Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW3204: Migrants, Refugees and Citizens in the UK

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Module Aims

This module will provide you with an understanding of key elements of the UK law on citizenship, refugees and immigration, placing them in their historical, political and social context, and explaining how they have been shaped by the UK’s international obligations, particularly human rights and refugee law. You will have the opportunity to think critically and analytically about how the law has evolved and whether change is needed to ensure that the issues arising in this area are resolved fairly and in accordance with values of human rights and non-discrimination.

You will gain insight into key policy areas including how the UK determines who is or is not a citizen, the rights that attach to citizenship, and how nationality law reflects the UK’s history as an imperial power. You will learn about the legal structure of immigration control, the extent and limits of government power and how its exercise may be challenged.  We will also consider the role of human rights and refugee law and the position of some specific groups such as asylum seekers and refugees, families and children, EU citizens, and vulnerable and trafficked workers. 

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 knowledge of the main sources, history and current framework of immigration, nationality and asylum law in the UK and of some concepts, values and principles relevant to its application;
2. Demonstrate critical awareness of some of the social, political and historical implications of immigration, nationality and asylum law in the UK;
Discipline-Specific Skills3. Research, assess and integrate relevant information and ideas from primary and secondary legal and academic sources using appropriate interpretative techniques;
4. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of legal concepts and their contextual/social/political implications;
Personal and Key Skills5. Present, coherently and reflectively, accurate and relevant legal, theoretical and other arguments;
6. Work independently and manage time efficiently in preparing for scheduled learning activities, exercises and assessments.