34th ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy
Applications now open! image: @The European Space Agency
One of the most prominent activities of the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL) is the ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy, welcoming students at all academic levels as well as select young professionals currently active in the space or related sectors. Now in its 34th year, the course has built a vast global network of alumni.
The 34th ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy will be hosted by the ECSL National Point of Contact for Slovenia, the ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐ง๐, from ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐.
Throughout the course, participants will attend lectures delivered by academics, practitioners from international and national space organisations, and technical experts. The curriculum will cover international, regional and national legal and policy frameworks governing space activities and their applications. The main objective of the summer course will be to spark participantsโ interest in this specialised field and to provide them with a solid foundation for their future professional careers or further academic research.
Participants will have the opportunity to meet highly qualified experts, learn from their experience, and visit the premises of companies active in the space sector, intergovernmental organisations and other relevant entities.
The 2026 course will focus on:
- International Space Law
- Diplomatic Space Governance
- National Space Legislation
- Space sustainability and security
- EU and ESA space programmes
- Private and contract space law
- The legal regime of space resources exploration, exploitation and utilisation and lunar activities
- Careers in the space sector
- Military uses of outer space
- Export control
- Future legal aspects of space activities
The course will also include a mandatory group project. Participants will apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lectures and will present their work to a panel of judges. In addition, they will be supported by a team of tutors, experts in space law, who will be available to support them throughout the preparation of the group project.
Further information
See here for the selection criteria.
See here for informationabout fees, accommodation and insurance.
Note that ECSL is also looking for tutors.
Apply
The International Institute of Air and Space Law is the National Point of Contact in the Netherlands. Students enrolled at Dutch universities or of Dutch nationality or resident in the Netherlands have until 7 June 2026 at 23h59 CEST to apply for the ECSL summer course. The application form is available here and must be accompanied by a cv, (max 2 pages) and sent by email to airandspace@leidenuniv.nl before the deadline.