This course is for: 

• Those seeking to expand their skillset or discover a new field of practice.
• Scholars seeking to gain expertise in the application of concepts and norms within the field of international arbitration.
• Students seeking exposure to international dispute resolution.

The Durham Summer Course on International Arbitration welcomes both undergraduate and postgraduate students from any university, as well as practitioners with an interest in the subject matter. The Course Coordinator is Dr Ylli Dautaj.

Meet the Course Directors 

The four course co-directors include current arbitrators, practitioners and academics with a combined 100 years of experience in international commercial and investment treaty arbitration with leading global law firms.

You can access the full biographies of our four course directors by clicking on their names below:

• John Fellas
• Wendy Miles, KC 
• Christian Leathley
• Charles Kotuby

Meet our speakers 2026

The course is taught by leading practitioners and arbitrators from around the world, with the goal of providing students a diverse perspective of international arbitration from various legal cultures and national backgrounds.

We will be announcing our confirmed list of speakers over the coming weeks and months.

Course Programme

Our Course Programme is available here: 2026 Durham Summer Program on International Arbitration. Please note that some details remain to be finalised or may change. We will update the programme as these details fall into place.

Conference Day

This year we are introducing the option of attending a Conference day. The Conference Day fee will be GBP 150. Further details will follow shortly.

Course Fee

The course fee varies: GBP 850 for Durham University students, GBP 950 for students from other universities, and GBP 1650 standard rate. This fee covers all course materials, sessions, and event attendance including morning and afternoon refreshments, lunch, tea/coffee.

A GBP 100 non-refundable deposit is required for registration confirmation which will be deducted from the tuition fee. Full refunds (except deposit) are offered for cancellations made at least 14 business days before the course start date. Later cancellations are non-refundable, but participants will receive course materials and, if available, access to webcasts.

Durham Law School Alumni Association Discount

We are pleased to offer a discount to practitioners who are members of the Durham Law School Alumni Association (“DLS AA”) of 10% upon booking.

If you are not yet a member but you are a Durham alumnus/a pursuing a career in Law, irrespective of whether your degree was a Durham undergraduate or post graduate Law degree, you can join the DLS AA here: Become a member of the DLS AA .

If you are a DLS AA member (including if you are eligible and have completed the DLS AA application form), please choose the ‘Durham University Alumni Association Member' option on the registration form.

If you book before 30th April, 2026, you will receive both the Early Bird and the DLS AA Discount (10% and then a further 10% applied after the first 10% has been applied).

If you book from 30th April, 2026, only the DLS AA 10% Discount will apply.

Book your place

To book your place, please complete the form available at the following link: (link to follow shortly)

Course Credits

Upon completion of our Summer Course, you will be issued a certificate of completion. You must then check with the international office of your institution if you will be awarded credit for completing our Summer Course, but, in our experience, many institutions will allow this. Durham Law School will provide any necessary supporting evidence to help evaluate the worth of the course.

Travelling to Durham

Durham is easily accessible by rail (regular direct train services from London Kings Cross and Edinburgh) and by road (and, by air, via Newcastle Airport).

Accommodation

You can book accommodation, subject to availability, at, amongst other venues:

• St Chad’s College (venue for the Gala Dinner),
• Other University Colleges,
• Travelodge,
• Premier Inn,
• Radisson Blu,
• Durham Royal County (Marriott Delta),
• Hotel Indigo

Explore Durham

There are lots of things to do for a weekend in Durham: Explore Durham

They include visiting:

• The Magna Carta Exhibition,
• Durham Cathedral and Cloister,
• Durham Castle,
• The Oriental Museum,
• Auckland Palace in Bishop Auckland
• The Botanic Gardens
• Visit the Historic Libraries

Durham is also a train ride away from major cities such as Newcastle, Edinburgh, Manchester and London.

Contact Information

For course enquiries, please contact:

• Dr. Ylli Dautaj

Associate Professor of Commercial Law and Commercial Arbitration & Summer School Coordinator

Email: ylli.dautaj@durham.ac.uk

or

• Jessica Banks

Business Development Manager

Email: jessica.banks@durham.ac.uk

For any other related enquiries, please contact:

• Hayley Wharton

Operations Administrator

Email: law.operations@durham.ac.uk