The Walther Schuecking Institute for International Law at the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel is the oldest German university institute especially dedicated to public international law. It has the biggest and oldest university library specialised for public international law, which – together with its UN Depository Library – offers excellent working and research facilities. Domestic and foreign scholars are cordially invited to use these facilities.

The “Institute for International Law” was founded in 1914 and, in 1995, renamed the “Walther Schuecking Institute of International Law”, in memory of its famous former director and judge at the Permanent Court of International Justice, who was devoted to the idea of an international peace order and international understanding. The topic of research at the Institute lies on public international law (especially foundations of public international law, human rights protection, cultural affairs, peace and security, environmental law and law of the sea), European law and comparative constitutional law.

The members of the Institute form a motivated team in a spirit of cooperation and as such are able to perform numerous activities - for example the edition of the “German Yearbook of International Law” and the series “Publications of the Walther Schuecking Institute of International Law.”

The Institute organises Symposia and Conferences thereby stimulating transborder exchange of scientific knowledge and promoting the solution of problematic items. Additionally, the publications of the members of the Institute as well as their advisory and expert opinions for private and public German and foreign entities inspire the progressive development of international and European law.

Since 2007 the Institute has been connected to the Kiel Cluster of Excellence “The Future Ocean” by way of the then new chair for the law of the sea and cooperates in this framework in different interdisciplinary research projects.  In addition, it organises lecture series with external academics on topical issues of public international and European which are open to the general public and thereby promotes the dialogue with colleagues from abroad.

With respect to teaching, the Institute focuses on the topic “Public International and European Law” for law students. As of the beginning of the winter term 2011/12 the Institute has also been engaged in the new interdisciplinary master studies program “International Politics and International Law“, which is open  for advanced students of political sciences and law graduates.

In addition to teaching students, the Institute nurtures young academics during their undergraduate studies. Each year the Philipp C. Jessup International Law Moot Court is prepared for intensively. During each term the members of the Institute - including its student research assistants - offer critical discussed reports within the lecture series “Daily Public International Law News”. The Institute is also in charge of the student exchange programme ERASMUS and the LL.M programme for foreign graduates. It also offers stages to law graduates during their internship programme (“Referendariat”) for their advanced law education.  Many LL.M. and PhD students are supervised by the directors of the Institute.  Numerous scholars and chair holders of public international and European Law in Germany and abroad have started their academic career at the Institute where they completed their PhD and/or rather their postdoctoral lecture qualification (“Habilitation”).

Currently, the Institute is chaired by Prof. Dr. Thomas Giegerich (since 2006) and Prof. Dr. Kerstin Odendahl (since 2011). The process of refilling the third chair (law of the sea) is currently underway.