Programme aims
- Provide students with an advanced conceptual understanding of the methods, techniques and legal principles regarding international trade law that is informed by insight based on scholarship at the forefront of the discipline.
- Set international trade law in its business and global contexts.
- Develop critical, analytical and research skills, and transferable skills.
- Enable students to understand the application of International Trade law in solving concrete legal problems.
- Produce graduates capable of working in the field of international trade law as lawyers, operational officers, legal advisers or researchers with governments and international and business organizations, and as academics.
- Produce graduates who can conduct independent research and construct coherent, well written papers.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: The fundamental doctrines and principles of business law as they pertain to the international trade of goods and services.
A2: Demonstrate and exercise independence of thought.
A3: The methods and techniques of implementing international trade law
A4: How international trade law is applied in various judicial and practical situations.
A5: Some areas of international trade law in some depth.
Learning methods
A1-A4 are acquired through large group interactive classes, which encourage dialogue between the students and teacher and between the students, and through seminars which allow for dynamic interaction based on directed, pre-set reading. A1 – A4 are reinforced by the formatively assessed Foundation Essay and independent research for the dissertation.
Students are expected to undertake thorough and in-depth independent research for modules and, in particular, the dissertation, which involves the analysis of primary and secondary sources. They are required to submit research of high quality which involves not only a thorough analysis of law but also of the economic, cultural, political and societal actors which underpin it. The analysis will involve a variety of legal documents that range from national laws to international conventions and it is based on the referencing of a wide range of resources which include reports, articles, books as well as conference papers and national and international case law. The essays in question form an original piece of research and require a high level of skills. Students will also be tested on their understanding and knowledge in examinations for some modules, to showcase their ability to think on-the-spot without support of secondary material.
Assessment methods
A combination of assessment methods will be used. Testing the knowledge-base for A1 – A4 is through unseen examinations, take home examinations, module essays, the foundation essay and the dissertation.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Identify accurately the issue(s) which require researching.
B2: Apply relevant primary and secondary legal sources.
B3: Reason critically, identify, analyse, and solve complex problems, even in the absence of complete data.
B4: Recognise, rank and collate items and issues in terms of relevance and importance.
B5: Produce a comprehensive, coherent and sophisticated synthesis of relevant doctrinal and policy issues in relation to a topic.
B6: Critically evaluate the merits of particular arguments and advanced scholarship in the field.
B7: Present and make a reasoned choice between alternative solutions or methodologies and, where necessary, propose new hypotheses.
B8: Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgments in the absence of complete data, and communicate the conclusions clearly.
B9: Demonstrate and exercise originality of thought in the application of knowledge.
Learning methods
Skills B1 through B9 are obtained and developed through discussion groups and large group interactive classes where there is an emphasis on group discussion and practical problem solving (hypothetical and actual). B5 and B6 are also enabled through lectures. All skills are complemented by class-independent reading undertaken by students in the light of guidance by lecturers and discussion tasks. Intellectual and cognitive skills are also acquired through written and oral feedback on coursework. In addition, learning is enhanced by formative assessment of Skills B1 and B3. B7 - B9 are learned through in-class discussion.
In addition, the dissertation requires students to identify a precise research question, to apply primary and secondary legal and other relevant resources, to critically assess major legal questions and problems and to suggest solutions or take side in a debate. The analysis involves legal, political, historical, cultural as well as doctrinal matters and requires the students to make reasoned arguments which should be well-referenced in literature and jurisprudence. They are required to criticise the existing parties to major debates as well as to take sides and choose between contrasting views. The dissertation is a demanding piece of independent research which requires a high level legal analysis.
Assessment methods
A combination of assessment methods will be used. Some modules will be assessed through exams and some through coursework. B9 will principally be assessed through the dissertation.
C: Practical skills
C1: Identify, select and retrieve up-to-date legal information, using both paper and electronic sources.
C2: Identify, select and retrieve non-legal information pertinent to issues of international trade law, using both paper and electronic sources.
C3: Use and apply legal terminology and legal concepts, not only in legal settings, but to applied problems, actual or hypothetical.
C4: Plan and undertake tasks in and beyond complex areas of law that have already been studied; and plan and autonomously undertake independent research in areas of law not previously studied.
Learning methods
A precise use of legal terminology is at the centre of the relevant analysis. The students are required and taught as to how to analyse a field of law which is quite well researched in the past and yet to be able to submit an original piece of work; it involves their ability to criticise, analyse, compare, explain well-researched questions or aspects of law which are yet relatively unexplored.
Skills C1 and C2 are developed through preparation for seminars and the large group interactive classes, and through research for the Foundation Essay and Dissertation.
In addition to traditional research methods, students are expected to use the internet and legal databases when researching their assessed work in order to find primary and appropriate secondary sources, either in on-line or paper format.
Skills C3 and C4 are developed through seminars by way of the medium of problem solving and group discussion.
Skill C4 is particularly developed through the Foundation Essay and Dissertation.
Skills C1 - C4 are developed in seminars, large group interactive classes, and the Foundation Essay, which assessment reinforces their learning by students.
Inclusivity is achieved through the use of Moodle to communicate resources and teaching materials, through different styles of teaching and learning and through different types of assessment, for example through ‘open book’ essays and the dissertation.
Assessment methods
A combination of assessment methods will be used. Some modules will be assessed through exams and some through essays/problem questions. Skills C1 - C4 are assessed through summative take home exams, unseen exams, module essays, the foundation Essay and the Dissertation.
Inclusivity is achieved through the use of Moodle to communicate resources and teaching materials, through different styles of teaching and learning and through different types of assessment.
D: Key skills
D1: A student should be able to: (D1A) Work with the English language proficiently in relation to matters of international trade law; (D1B) Present knowledge or an argument in a clear, coherent and relevant manner; (D1C) Analyse materials pertaining to international trade law that are complex and technical
D2: A student should be able to: (D2A) Produce a word-processed essay and other text in an appropriate form; (D2B) Use the worldwide web, e-mail, and also some electronic information retrieval systems.
D3: A student should be able to: (D3) Where relevant and as the basis for an argument, use, present and evaluate information provided in numerical or statistical form.
D4: A student should be able to: (D4A) Analyse a complex set of facts, where necessary in unpredictable situations, and apply relevant international trade law thereto. (D4B) From first principles, devise from existing international trade law a means by which to facilitate trade in a sphere where there has been none previously
D6: A student should be able: (D6A) To reflect on his or her own learning, and to seek and make use of feedback. (D6B) To appreciate when s/he does not know enough and needs to undertake further research.
Learning methods
Skills D1, D3 and D4 are acquired through seminars where students debate legal issues and problems, as well as the Foundation Essay, and the Dissertation.
Skill D3 will be developed, where necessary, in modules and assessments where students are required to read figures and statistics in the context of various empirical studies.
Skills D2, D4 and D5 will be gained in particular through the Foundation Essay and the Dissertation.
Skills D1 – D5 will be learnt through writing summatively assessed and formative course essays and take home exams, the Foundation Essay, and through the consequent feedback, both written and that obtained in oral sessions. Skill D5 is developed through continual oral feedback in learning and teaching sessions to stimulate self-reflection and personal learning development, including through researching and writing the dissertation.
Assessment methods
Skills D1 – D5 are assessed through essays, take home exams, unseen exams and the dissertation, including D3 where necessary.