THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Law : Law

Postgraduate Course: International Criminal Law (one semester) (LAWS11219)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Law CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course focuses on the study of selected foundational aspects of international and transnational criminal law and international co-operation in the administration of justice.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  50
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 4, Formative Assessment Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 4, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 166 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) One essay of 5,000 words
Feedback Feedback will take two forms. One will be a feedback exercise during the course. This will consist of a written essay, in the manner of an examination essay question. The question will then be discussed in the class. In addition, individual feedback will be given for each student¿s essay.

The other form which feedback will take will comprise feedback given on the assessed essay. This will be provided to the student through the electronic system that is used for the submission of the essays. There will be individualised feedback for each essay.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. (1) There is to be knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of crime and criminality at the international-law level. This is to include knowledge and understanding of: the meaning and implications of the concept of crime under international law; the extent of state jurisdiction over crimes which is permissible under international law; the distinction between prescriptive and enforcement jurisdiction of states; mechanisms that have been devised to cope with transnational crime and crimes of international concern; the elements of the crime of genocide; the elements of crimes against humanity; the elements of the crime of aggression; principles of joint criminal enterprise; the working of the International Criminal Court; immunities from prosecution; and procedural aspects of the prosecution of international crimes.
  2. This knowledge and understanding noted in (1), supra, is to be put into practice by the student in dealing with problems which are not specifically covered in the course assignments. Existing knowledge will therefore have to be applied to novel situations.
  3. The application of generic cognitive skills will be required, in the form of reading expositions of basic legal arguments and case judgments, and then critically assessing their merits.
  4. Communication skills are expected in the form of participation in the seminar discussions. The course is not to be a mere setting out of knowledge by the teacher, but rather an interactive process involving the students. To the extent that students fails to participate as expected, the benefit to them of taking the course will inevitably be compromised.
  5. Autonomous work is required, in the form of independent research and writing for the essay component of the course.
Reading List
Geoffrey Robertson, Crimes Against Humanity: The Struggle for Global Justice (2002)
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills The students are to gain experience in the application of generic cognitive skills, in the form of reading expositions of basic legal arguments, and the critical assessment of their merits. Participation in the seminar discussions is intended to hone the students¿ communication skills. The essay component of the course is intended to give the students significant experience in the conducting of independent research and writing.
KeywordsCrime under international law,jurisidiction,piracy,torture,prosecute or extradite,genocide
Contacts
Course organiserDr Stephen Neff
Tel: (0131 6)50 2067
Email: Stephen.Neff@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr David Morris
Tel: (0131 6)50 2010
Email: David.Morris@ed.ac.uk
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