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LAW37720

Academic Year 2025/2026

Advanced International Law: Current Issues (LAW37720)

Subject:
Law
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Law
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Joseph McMahon
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module aims to give students with existing knowledge of international law the chance to undertake more in-depth study and research into contemporary issues that raise salient international legal problems. The module will discuss recent events which raise issues relating to the law of armed conflict (e.g. the war in Ukraine), international humanitarian law (e.g. the situation in Gaza) and international criminal law (e.g. the war in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza). However, the module will also look forward to assess how international law is dealing with continuing problems (e.g. the climate crisis, in particular the right to water and the continuing problems with the right to food).

The precise content of the module will be determined in discussion at the beginning of the module with four issues being identified for the application of international legal knowledge to a set number of case studies.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the module, students should have developed:
- a deeper understandings of the working and application of the international legal system
- an in-depth knowledge of contemporary issues of international legal concern (precise topics to be determined)
- a better understanding of how international legal problems are understood from a range of perspectives and how international law can be applied in practice to help to determine solutions or mitigations to contemporary issues of global concern

Students should also have enhanced the generally transferable skills and specific skills developed throughout their degree programmes, including the ability to conduct legal research (especially using international legal materials) and the ability to present a coherent legal argument. Students will be expected to demonstrate these learning outcomes through the combination of a mid-term research paper and an end of trimester essay assignment.

Indicative Module Content:

*Due to the nature of the module precise content will be determined at the start of the relevant trimester*

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

24
Autonomous Student Learning

125
Total

149

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The course will be structured around introductory lectures and guided student research. It will make use of enquiry and problem-based learning, structured classroom debates and case-studies, and student presentations. Students will have the opportunity during Office Consultation Hours to discuss any problems they are having with the content of the module or to further discuss ideas for assignment coursework.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Basic understanding of public international law. Whilst LAW30730 Public International Law is not a formal pre-requisite, it is necessary that students have either completed this module or an equivalent introductory module in public international law.

Learning Recommendations:

Strong foundation in international law. Completion of LAW30730 Public International Law.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): A two-hour examination in which students will be asked to answer two questions from a range of questions addressing topics covered in the lectures. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
100
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be offered through Office Consultation hours prior to the submission of the coursework essay and individualised feedback will be offered once this element has been assessed. Further individual feedback will be offered after the release of grades in relation to the final assessment.

Name Role
Professor Joseph McMahon Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 09:00 - 10:50
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