Foundations of International Law  - This module provides a general overview of the nature of international law as a legal system, its subjects, sources and general principles, as well as an introduction to more specific themes such as the law governing the use of force, sovereign immunities or the settlement of international disputes.

International Law and Human Rights - You will acquire a strong, theoretical and practical understanding of the design and development of modern international human rights law. Special attention is given to the work of UN human rights bodies and of regional organisations, as well as the so-called 'dark sides' of the human rights project.

Advanced International Law - You will build on the knowledge gained in 'Foundations of International Law' module and have the opportunity to acquire a more-in-depth understanding of the nature, function and development of international law. As well as a thorough analysis of core areas of international law such as statehood, the law of treaties or state responsibility, the module explores recent events and developments in the field of international law.

Introduction to International Economic Law - This module will provide you with a general introduction to international economic law, with specific focus on GATT/WTO law and international investmentl law. You will be encouraged to think critcally about the structures of international economic law and their relationship with the environment, human rights, development and social justice. 

In order to complete the LLM in International Law and Global Health, you must take a minimum of 2 modules from the Global Health pathway. Elective modules are grouped in disciplinary pathways. 

GLOBAL HEALTH ELECTIVES

Global Health Law - This module aims to introduce you to the growing area of global health law. Included within this are: the global institutions in the area; a rights based approach to global health; pandemic management and response; non-communicable diseases and public health; and the ethical dilemmas in global health law.

Covid-19 in Law, Policy and Practice - Explore the unique challenges Covid-19 has presented to society. You will benefit from the most up-to-date teaching in this rapidly unfolding area of law and ethics. The module offers a range of expertise and perspectives, ensuring you benefit from an interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional approach to studying the impact of the pandemic. 

Healthcare Justice and Society - Apply and extend your knowledge of ethical and legal concepts, principles and theories in the context of practical issues in healthcare affecting the relations between healthcare practitioners, patients and wider society. Topics covered include: biomedical research; bio-banking; stem cell policy; criminal regulation of medicine; conscientious objection in healthcare; healthcare in international law. 

INTERNATIONAL LAW ELECTIVES

International Environmental Law - This module provides a grounding in the legal norms, institutions and processes of international environmental law, as well as exploring current environmental global issues such as biodiversity loss, transboundary pollution, toxic waste dumping, trade and environment, food security, animal rights and climate change. 

International Humanitarian Law - You will examine the international rules that seek to regulate the conduct of hostilities in times of armed conflict, with special emphasis on the rules that govern the methods and means of warfare and the protection afforded to certain categories of individuals (civilians, persons hors de combat and prisoners of war). The module also looks at mechanisms of international criminal justice.

International Refugee Law - International Refugee Law is currently a very topical subject arousing major academic, political and media interest. In the backdrop of contemporary refugee issues, the relevance of this topic is as great as it has been since the world wars. Although this module is delivered in the context of international law, it offers a study of the intersection between the legal, political, social and economic causes of refugees; the human rights and humanitarian dimensions of displacement; restrictive laws and policies. In doing so, it offers an insight into the plight of asylum seekers as they seek international protection.

HUMAN RIGHTS ELECTIVES

Foundations of Human Rights - This broad foundation module provides a background in which to situate the study and critique of human rights theory and practice. It begins by exploring historical, philosophical and structural aspects of human rights, including Enlightenment perspectives, theories of rights/justice, universalism/relativism debates, sovereignty and non-intervention concerns. The module then provides an important critical elaboration and analysis of the normative frameworks in which human rights operate, with particular attention drawn to the lacunae/silences in human rights discourse. 

Equality, Discrimination and Minorities - Explore conceptual and institutional efforts regarding equality, non-discrimination and vulnerable communities, and  examine themes such as race, ethnicity, indigeneity, gender, religion, and caste/descent in topical case studies. 

Human Rights and Global Politics - This module develops connections between global and local responses to contemporary human rights issues, focusing on strategies to advance human rights in the context of political violence and terror. This will include comparative analysis of the use of terror by states against their own citizens and how this can be understood and explained, as well as an examination of the war on terror and its implications for human rights in both the North and South.

ENVIRONMENT ELECTIVES

International Environmental Law - Examine the legal norms, institutions and processes of international environmental law, as well as exploring current environmental global issues such as biodiversity loss, transboundary pollution, toxic waste dumping, trade and environment, food security, animal rights and climate change. 

Environmental Diplomacy - This module explores a range of case studies in international cooperation on common and shared problems related to environmental protection and sustainable utilisation of natural resources. These include, for example: tropical deforestation, transboundary and straddling fish stocks, elephants and rhinos, the great whales, acid rain, climate change and the global trade in toxic waste. 

Dimension of Environmental Politics - Explore key concepts, debates, processes and discourses in relation to the political dynamics of 'the environment'. This module aims to be a broad introduction to the main facets of environmental politics and will cover the following three questions in environmental politics: How did 'the environment' come to be seen as a political question? How have political institutions responded to what have been called environmental problems? What are the challenges such problems pose for existing political structures? 

Climate Change: Governance, Power and Society - Climate change has broad implications for states and societies, yet the foundations of debates on the issue are clouded with uncertainty. While there is broad scientific agreement over the onset of climate change, uncertainty is great in the realm of politics where policy-makers are forced to make decisions that have potentially wide-reaching impacts on their economies and societies. This module provides an introduction to the main academic frameworks used to debate these questions, with a distinctive focus on comparative public policy. 

POLITICS ELECTIVES

The Changing International Agenda - The module offers an in-depth critical assessment of the development, change and nature of the international system since the close of the Second World War. This will include the rise and fall of the Cold War, the birth the UN, decolonisation, globalisation, climate change, humanitarian intervention and terrorism. Adopting a primarily empirical approach, you will explore the reasons underlying these transformations, and addresses issues of how we talk about the international system.

Comparative European Politics - You will consider the nature and role of fundamental political structures in Europe, including political parties, executives and legislatures. The module explores the ways in which these structures, and the actors within them, interact, as well as the processes of socio-political and electoral change, and the consequences these changes have had on European politics and democracy. 

Civil Rights in the US - Examine the issues of civil rights and equality in order to evaluate the extent to which courts can effectively generate social change. Explore the advantages and limits of using the law to effect social change, using legal cases and case studies to examine the relationship between law and society in the context of civil rights in the United States. 

BUSINESS ELECTIVES

Transnational Commercial Law - This module introduces you to transnational perspectives of law and commerce. Teaching will cover transnational law theories, conflict of laws, selected key challenges of international dispute resolution, and selected substantive areas of commercial law. 

International Arbitration - Explore the key challenges of international dispute resolution. The focus will be on commercial and investment treaty arbitration, and the main topics will be the available fora and applicable laws; an introduction to the function of arbitration agreements; as well as procedures under the New York and the ICSID (International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes) Convention; and an overview of the enforcement of commercial and ICSID awards. 

International Business Context - The purpose of this module is to introduce theories around globalisation, international trade and investment. It offers insight into a range of economic, political, technological processes that influence and are influenced by international business activities. The module brings together concepts, theories and case studies on various issues of international business context. 

Contemporary Challenges in Global Business - Sustainability and sustainable development are in the foreground of contemporary challenges facing global business in the 2020s. The aim of this module is to develop intellectual skills and deeper understanding of the challenges associated with a transition to more sustainable systems of consumption and production. 

MODERN LANGUAGE ELECTIVES

As part of your degree, you will have the option of taking up to 30 credits in Language Studies. Language studies, particularly in the core UN languages, enable students to increase their range of transferable skills. Keele currently offers courses in: Arabic; Mandarin Chinese; French; German; Japanese; Russian; Spanish. The list of electives may vary from time to time, depending on staff availability and sabbatical arrangements.

You will have the opportunity to write a 15,000-20,000 words Master’s level dissertation, addressing a legal or technological problem regarding new technologies. Your dissertation will be co-supervised by academic staff from the School of Law and Computing.