International Law LLM

The Dissertation module allows and supports extended student research into a topic of their choice within the broad field of international law. This module incorporates seminars and workshop sessions which introduce students to basic research methods in international law. The topic must be agreed between the student and the supervisor and must not replicate materials covered in other coursework submitted for the award of the degree.

You will analyse the sources and subjects of international law, state responsibility, and the implementation of international law into municipal law, and gain an overview of the defining legal principles of international relations. You will also focus on the settlement of international disputes and the enforcement of international law.

This module examines the theory and practice of international criminal law including the basic principles of international criminal jurisdiction, and the personal and functional immunities. It also involves a detailed assessment of a range of specific international criminal offences including war crimes, crimes against humanity as well as genocide. Lastly, the work of the ad hoc international tribunals, the mixed courts and the International Criminal Court is discussed in detail.

This module engages with the international law framework in place for the protection of refugees and other forcibly displaced migrants to consider the contours of refugee protection and it limitations in responding to contemporary challenges. The module is underpinned by two key questions: (i) who qualifies as a refugee under international refugee law?; and (ii) does international refugee law provide full protection to individuals at risk of serious rights violations in their countries of origin? These questions are scrutinised through an in-depth examination of the refugee definition in international refugee law and the key obligations which States owe refugees.

The module provides a comprehensive overview of the conceptual legal framework under distinct branches of international law – with an emphasis on international refugee law and its relationship with international human rights law – to examine the ways in which these branches of law interact to protect refugees and people on the move. In addition to providing a thorough understanding of the refugee as conceptualised and defined in law, the module explores the limits of this legal framework by referencing current scholarly and practical debates in the field of refugee protection at the international and European levels. It engages with ongoing discussions by drawing on real-life examples emerging from the global refugee situation.

This module will introduce you to the principles of international law relevant to the development and use of energy resources. You will examine the principles relating to permanent sovereignty over natural resources, ‘shared’ resources and resources outside areas of national jurisdiction. You will also consider the impact of other principles of international law on the energy sector, such as international environmental law, foreign investment and trade law, and human rights. The module has a strong focus on the evolving international legal framework on the mitigation of climate change, and its impact on international energy law and policy.

This module covers the regulation of the rules and customs of war, including the status and protection of prisoners of war, the protection of civilian populations, the use of certain weapons, the status of combatants and belligerents, and the criminal consequences of the violations of the laws of armed conflict. You will gain a deep knowledge of international humanitarian law, and a thorough understanding of practice and law relating to key concepts, such as prisoners of war, combatants, protected persons, neutrality and war crimes. New forms of warfare, such as cyber warfare and drones, are also addressed.

The module introduces you to the protection of human rights in international law. You will gain an overview of the historical and philosophical background of human rights, and a greater understanding of the protection of human rights at the international level though the UN and regional systems (with particular emphasis on Europe). You will also study contemporary issues in international human rights law, such as humanitarian intervention, responsibility to protect, terrorism and torture.

You will study law and policy relating to international development, including the right to development in international law, international development assistance and poverty alleviation, and law and policy relating to overseas development assistance in the UK and the EU. The module will give you a greater understanding of the global challenges for development, and will give you the skills to undertake informed policy and advocacy work internationally.</p>

This module will introduce you to the comprehensive legal framework of the international law of the sea. It examines the various maritime jurisdictional zones recognised in international law, including principles relating to the territorial sea, archipelagic waters, international straits, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, high seas, and deep seabed. It also considers the resolution of competing claims to maritime areas and resources, including provisional arrangements. Against this background, the course will focus on contemporary critical areas of concern, such as maritime security and maritime crime including piracy, human rights at sea, sea level rise, the impact of new and emerging technologies in and on the oceans, deep sea bed mining, exploitation of offshore resources, and fisheries management.

You will be introduced to the various techniques and institutions available in international law for resolving disputes between states. This module examines diplomatic means of dispute settlement, including negotiation and mediation, and legal means of dispute settlement – arbitration and adjudication. You will also consider the availability of alternative mechanisms for the resolution of inter-state disputes, and the range of international courts and tribunals that now exist. The module refers to specific past and pending cases and disputes, and there will be a special emphasis on the law, practice and procedure of the International Court of Justice.

This module covers the institutional and legal aspects of the United Nations. In particular, you will focus on: the composition and functioning of its main organs (Security Council, General Assembly, Secretariat, International Court of Justice); membership of the UN; the provisions of the Charter dealing with the use of armed force; the collective security system; and peacekeeping operations.

This module maps the landscape of international and regional space law and engages with the disruption generated by new technologies and by new practices in this field of law, including the challenges and opportunities presented by privatisation of space-based activities. The module will tackle legal questions, as well as explore the social, ethical, and economic dimensions of space technological innovation, and consider the implications of new technologies for international, regional, and national governance, security, and economic prosperity. This module provides a comprehensive overview of the key issues and debates at the forefront of digital transformation in space and provides critical tools and conceptual frameworks that are necessary to navigate this complex and rapidly-evolving field.