Certificate course for students and professionals interested in a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of international human rights law.

The Summer Human Rights Institute will be back at Fordham Law School in 2026! The program will be held in person with a hybrid option from June 8 through June 19, 2026.

Designed for students and professionals from around the world, this immersive program enables individuals with limited time to gain an in-depth understanding of international human rights law and practice. Participants will take part in live daily lectures with Fordham Law professors, supplemented by additional materials, asynchronous lectures to be accessible at any time, and opportunities for discussions with members of New York’s prominent human rights community.

Program Details

The Summer Human Rights Institute will examine the evolution of international human rights law with a focus on the practice and implementation of human rights treaties of global application. The initial introductory classes are designed to equip participants with a theoretical background on the subject, followed by an overview of the key international instruments for the protection of human rights. The course will then analyze the main mechanisms for the implementation of selected treaties within the UN system, by examining concrete examples from the practice of international human rights monitoring bodies. We will further study selected human rights issues and engage in debates. Critical questions around conflict and accountability will be considered, and the course will conclude with a discussion of the future of international human rights.

Fordham Law School’s International faculty at the Leitner Center and in other departments will provide an introduction into the general international legal framework, followed by in-depth examinations in critical topics including refugee rights, climate change and human rights, business and human rights, international justice and accountability, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups, women’s rights, children’s rights, and anti-racism in international law.

Practitioners and advocates working actively in the field will serve as guest lecturers, will provide practical examples about the application of this international framework. Participants will be engaged in an up-close examination of real-world legal concerns and tools of human rights law and practice. 

Lectures will take place on Fordham law school’s mid-town campus in the heart of Manhattan, and supplemented by field trips to non-governmental organizations, international organizations including the United Nations, and other legal institutions.

Application

The 2026 Application will be made available in early January 2026.

Visas & Logistics

Live in person sessions of the 2026 Summer Human Rights Institute (SHRI) will take place during weekdays of the program period from morning through early afternoon, with some additional programming in the afternoons of some program days to account for field trip travel time. Students joining online as remote students will be able to join every lecture period, and will be able to join online sessions at some field meetings, but may not be able to participate in field meetings and sessions that take place off-campus.

Registrants are accepted into the program on a rolling basis, in the order in which registrations materials and program fees are received. Registrants will receive formal confirmation of registration within 5 business days of receipt of their registration materials. Space is limited and we expect the program to fill up well before the application deadline, so interested participants are encouraged to register early.

General information about visas for participants

Participants who will be applying for F-1 visas are strongly encouraged to consider lengthy visa processing times and apply up to two months in advance depending on their country of origin.

Most in-person participants who are not U.S. citizens or green card holders will need to secure a visa prior to beginning the program. The SHRI does not require any particular type of visa to attend, and we are pleased to offer official and competent guidance to help participants determine which visa is appropriate for their situation. The process for securing a visa should be completed as soon as possible following registration, as delays are common.

The SHRI satisfies the F-1 visa/status requirements, and Fordham can issue I-20s to support F-1 visa applications for this program. Participants who have received confirmation that their registration in the SHRI is complete may refer to the Visa Instructions for Registered Participants, which will be provided to participation on request and/or acceptance to the program.

In the alternative, some participants may enter the US as a B-1/B-2, or WT visitor. This is appropriate for those who are “coming to the United States primarily for tourism,” and “also incidentally will engage in a short course of study during their visit.” It cannot be used by participants who will be staying on in the U.S. to pursue a degree-granting program following the SHRI. If you choose the B-1, B-2 or WT visa, you are entering the US with “tourism” as your primary purpose; your “study” at the SHRI is your secondary purpose and “incidental and avocational” to your primary tourist purpose.

For more information, please visit the main Fordham University Immigration and Visa Information page.

Fees & Scholarships

All participants are required to submit a non-refundable $50 Registration Fee. The program fee is US $1600 if received before the regular registration deadline, and does not include travel to and from New York, or accommodation and meals. Every day of the program at Fordham, coffee and a light breakfast is served.

The program fees covers tuition for approximately 60 hours of instruction, access to  live zoom sessions and other materials prepared exclusively for this course and made available on our online course portal. In addition,  a  final certificate is awarded at the end of the program. 

A limited number of partial and full scholarships are available to students who demonstrate need. To inquire about the application process, please contact the program. 

Program fees are refunded up to two weeks before the program start date, after which no fees will be refunded.

Testimonials

Testimonials from earlier SHRI Programs will be made available soon.