Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW3024: Public International Law

This module descriptor refers to the 2024/5 academic year.

Module Aims

The module is designed to give you the opportunity to explore the nature and role of international law, to question your assumptions about the nature and character of international law in a global society as shaped by international affairs, and to develop critical perspectives on international law (including socio-political and historical). The module aims to introduce you to the necessary theoretical and practical application as well as contextual background of foundations of international law.

Focusing on the development of independent student research skills and critical thinking, the module aims to give you the opportunity to develop such capacities as are particularly valued by employers in the international community. The module also aims to draw on Law School research expertise by introducing you to the contemporary challenges currently explored in international law.

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 and critical understanding of the range of legal concepts, frameworks and principles governing international law, as well as institutions and mechanisms relevant to international law, and the ability to explain the relationships between them;
2. Demonstrate awareness and understanding of current developments in international law and practice;
3. Demonstrate a deep understanding of the role of the key actors of international law including States, international organisations and non-State actors;
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Make independent and effective critical judgement about the merits and relevance of particular information and make reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments;
5. Communicate technical legal information and argument effectively, concisely and reflectively, in an appropriate manner and in task-specific ways;
6. Apply knowledge to real and hypothetical situations to a problem or case study.
Personal and Key Skills7. Identify, retrieve and use, independently and efficiently, a range of resources, with minimal guidance;
8. Research a legal question independently and demonstrate competence in applying relevant theories selectively and critically in order to formulate and evaluate a response to it;
9. Manage time independently and efficiently in preparing for learning activities, to be proactive in developing your own learning, and to work independently to complete a specified task.