Courses on International Investment Law
The courses on international investment law is a special offer of the University of Cologne to students, doctoral candidates and legal practitioners interested in international investment law and investor-state dispute settlement. The curriculum consists of three courses and offers a comprehensive academic education with a strong practical approach.
Please note that there may be deviations in terms of dates and rooms. For detailed information on the respective course, please refer to the overview on Klips.
Winter Semester 2025
International investment law I – Course on Investment Protection Standards (in German)
The students learn about the legal and historical foundations on which the system of international investment protection is based. The course inter alia focuses on the involved actors, the definition of investment and the scope of different standards of protection such as expropriation, non-discrimination or fair and equitable treatment.
The lecture by Prof. Dr. Markus Perkams will take place online (via Zoom) from 10 am - 4 pm on the following dates: Friday, 10 October 2025; Saturday, 11 October 2025; Friday, 24 October 2025; Saturday, 25 October 2025. Participants will receive the login details via Ilias or e-mail. For those who are not enrolled at the University of Cologne, please register via iilcc-info(at)uni-koeln.de. The date of the exam will be announced in due course.
International investment law II – Course on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (in German)
The course gives insights into the highly relevant system of investor-state dispute settlement. Focusing on current practice, students get to know the principles of international investment arbitration and learn how foreign investors can enforce their rights. In addition to the legal foundations of international arbitration, the participants study the particularities of investment arbitration, including the ongoing reforms of the investor-state dispute settlement mechanism.
The lecture by Prof. Dr. Lars Markert will take place online (via Zoom) from 10 am - 4 pm on the following dates: Friday, 21 November 2025; Saturday, 22 November 2025; Friday, 28 November 2025; Saturday, 29 November 2025. Participants will receive the login details via Ilias or e-mail. For those who are not enrolled at the University of Cologne, please register via iilcc-info(at)uni-koeln.de. The date of the exam will be announced in due course.
The Advanced Course on ICSID Arbitration
The Advanced Course on ICSID Arbitration, presented by Francisco Abriani, provides a detailed and practical insight on procedural aspects of investment arbitrations conducted under the ICSID rules. The Course will be taught in English. The course complements the courses on International Investment Law I and II and is addressed to students with previous exposure to international arbitration, doctoral candidates and interested practitioners.
The lecture will take place online (via Zoom) from 10:00-17:00 on the following dates: Friday, 16.01.2026; Saturday, 17.01.2026; Friday, 23.01.2026; Saturday, 24.01.2026. The dial-in dates will be announced via Ilias or by e-mail. Interested parties who are not enrolled at the University of Cologne can register via iilcc-info(at)uni-koeln.de. Please note that in this case the application for the ICSID course should include a CV and information on previous knowledge of arbitration law. The date of the exam will be announced in due course.
Study credits
Exams taken in international investment law I and II are eligible for study credits for students enrolled in Schwerpunktbereich 6 (Internationales Privat- Wirtschafts- und Verfahrensrecht), Schwerpunktbereich 9 (Völker- und Europarecht) or the master programs „Wirtschaftsrecht (LL.M.)“ and „im Ausland graduierte Juristinnen und Juristen (LL.M.)“.