International Criminal Justice, Second Cycle, 15 credits

Aims and objectives

General aims for second cycle education

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 9)

Course objectives

Knowledge and understanding
The student must be able to, after completing the course:

• independently and systematically identify, formulate and analyze the complicated problems of each area of law based on the subject's methods for legal interpretation and legal sources, and
• report on current legal research and legal policy discussions linked to the legal issues and legal rules that the course touches on.

Skills and Abilities
The student must be able to, after completing the course:

• independently and systematically apply and interpret relevant legal material with methodological certainty and argue for a convincing legal assessment,
• independently plan and carry out qualified tasks within given time frames, including searching for and managing relevant legal material, and
• independently and systematically present their legal assessment in writing and orally.

Valuation and perspective
The student must be able t,o after completing the course:

• critically and methodically evaluate arguments for and against different legal solutions and, in this context reflect in particular on the effects that legal decisions can have, especially on victims of crime but also perpetrators, including giving constructive criticism to others based on a professional approach, and
• reflect on ethical dilemmas that may arise in the work as a lawyer in the subject area.

Main content of the course

The course introduces international criminal law through the development of international criminal justice. Some important concepts such as impunity, complementarity, universal jurisdiction, individual international criminal liability are studied. The crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, the crime of aggression are in focus. The course also deals with the international criminal justice system, its nature and origin. The International Criminal Court (ICC) will be given a special focus. This is in order to differentiate between the system of international criminal justice in general, and the ICC in particular. International case law, international criminal prosecutions, rules regarding crime victims are analysed, child soldiers are reflected upon as is the value of sustainability and alternative responses such as truth commissions and amnesties are discussed.

Teaching methods

The course is given in English, part-time, daytime, is IT-based (distance course), which means that the course participants take part in lectures via the internet, and report their work results in the same way.

The teaching consists of lectures, group work and seminars. This is a course that places very high demands on independent work on the part of the student. The pedagogy is inspired by team or group-based learning and problem-based learning. The individual and group learning consist of key moments such as; 1) acquisition of predefined knowledge (via eg lectures, textbooks, cases, video links, scientific articles, etc.), 2) individual and group reading, presentation and discussion and 3) in-depth written or oral assignments. The learning is often based on reality-based problems, where students identify, collect and analyze legal source material of an international criminal law nature.

Training in both oral and written legal English, argumentation techniques and responsibility for one's own learning is a large part of the course pedagogy. The teaching is divided into a few lectures and in-depth seminars. The lectures aim to introduce and provide an overview of the main areas of law based on theory and practice. The seminars aim to give students the opportunity to practice more independent problem solving in the field of law and oral presentation. The seminars are mandatory.
Furthermore, the student must write memoranda with the assistance of peer review tutoring. Two memoranda are mandatory.

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

Compulsory Seminars, 1 credits (Code: A010)
Compulsory seminars: writing a concentration of legal cases and active participation in seminars where cases are presented and discussed; oral presentation of memoranda (PM) and peer review, written or oral.

PM 1, 6.5 credits (Code: A011)
Individually written memorandum.
If a student does not reach the passing grade, but is considered to be able to reach it with a limited effort, the examiner may instruct the student to submit a completed (written) assignment. The completion shall be done within ten working days from when the student is assigned the instruction.

PM 2, 7.5 credits (Code: A012)
Individually written memorandum.
If a student does not reach the passing grade, but is considered to be able to reach it with a limited effort, the examiner may instruct the student to submit a completed (written) assignment. The completion shall be done within ten working days from when the student is assigned the instruction.

PM 3 (Code: A013)
Individually written memorandum.

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).

According to regulations on grading systems for first- and second-cycle education (vice-chancellor's decision 2019-01-15, ORU 2019/00107), one of the following grades is to be used: fail, pass, or pass with distinction. 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 reasons.

Grades used on course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Compulsory Seminars
Grades used are Participated (DT).

PM 1
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

PM 2
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

PM 3
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Comments on grades

Compulsory seminars require active participation and oral and in some cases written activity.

PM 3 is only written by those students who have received the grade A on PM 1 or PM 2. PM 3 is voluntary for these students to write and may only be written within the set time.

The grades for the above-mentioned examination forms are weighed together to a final grade. To get A, A is required on PM 1 or PM 2 and G on PM 3.

Specific entry requirements

180 credits at the first level out of which 90 credits with increasing depth within law, including an essay (G2E) of 15 credits.
Additional requirements: English Course B/English Course 6.

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 web-based, runs daytime in English. The course demands a computer, web-camera, internet access and headset.

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 to 18 months after the changes have been made.

Reading list and other teaching materials

Required Reading

Cassesse, Antonio, (2013)
International Criminal Law
Oxford : Oxford University Press, e-book

Editors: Carla Ferstman and Mariana Goetz (2020)
Reparations for Victims of Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity
Systems in Place and Systems in the Making. Second Revised Edition, e-book

Additional Reading

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998)

Additions and Comments on the Reading List

Additional articles and case law of approx. 750 pages may be added at the beginning of the course on Blackboard