Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW2144: International Law and the United Kingdom

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The module is designed to provide you with an understanding of the key features of the international legal order and the role that international law plays in enabling and constraining the UK’s action on the international stage. It will enable you to discover the effect that international rules have in English law and their impact on government decision-making. The problem-oriented approach will allow you to study certain specific legal and policy challenges in greater detail and to benefit directly from the research undertaken by members of the teaching team in this area. Overall, the module will complement your knowledge of English and European law by equipping you with a better understanding of the role of law in international affairs.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. demonstrate a critical understanding of the key features of the international legal order, the relationship between international law and English law, and the impact of international law on the United Kingdom.
2. demonstrate critical understanding and detailed knowledge of the operation and impact of international law in certain selected areas of study.
Discipline-Specific Skills3. demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of law and legal argument as a constraining and enabling factor for political decision-making.
4. apply legal knowledge to complex problems and apply judgement when presented with competing policy imperatives.
Personal and Key Skills5. prepare analytically compelling work that relies on diverse primary and secondary sources, employs appropriate interpretative techniques and presents a nuanced line of argument.
6. engage in debate effectively and to develop complex arguments and opinions with limited guidance.