Course syllabus
EU Law and Public International Law, 30 credits
Course code: | RV380G | Credits: | 30 |
---|---|---|---|
Main field of study: | Law | Progression: | G1F |
Last revised: | 13/03/2020 | ||
Education cycle: | First cycle | Approved by: | Head of school |
Established: | 07/01/2020 | Reading list approved: | 13/03/2020 |
Valid from: | Autumn semester 2020 | Revision: | 1 |
Aims and objectives
General aims for first cycle education
First-cycle courses and study programmes shall develop:
- the ability of students to make independent and critical assessments
- the ability of students to identify, formulate and solve problems autonomously, and
- the preparedness of students to deal with changes in working life.
In addition to knowledge and skills in their field of study, students shall develop the ability to:
- gather and interpret information at a scholarly level
- stay abreast of the development of knowledge, and
- communicate their knowledge to others, including those who lack specialist knowledge in the field.
(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 8)
Course objectives
Sub-course 1: Public International Law, 15 Credits
After completing the course, the student shall be able to:
- describe public international law as a legal system by adequately identifying the relevant legal sources and explaining their importance in the doctrine of legal sources,
- identify and clarify legal issues of international public law in specific situations by formulating the legal issues within the problem scenario,
- identify and correctly apply relevant public international law sources within certain areas, in accordance with the system’s doctrine of legal sources,
- explain the necessary components for holding states accountable for violations of public international law by identifying the criteria and applying these to certain problems,
- construct public international law arguments in accordance with the established legal argumentation technique,
- independently and correctly apply relevant public international law sources to write and present oral and written public international law arguments.
Sub-course 2: EU Law, 15 Credits
After completing the course, the student shall be able to:
- explain correctly the development of European Union (EU) law, its doctrine of legal sources, its institutional structure, the court system and the judicial order in the EU as well as their function in relation to the Member States’ national legal orders, the foundations of the internal market including the free movements and competition law, and the relationship between EU law and national law,
- correctly identify and clarify legal issues related to EU law in specific situations by formulating the legal issues within the problem scenarios,
- identify and correctly apply relevant EU law sources within certain areas in accordance with its doctrine of legal sources,
- explain and analyse the case-law of the EU courts and its importance in relation to EU law and the EU legal method,
- independently and correctly apply EU law and the EU legal method to write and present oral and written EU law arguments.
Main content of the course
Public International Law, 15 Credits
In sub-course 1, selected areas of Public International Law are treated. These areas include Public International Law as a legal system (its legal sources, subjects and underlying legal norms), the law of treaties, the UN Charter and its importance for international peace and security, norms related to states and territories, responsibility of state and international organisations, law of the sea, humanitarian law, international criminal law, the relation between international and national law, global and European systems and regulations for the protection of human rights and protection for specific groups and constitutional law for inter-state organisations.
EU Law, 15 Credits
Sub-course 2 provides in-depth knowledge and understanding of the European Union (EU)’s constitutional and institutional structure in the EU, the European integration process in the EU, fundamental constitutional principles and the internal market. Issues especially examined are the legal and institutional structure of the EU, the legislative process in the EU, the courts system and the judicial order in the EU and their function in relation to the Member States’ national legal orders, principles which govern the relationship between EU law and the national law of the EU’s Member States, the internal market including the free movement of goods, services, persons and capital, competition law, as well as other selected areas such as the protection of fundamental rights in the EU and its relation to EU law.
Teaching methods
The methods of study are in the form of lectures, a moot court competition (sub-course 2) and seminars in English. Independent studies, in accordance with the teachers’ instructions, are of great importance in the course. Great emphasis is placed on tasks requiring oral and written exercises.
Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.
Examination methods
Public International Law
Public International Law - Examination, 10 credits (Code: A004)
Written examination.
Public International Law - Memorandum, 3 credits (Code: A005)
Examination by a written memorandum and oral presentations in seminars where the memorandum is discussed. If a student does not reach the passing grade, but is close to a passing grade, the examiner may decide on completion and give the student instructions to be implemented within two weeks from when the student is assigned the instruction.
Public International Law - Seminars, 2 credits (Code: A006)
Examination by oral and written presentations and discussions. If a student does not reach the passing grade, but is close to a passing grade, the examiner may decide on completion and give the student instructions to be implemented within two weeks from when the student is assigned the instruction.
EU Law
EU Law - Examination, 10 credits (Code: B001)
Written examination.
EU Law – Memorandum, 3 credits (Code: B005)
Examination by a written memorandum and oral presentations in seminars where the memorandum is discussed. If a student does not reach the passing grade, but is close to a passing grade, the examiner may decide on completion and instruction the student to submit a completed written assignment within two weeks from when the student is assigned the instruction.
EU law - Moot Court Competition, 2 credits (Code: B006)
Examination by an assignment, which is written either individually or in a group, and an oral presentation and discussions through active participation in the moot court competition.
For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other forms of examinations.
For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).
Grades
According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).
In accordance with university regulations regarding grading systems for first and second-cycle courses (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades shall be used: Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). For courses that are included in an international Master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the grading scale of A-F shall be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds.
Grades used on course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).
Public International Law - Examination
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).
Public International Law - Memorandum
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).
Public International Law - Seminars
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).
EU Law - Examination
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).
EU Law – Memorandum
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).
EU law - Moot Court Competition
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).
For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).
Comments on grades
The course grade will be a weighted average of all examinations’ grades.
Specific entry requirements
Basic Course in Law, 30 ECTS credits.
For further information, see the university's admission regulations (in Swedish).
Transfer of credits for previous studies
Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.
For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).
Other provisions
The course is taught in English.
An examination that a student has failed because of non-attendance or for other reasons, where there is no possibility to receive instructions to do additional work in order to pass, can be re-examined if the conditions for a re-examination exist. Otherwise, the student has the opportunity to participate in the examination the next occasion when the course runs. Note that because of the nature of the examination for the Moot Court Competition (Code B006), a student who misses the examination has the opportunity to complete the examination the next occasion when the course runs.
Transitional provisions
For a course that has been cancelled or significantly changed in content or scope, there may be examinations on three occasions within 12-18 months after the changes have been made.
Reading list and other teaching materials
Public International Law, 15 Credits
Required reading
Dixon Martin, McCorquodale; Robert, Williams Sarah
Cases & Materials on International Law
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 800 pages
Klabbers, Jan
International Law
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 350 pages
Additional reading
Evans, Malcolm D.
Blackstone's International Law Documents
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 592 pages
EU Law, 15 Credits
Required reading
Schütze, Robert (latest edition)
European Union Law
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ca 933 pages
Additions and Comments on the Reading List
Always the latest edition of the books on the reading list are used.
Additional materials of approximately 300 pages, such as articles and case-law, are also part of the required reading.