Postgraduate Module Descriptor


LAWM063: Human Dignity and Human Rights in the EU (MRes in Socio-Legal Research programme)

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The syllabus below indicates the key themes and issues discussed in this module.  It will vary slightly every year to reflect the latest developments in positive law and scholarly discussion on dignity and human rights in the EU.

  • Human rights in the EU: Antagonism or synergy?
  • Locating human dignity and human rights
  • Human dignity as a foundation of  human rights in the EU
  • Protecting human rights and human dignity
  • Interpreting human rights and human dignity
  • Taking a critical view of dignity as a foundation
  • Human rights and dignity without Europe
  • The EU without human rights and dignity

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
331170

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities33Two weekly 1h 30 min interactive workshops,. The first workshops will be led by the lecturer and students are expected to become gradually more involved in defining the workshops’ focus and in leading them.
Guided independent study505 hours per week over 10 weeks for workshop preparation
Guided independent study6767 hours for reflection, research, and writing the formative essay outline and summative essay

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

ECJ case law: http://curia.europa.eu

ECHR case law:  http://www.echr.coe.int/

Venice Commission: http://www.venice.coe.int/

 

Other Learning Resources

Cambridge Law Journal

Oxford Journal of Legal Studies

Columbia Journal of European Law

International Journal of Constitutional Law

European Constitutional Law Review

Public Law

German Law Journal 

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
A detailed essay outline and a fully written up introduction, to be submitted on a voluntary and rolling basis for each workshop.300 words1-7Feedback will be given for one outline per student, with individual feedback on the formative work and general comments to the group where they are relevant to the whole group.

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
A set essay on a topic determined by the student in consultation with the module coordinator.1003,750 words1-7Written comments on feedback sheet with opportunity for an individual meeting with lecturer for further oral feedback.

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
EssaySet essay. Same topic and length as original1-7August/September reassessment period.