THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Law : Law

Postgraduate Course: International Investment Law (LAWS11131)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Law CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will give an introduction to the major themes and issues of international investment law. The focus of study is the rules contained in the network of more than 3000 bilateral and multilateral treaties on investment protection, as well as the growing number of decisions by arbitral tribunals in this field. Students will analyse the substantive principles of investment law, such as most-favoured nation treatment, fair and equitable treatment, and the rules relating to expropriation. They will also study mechanisms for dispute settlement in the context of investment disputes, particularly investor-state arbitration. Throughout the course, students will consider the extent to which international investment law draws an appropriate balance between investment protection on the one hand and the ability of states to regulate on key public policy issues on the other hand. Students will also look at the challenges of developing a coherent regime of investment rules.
Course description The course comprises ten two-hours seminars covering the following topics and themes:

- Historical introduction to international investment law
- Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITS)
- Multilateral Investment Treaties (MITS)
- Settlement of investment disputes
- Standards of treatment in international investment law
- Expropriation
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed:
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  50
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 176 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) * 30% essay (2000 words)
* 60% essay (4000 words)
* 10% class participation
Feedback Students will receive feedback in advance of the summative assessment as there will be discussion in at least one seminar of a problem question and oral feedback on answering the question will be provided
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Developed knowledge and understanding of the general principles of international investment law and related dispute settlement mechanisms
  2. Develop research skills in order to locate and read relevant materials, including investment treaties and arbitral awards, as well as skills in the critical analysis of these materials - by the end of the course, students should be able to build a reasoned argument concerning the interpretation and application of key provisions of investment treaties
  3. Students will be expected to carry out independent and group work during the course, both in preparing for class and during class exercises
  4. Students will be expected to participate in class discussions and make presentations on key issues, thereby developing key communication skills.
Reading List
Students can prepare for this course by reading:

M. Sornarajah, The International Law on Foreign Investment (Cambridge University Press, 3rd edition, 2010), chapter 1

OR

R. Dolzer and C. Schreuer, Principles of International Investment Law (Oxford University Press, 2nd edn, 2012), chapter 1.

Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Please see Learning Outcomes
KeywordsInternational Economic Law,Investment,Investor-State Arbitration
Contacts
Course organiserDr Filippo Fontanelli
Tel: (0131 6)51 3781
Email: Filippo.Fontanelli@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Chloe Culross
Tel: (0131 6)50 9588
Email: Chloe.Culross@ed.ac.uk
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