Keele Badge

LAW-20112 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 16 September 2026

LAW-20112 - International Law
Coordinator: Prashant Sabharwal
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

N/A

Barred Combinations

N/A

Description for 2026/27

International law structures the relationships between states and the wider community of global actors, ranging from international organisations to individuals. It influences the lives of communities and people across the planet - and yet, its effectiveness has been under strain ever since the advent of modern nation states. The perennial question of international law is simple: When - if at all - do the interests of a broader international community prevail over the primacy of sovereign national communities? This is the central question at the heart of this module.
In this module, you will establish a strong intellectual foundation by studying the institutions, sources and doctrines that underpin the international legal system. Further, you will engage with specialist areas of international law, which may include human rights, humanitarian law, environmental law, international criminal law and economic law. These specialist areas will serve to help you reflect critically about the major challenges facing the international community – from war and displacement to climate change and global inequality. In dealing with these theoretical debates, we will deal with the broader realities of real-world questions, helping you translate what you see in the news into the precepts of the law.
In this inaugural year of the new International Law module, we have a further highlight lined up for you: Alongside its focus on public international law, this module will also give you a glimpse into the world of private international law. In a limited series of sessions, you will explore how cross‑border disputes are resolved in practice, while also considering how legal systems determine jurisdiction, applicable law and the management of international commercial relationships.

Aims
This module is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how law operates within the international community. It will explore the principles and frameworks that govern international relations. In doing so, the module encourages you to expand your perspective beyond the limitations of domestic law.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Appraise international law as a legal system and its differences with domestic legal systems: 1,2
Examine the various successes and limitations of international law: 1,2
Critically evaluate substantive areas of international law studied within the module: 1,2
Analyse international disputes in terms of applicable legal rules and propose arguable solutions: 1
Develop well-organised and coherent written and oral submissions addressing international law issues: 1,2

Study hours

Active Learning Hours:
Interactive Lectures = 10 x 2-hour sessions per semester
Independent Study Hours:
Interactive Lecture Preparation = 140 hours
Assessment Preparation = 120 hours

School Rules

N/A

Description of Module Assessment

1: Open Book Assessment weighted 50%
28-Hour Online Open Book Assessment
The online open book assessment consists of two parts (Part A and Part B). You are required to complete both parts, which will be weighted equally. In Part A, you must draft a legal memo addressing the international law issues raised in a hypothetical scenario. You will receive specific instructions along with a set of related documents to assist in providing the requested advice. The recommended word count for the memo is 1500 words. Part B consists of four short questions on the key cases and scholarly articles studied in the first part of the module, of which you must answer two. It is expected that you will demonstrate a clear and critical understanding of the issues raised. Each question response should be approximately 500 words. The total word limit for the assessment is 2500 words. The assessment paper will be made available during the Semester 1 assessment period. You will have 28 hours to complete and submit the assessment electronically – from 9am (local time) on the first working day until 1pm (local time) on the second working day. However, you should not spend more than 8 hours actively working on the assessment.

2: Viva weighted 50%
Viva-Style Oral Discussion
Prior to the Semester 2 assessment period, you will receive a curated list of key cases and scholarly articles relating to topics explored throughout the module. You will choose one item from this list. You will then take part in a 20-25 minute viva-style oral discussion with two members of staff. This discussion has two components - a deep‑dive exploration of your chosen case or article and a structured breadth component designed to ensure holistic coverage of public international law, including its specialist areas, discussed across both semesters. For the breadth component, examiners will select 2-3 short questions from a shared question bank covering the full range of topics. Together, these elements enable the viva to assess both detailed analytical engagement and wide‑ranging doctrinal knowledge across the syllabus. Aligned with the University’s Inclusive Education Framework, the viva is designed as a supportive, dialogic assessment that enables all students to demonstrate their learning. The focus is on your analytical engagement with the content rather than presentation or performance skills. All vivas will be recorded to ensure transparency, consistency and effective moderation and you will receive clear preparatory guidance in advance.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 16 September 2026