This course syllabus is discontinued or replaced by a new course syllabus.

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School of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences

Course Syllabus


EU Law and Public International Law, 30 Credits


Course Code: RV300G Subject Area: Field of Law
Main Field of Study: Law Credits: 30
    Subject Group (SCB): Law and Legal Studies
Education Cycle: First Cycle Progression: G1F
Established: 2014-12-15 Last Approved: 2018-04-03
Valid from: Autumn semester 2018 Approved by: Head of School


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:

Knowledge and comprehension
After the sub-course is completed the student should have an understanding of the following areas:
- Public International Law (PIL) as a system, its sources, subjects and fundamental norms
- the law of treaties
- the UN Charter and its role in maintaining international peace and security
- the law of territory and states
- the responsibility of states and international organisations
- law of the sea, humanitarian law and international criminal law
- the relationship between national and international law
- global and European systems for the protection of human rights and regulation concerning the protection of certain groups
- international institutional law

Ability and capacity
After the sub-course is completed the student should be able to:
- independently identify and analyse issues of international law
- locate sources of international law and construct legal arguments
- show these capacities in oral and written argument
- argue for various positions within public international law


Valuation and perspectives
After the sub-course is completed the student has the capacity to:
- understand the complexity and various factors underlying the effectiveness of international law and the protection of human rights


Sub-course 2 EU-law:

Knowledge and comprehension
After the sub-course is completed the student should be able to demonstrate:
- good knowledge of development of EU law (European Union - EU), its constitutional and institutional structure, the judicial order in the EU, the legal framework of the internal market including the rules on free movements and competition law, and its relation to national law of the member states of the EU.

Ability and capacity
After the sub-course is completed the student should be able to demonstrate:
- capacity to find the relevant legal sources,
- capacity to independently analyze the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union,
- capacity to independently identify and analyze legal problems related to EU law,
- capacity to independently apply the EU-law method to construct oral and written EU law arguments.

Valuation and perspectives
After the sub-course is completed the student should be able to demonstrate:
- profound understanding of EU law method and capacity to independently apply it in solving concrete problems,
- understanding of the European Union and the development of EU law from a societal, international, regional and national perspective.


Main Content of the Course

In sub-course 1 selected areas of Public International Law, its systems for the protection of human rights, and international institutional law, are treated. The duties and responsibility of states and international organisations are emphasised.

Sub-course 2 provides a deep knowledge and understanding of European Union's constitutional and institutional structure, integration process in the EU, its constitutional fundamental principles, as well as the internal market. The issues especially examined are the EU's legal and institutional structure, legislative process, judicial order, principles that guide the relationship between EU law and national law of the member states of the EU, the internal market including free movement of goods, services, persons and capital, competition law, as well as some other selected areas such as protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and its relation to EU law.


Teaching Methods

The course is given in English. The methods of study are lectures and seminars, and moot legislative procedure in sub-course 2, as well as individual study. Great weight is placed on oral and written exercises. Seminars in sub-course 1 are compulsory. Seminars and moot legislative procedure in sub-course 2 are compulsory.

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 - Examination, 12 Credits. (Code: 0101)
Written examination.
Public International Law - Paper, 3 Credits. (Code: 0102)
Written paper and presentations at seminar.
Public International Law - Seminars (Code: 0103)
Oral and written exercises and presentations at seminars.
EU Law - Examination, 10 Credits. (Code: 0203)
Written examination.
EU Law - Paper, 3 Credits. (Code: 0202)
Individual written paper and oral presentation at the seminar where the paper is discussed.
EU Law - Moot Legislative Procedure, 2 Credits. (Code: 0205)
Individual written assignment and oral presentation through active participation in the moot legislative procedure.

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 2010-10-19, reg. no. CF 12-540/2010), 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 (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Public International Law - Examination
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).
Public International Law - Paper
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).
Public International Law - Seminars
When the compulsory element is fulfilled the mark used is Participated (DT).
EU Law - Examination
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).
EU Law - Paper
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).
EU Law - Moot Legislative Procedure
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).


The results from the two sub-courses are added together to form the final course grade. The student may receive a maximum of 100 points for the entire course: 50 p. for the first sub-course and 50 p. for the second sub-course. To receive the final course grade Pass the student must have received the grade Pass on both sub-courses. In order to receive the grade Pass with distinction the student must have received a total of at least 75 points, of which at least 29 p. on the first sub-course and 29 p. on the second sub-course.


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


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).


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

Part 1: Required Reading

Dixon Martin, McCorquodale Robert, Williams Sarah (senaste upplagan)
Cases & Materials on International Law
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 800 pages
Klabbers, Jan (senaste upplagan)
International Law
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 350 pages

Part 1: Additional Reading
Evans, Malcolm D. (senaste upplagan)
Blackstone's International Law Documents
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 592 pages

Part 2: Required Reading
Nergelius Joakim, Kristoffersson Eleonor (senaste upplagan)
Human Rights in Contemporary European Law
Hart Publishing, 264 pages
Schütze, Robert (senaste upplagan)
European Union Law
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ca 933 pages


Additions and Comments on the Reading List

If there is a later edition of a book listed in the Reading list, the later edition applies. Additional articles and cases will be added for the seminars./Litteraturen läses i den senaste upplagan. Om en senare upplaga än vad som anges ovan finns, läses denna.

Additional materials of approximately 300 pages, such as articles and case-law, will be added alongside seminar instructions. This will be uploaded to Blackboard at the start of the course./Ytterligare material, t.ex. artiklar och rättsfall, tillkommer inför seminarierna omfattande ca 300 sidor. Detta preciseras på Blackboard vid kursstart.


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