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ESA/ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy 2023
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ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy

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ESA / About Us / ECSL - European Centre for Space Law

One of ECSL’s most successful activities is the ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy, which is open to students of all levels of study, as well as a few young professionals already working in space or space-related sectors. The course is now in its 31st year and boasts a large family of alumni around the world.

Applications for the 2023 edition are now closed. 

The 2023 Summer Course on Space Law and Policy:

The ECSL is happy to announce that the 31st Summer Course on Space Law and Policy will be locally hosted by the Ludovika University of Public Service from 20 - 31 August 2023 in Budapest, Hungary under the overarching topic of "Space, Cyber and Telecommunications Law".

ESA/ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy 2023
ESA/ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy 2023

During the course, participants will attend intensive lectures and seminars given by leading university professors, space industry practitioners and technical experts concerning the international, regional and domestic legal and policy frameworks governing space activities and applications. The main objective of the Summer Course is to stimulate participants’ interest in this particular field of law and policy and to provide them with a basic solid knowledge upon which to build or enhance their professional career or carry out further academic research.

Participants have the opportunity to meet highly qualified experts, to learn from their experience and to visit the premises of companies operating in the space industry or intergovernmental bodies, as well as other entities active in the space sector (research centres etc...).

 

This year’s course will focus on:

  • International Space Law
  • National Space Legislation
  • Regional Initiatives for Space Traffic Management
  • EU & ESA Space Programmes
  • Telecom and Satellite Aspects
  • Legal regime of space resources exploration, exploitation and utilisation
  • Careers in Space Law
  • Sustainable Uses of Outer Space Activities 
  • International Space Cooperation
  • Export control 
  • Military Uses of Outer Space Activities

The course will also feature a group project, where all participants must take part and which will be presented to a panel of judges on the last day of the course, 30 August 2023.

The course is open to 45 students from ESA Member States, Associate Members and Cooperating States, as well as 5 young professionals. For more information on the application process, please see below. 

Please note that the course is generally not open to working professionals over the age of 35. ESA and ECSL have a dedicated high-quality and tailor-made course for working professionals and government representatives, please find more information below: 

https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ECSL_European_Centre_for_Space_Law/ECSL_Executive_Course_on_Space_Law_and_Regulations

Draft Programme 31st ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy:

For this year's draft programme, click here or go through the slider below.

Application information: 

Students can only apply through their National Point of Contact (NPOC) in the country where they study or where they are citizens. If you are unsure which NPOC to apply with, please address your question to ecsl@esa.int.

A list of NPOCs and their contact details can be found here: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ECSL_European_Centre_for_Space_Law/National_Points_of_Contact

If no NPOC is set up in your country of study, residence or citizenship, then you have to apply directly to ecsl@esa.int.

The purpose of the supporting reference in the application form is for verifying the correctness of the application. The supporting reference doesn't need to additionally write you a letter of recommendation. Supporting references can be professors or employers (current or former), or you can also ask your NPOC to act as supporting reference.

The application forms and relevant instructions can be found here or below under "Related Links":

Students:

Students under the age of 35 and without having completed their final level of education with a higher level degree (Masters, LLM. etc.). For persons currently enrolled in a second masters degree, even if having completed a first masters degree, but not fully working or pursuing a PhD, the category of "student" still applies. Please therefore follow this category when submitting your application.

Apply to your local NPOC, or if there is no local NPOC, to ecsl@esa.int, with this year's form which can be found by clicking here or in the section "Related Links" below.

Application for Young Professionals:

Young professionals under the age of 35 who have completed a higher study and for example are either PhD students or working professionals should apply directly to ecsl@esa.int by using this year's form which can be found by clicking here or in the section "Related Links" below.

Persons who are pursuing additional higher education degrees after a already completed master's degree, also if working part-time are to be considered as "young professionals". Persons pursuing a PhD and working part-time are to be considered as "young professionals" and should apply within this category. Persons working full-time and pursuing a degree part-time will generally be considered "young professionals". In case of doubt or if you want to discuss your application, please contact ecsl@esa.int

Application for Tutors:

The ECSL will open applications for tutors for the 31st ECSL Summer Course. As a tutor you will have the chance to interact and engage with other young space enthusiasts, as well as some of the most prominent people in the field. You will gain tutoring experience and a chance to learn from all the lectures.

Tutors are usually selected from previous years' Summer Course students, as they are familiar with the structure of an ECSL Summer Course and have experience of preparing and presenting a group project. This is by no means a requirement.

Apply directly to ecsl@esa.int by using this year's form which can be found by clicking here or in the section "Related Links" below.

Important information:

For students who are citizens of, or studying in, ESA Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States, there is a course fee of 200 Euros, which will contribute to the accommodation organised and paid by the ECSL. 

Students will receive accommodation covered, as well as breakfast and lunches.

For young professionals who are citizens of, or studying in, ESA Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States, the course fee is 600 Euros. This does not include accommodation, but breakfast and lunch will be covered. Please organise this accordingly. A list of hotels will be provided once you have received a confirmation of participation.

Both students and young professionals are expected to organise and pay for their own transport, and are obliged to have a travel insurance for the duration of the course. The insurance should cover travel/third party liability. Participants are also expected to cover some local transportation costs at the in-person location, as well as living costs, although some transportation and meals may also be covered by the ECSL or local partners.

Tutors receive the accommodation and transport free of charge, but are still required to pay for their obligatory insurance.

Timeline for the 2023 31st ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy

Roundtable Discussion during the 2015 ECSL Summer Course
Roundtable Discussion during the 2015 ECSL Summer Course

 

26 April 2023            Applications open           
26 May 2023 (23:59 CEST)  Application deadline
10 June 2023 Application deadline for NPOCs to submit to ECSL
23 June 2023 Application results
04 July 2023 Deadline for confirmation of participation, payment and travel insurance

Previous years have taken place in:

Prof. Armel Kerrest, ECSL Vice-Chair, discussing with students after his lecture at the 2019 Summer Course
Prof. Armel Kerrest, ECSL Vice-Chair, discussing with students after his lecture at the 2019 Summer Course

1992 - Messina, Italy

1993 - Toulouse, France

1994 - Granada, Spain

1995 - Aberdeen, UK

1996 - Leiden, Netherlands

1997 - Rovaniemi, Finland

1998 - Brest, France

1999 - Geneva, Switzerland

2000 - Cologne, Germany

2001 - Nice, France

2002 - La Rochelle, France

2003 - Leuven, Belgium

2004 - Graz, Austria

2005 - Terni, Italy

2006 - Noordwijk, Netherlands

2007 - Noordwijk, Netherlands

2008 - Genoa, Italy

2009 - Lisbon, Portugal

2010 - Jaén, Spain  

2011 - Rijeka , Croatia

2012 - Pafos, Cyprus

2013 - Vienna, Austria

2014 - Geneva, Switzerland

2015 - Caen, France

2016 - Warsaw, Poland

2017 - Rome, Italy 

2018 - Helsinki, Finland 

2019 - Messina, Italy 

2020 - Cancelled due to Covid-19

2021 - Online 

2022 - Lisbon, Portugal

If you are interested in finding out more about the course, please contact the ECSL Executive Officer at ecsl@esa.int.

Related Links