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: Inter-state Conflict and Humanitarian Law (LAWS11221)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Law CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course will comprise the study of conflict in international law. It will be concerned with the law relating to the resort to armed force by states. The law relating to self-defence will be studied. There will also be a focus on humanitarian law, in particular, on the law relating to entitlement to combatant status, on the law regulating the conduct of hostilities between opposing forces and the law on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. In addition, there will be a study of post-conflict issues.
Course description The aim of the course is to equip students with a critical understanding of the fundamental concepts of international law as it relates to conflict.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  26
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) Essay (100%)
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. The aim of the course is to equip students with a critical understanding of the fundamental concepts of international law as it relates to conflict.
  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 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. (5) Autonomous work is required, in the form of independent research and writing for the essay component of the course.
Reading List
Stephen C. Neff, War and the Law of Nations: A General History (2005)
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.
KeywordsInternational Law,Humanitarian Law,Armed conflict,War,Use of Force,Self-Defence,Cyber
Contacts
Course organiserDr Stephen Neff
Tel: (0131 6)50 2067
Email: Stephen.Neff@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Chloe Culross
Tel: (0131 6)50 9588
Email: Chloe.Culross@ed.ac.uk
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