Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE INL3000

 
TITLE Selected Topics in International Law

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 8

 
DEPARTMENT International Law

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit is designed to train students in selected topics in International Law, based on a prior understanding of the principles they would have been exposed to in the unit offered in second year of the law course. It focusses on certain specialised branches of international law including: the Law of the Sea, Combating Maritime Threats such as Piracy, the Law of the Marine Environment, the Use of Force, State Responsibility and International Dispute Settlement.

Study-unit Aims:

1. This study-unit aims to present the student with specialised branches of international law to demonstrate the workings of the core principles in the over-all subjects.
2. The unit intends to present the principles of international law in context and as individuals parts of an over-arching whole.
3. The unit also aims to link the international rules studied with the national legal system.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the capacity to evaluate principles of international law and their importance in contemporary affairs through a critical written assessment of a particular topic/s; law.
2. Understand the significance of careful and precise introduction of international law into the Maltese legal system, again through a written evaluation.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to critically address both the theoretical and practical problems arising in various branches of international law through answering a number of questions focussing on a particular topic in international law.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Textbooks [Available in Law Library]

- I. Brownlie. “Principles of Public International Law”. (7th Ed, OUP, 2008).
- M. N. Shaw. “International Law”. (6th Ed, Cambridge University Press,2008).
- M.D. Evans. "International Law" (3rd, OUP, 2010).
- J. Collier and V. Lowe. "The Settlement of Disputes in International Law" (OUP, 1999).
- R. Churchill and A.V. Lowe. "The Law of the Sea" (3rd Ed. Cambridge University Press, 1999).

Periodicals [Available at main library / Lexis]

- American Journal of International Law
- European Journal of International Law
- International and Comparative Law Quarterly
- British Yearbook of International Law

Cases and Materials

- D. Harris. "Cases and Materials on International Law". (7th Ed, Sweet & Maxwell 2010) [Available at Law Library]
- Reports of the International Court of Justice [Available online]
- International Law Reports [Available at IMLI library; soon available in Law Library]
- International Legal Materials [Soon available at Law Library]

Selected Websites

- American Society of International Law http://www.asil.org
- Electronic Informational System for International Law http://www.eisil.org
- United Nations http://www.un.org
- International Maritime Law Institute http://www.imli.org
- International Court of Justice http://www.icj-cij.org
- International Law Commission http://www.un.org/law/ilc/
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta http://www.foreign.gov.mt/

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Students taking this study-unit need to have a background in law.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (3 Hours) SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Benjamyn Ian Scott
Gabriella Mifsud
Carmel A. Agius
David J. Attard
Felicity Attard
Simone Borg
Roberto Cassar
Omar Grech
Chris Soler
Patricia Vella de Fremeaux

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit