1. Identify the nature of international law, the structure of the international legal system and the basic elements of public international law.
Knowledge and understanding, learning

2. Analyse and apply international legal rules to international disputes and defend a principled and ethical argument.
Analysis, problem solving, application and communication

3. Communicate and apply clearly and concisely principles of international law
Communication, enquiry, reflection

4. Apply international law in practical contexts, including the law surrounding the use of force on land, sea, cyber and outer space.
Analysis, application, problem solving, communication

5. Identify how international law applies to individuals, international organisations and other non-state actors. Knowledge and understanding, learning

1. 15 questions MCT (weighted at 5%) assessing learning outcomes 1.

2. Attendance and Contribution to Workshop (weighted 10%).

3. Examination (weighted at 85%) assessing learning outcomes 2-5: A two-and-a-half-hour open book examination. Students will be required to answer some questions based on the application of the relevant law to a problem scenario and other questions which will require a short essay-style answer.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
Formative assessment during the module supports the learning and encourages progress. Its aim is to provide useful feedback to students prior to the exam. The feedback obtained following the marking of the formative assessment assists students in developing and improving their approach to the exam.

This module provides students with an introduction to law in its international context in this age of trans-national and inter-jurisdictional legal practice, with particular focus on public international law and its significance to the English legal system. This module will equip students with a general knowledge of a range of areas within international law as well as an understanding of the contemporary challenges in international law. This will enable them to respond effectively to a wide range of intellectual and professional challenges facing contemporary international lawyers. The module begins with an introduction to the development and nature of public international law as well as distinctive elements of international legal reasoning. It then addresses key features of international law. The following topics will be covered:

1. The sources of international law with emphasis on customary international law and the law of treaties;
2. The structure of the international community and participants in the international legal system;
3. The peaceful settlement of international disputes;
4. State responsibility; jurisdiction and immunity;
5. International maritime law and the law of the sea;
6. The use of force in International Law;
7. International human rights;
8. International humanitarian law
9. International space law.
10. International Criminal Law

The main mode for delivery is face to face learning. The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 150 hours of activities towards achieving the learning outcomes. These will be split between 36 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 114 hours of directed, guided and self-study, together with preparation for and completion of the assessment tasks.

Contact will include a mixture of small and larger group activities, much of it based on the principles of practice and problem-based learning. Learning will be organised into a series of sessions where students will be required to participate. Each week students will be expected to attend a two-hour lecture, as well as a one-hour seminar which involve discussion of answers prepared by students to questions set addressing the topic for that week. Each session will be based around a problem or issue, and students will work towards a range of solutions by specifying objectives, identifying constraints, obtaining background information, applying relevant legal principles and theory to the subject matter.

Large group sessions seek to establish an overview framework within which selected topics and rules of the subject matter can be more effectively developed. Students will verify and consolidate knowledge and understanding and will engage in more detailed exposition of selected legal principles, theories and debates.

The guided learning will incorporate a mixture of activities. The learning will be facilitated by use of the VLE platform and discussions/interactions between students and tutors. Students will be expected to be familiar with contemporary discussions in this area of law, and to bring a range of ideas to bear on the discussions. Thus, although there will be a framework of knowledge and understanding, students will be actively, rather than passively, engaged in the process of both learning about, and increasing understanding of, the subject matter.

The module will use a blend of teaching methods to enable different styles of learning to be facilitated. The differing methods will also be a platform for the development of essential skills such as intellectual skills, communication skills

• Crawford, J, Brownlie's Principles of International Law (8th ed OUP 2012)
Evans, M, International Law (8th ed OUP 2012)
• Antonio Cassese, International Law (Oxford University Press, 2nd ed, 2005).
• Malcolm N Shaw, International Law (Cambridge University Press, 8th ed, 2017).
• Crawford and Koskenniemi (eds), “The Cambridge Companion to International Law” (2012, Cambridge University Press)

The Module Handbook and associated materials.
The module Blackboard page.
Appropriate texts, legislation, cases and journals.
Computing facilities (necessary to access materials on the web and specialist online databases.)

None