Postgraduate Module Descriptor


LAWM084: International Arbitration

This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

While the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is anticipated that the following topics will be covered in this order:

  1. An overview of the International Dispute Resolution process.
  2. Introducing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and its major components—arbitration and mediation.
  • Identifying “international” proceedings.
  • Describing the several differing processes and distinguishing between them.
  • Discussing preparation of arbitral agreements
  • Discussing the more significant problem areas
  • Discussing the actors, arbitrators/mediators, counsel, witnesses, experts and the like.
  • Discussing the mediation and arbitration processes.
  • Discussing the concept of finality, as that term is used in arbitral proceedings.
  • Reviewing the many contributions of UNCITRAL.
  • Evaluating the function played by institutional providers.
  • Discussing the pivotal role of ADR in resolving international trade disputes
  • Discussing the prominent role of ADR in resolving disputes at international trade organizations.

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
302700

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

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled teaching3010 x 3 hour seminars
Guided independent study90Review of assigned text materials
Guided independent study90Review of relevant legal articles, relevant Academic and professional sources, and review of relevant judicial decisions
Guided independent study90Reading and preparing for the seminars, preparation of the questions to be discussed in the seminars, preparation for formative and summative assignment

Online Resources

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

There is a wealth of further online materials. You may find it helpful to look at the UNCITRAL website (where you can find the text of the 1958 New York Convention and related documents, the UNCITRAL Model Law on international commercial arbitration and related documents, the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules and the UNCITRAL Conciliations Rules, etc.), the ICC website (where you can find copies of the ICC Rules of Arbitration and the ICC ADR Rules), and a number of other websites, including, but not limited to, the website of the American Arbitration Association, the website of the London Court of International Arbitration, the website of the London Maritime Arbitration Association, the website of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), etc.