and timings

The course runs over four weeks, with two to three sessions per week. Live sessions are pre-scheduled, usually last 120 minutes and are delivered via Zoom for Education. Self-paced sessions (pre-recorded videos, short questionnaires or assignments and selected reference materials) must be completed before the beginning of the following class.

Live sessions run from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Rome time (CET), which is 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm IST. Sessions are delivered by experts working in refugee protection, members of academia and persons with lived experience of displacement.

Who can apply

The official page states: "The Course is developed primarily to benefit senior and mid-level government officials involved in the formulation and application of legislation and policies affecting people in need of protection. Members of the civil society and the academia, who could positively influence the safeguard of refugees' rights and advocate for the protection of uprooted and stateless persons, are also accepted as participants." No nationality restriction is stated.

The course is in English only, with no simultaneous translation. A very good knowledge of English is required; the Institute says applications from candidates without the required language skills will not be considered.

Fee and scholarships

Participation fee: EUR 750, payable by the selected applicant before the start of the course by bank transfer, or by Visa or Mastercard on the Institute's website.
A limited number of scholarships is available, depending on donor funds, and cannot be guaranteed purely by application. To request one, choose the full scholarship option in the registration fee field of the Registration Form. The form notes that half scholarships are not available for the online courses of the Department of Refugee Law.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation received more than 14 days before the start date: no liability except bank charges.
Cancellation received 8 to 14 days before the start date: administration fee of 50% of the fee.
Cancellation received within 7 days of the start date or after the course begins: administration fee of 100% of the fee.

Certificate

The official Certificate is awarded only to participants who attend the course in full, including live and self-paced sessions, and who complete and submit all mandatory assignments and feedback within the set deadlines.

How to apply

Fill in and submit the online Registration Form linked on the course page by 26 October 2026. After the application deadline, candidates are informed of the status of their application. Questions on registration and administrative matters go to admission.unit@iihl.org; for other support on the online course write to refugee.department@iihl.org, naming the course in the subject line.