Course description
Course Summary
International Economic Law is an increasingly popular discipline, which aims to give participants an overview of developments in international economic law and provide a thorough grounding in the institutions, rules and principles of international economic policy-making.
Students will gain a theoretical and practical understanding of the main legal issues arising from the globalisation of the world economy and will examine issues relating to the governance of the world economy and those arising from various types of international business activity.
Course Details
On the International Economic Law programme, you take four taught modules running concurrently through the teaching year from October to May.
Students must take the two compulsory modules:
* International Economic Law
* International Commercial Arbitration and ADR
A further two modules must also be taken, and these may be chosen from those listed below.
Note Candidates passing the International Commercial Arbitration (CORE) module are exempt from Parts I, II and III of the examinations of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (full exemption from the academic stage).
You will also do a dissertation.
Core Modules
International Economic Law
You will study the law governing economic relations between states, and in particular the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and its rules on the supply of goods and services, tariffs, subsidies and dumping.
International Commercial Arbitration and ADR
The main focus of the course will be on the use of arbitration to resolve disputes arising out of such international commercial transactions.
Dissertation
After the taught modules have been completed in May, if you are taking the LLM you will work on your dissertation under the supervision of a member of Law staff on a topic in International Economic Law, agreed between you and the Programme Director. This will provide you with an opportunity to deepen your understanding of a particular area of interest in International Economic Law. The dissertation is due at the end of September.
Elective Modules
International Intellectual Property Law
This course will focus on the European and international developments in Intellectual Property law. Students will review the national and international protection of Copyrights, Trademarks, Patent and Sui Generis rights. This will include the study of WIPO treaties and TRIPS as well as European legislation.
International Financial Law
The nature and function of banking, securities, and financial markets; European and international legal regulation of financial markets; the role of international financial organisations.
Public International Law
This module examines the law governing relations between States, including international personality, statehood and recognition, territorial sovereignty, immunity, the law of the sea, state responsibility, dispute resolution and the use of force and international human rights.
International Labour Law
The international structures, standards and processes developed by the international Labour Organisation (ILO) concerning equality, health and safety, child labour, freedom of association and other aspects of social justice in the workplace.
European and International Environmental Law
This will include the study of the framework of environmental protection in the European Union and the relationship with market integration; the enforcement of EU environmental law; WTO law on environmental protection and the relationship with EU law.
Note: modules are subject to withdrawal at the School's discretion.
Special Features
Law at Brunel
Law at Brunel University is well established and highly rated for its published scholarship, and well known amongst law firms for its distinctive undergraduate sandwich courses. It has recently been through the University's periodic review, which is designed to ensure that high standards of teaching are maintained. It has considerable expertise in various aspects of international trade law and European and international commercial law.
Brunel University
Brunel University has a population of over 13,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, including 1,600 overseas students from 110 countries. The campus is conveniently located in Uxbridge on the western outskirts of London, close to Heathrow Airport and with good transport links to central London. Most postgraduate students choose to live on or near the campus, within walking distance of seminar or lecture rooms, the Law School, and the library, and also the campus bank and shops and leisure, social and sports facilities. Uxbridge town centre is 15 minutes walk away.
Graduate School
Brunel University has recently set up the Brunel Graduate School, which offers postgraduates additional features for study and the opportunity to meet other postgraduate students from across the University.
Assessment
For each module you will be assessed twice, first by way of a written essay and then by way of a "seen" or "pre-release" examination, where the question paper is released a short time before the day of the exam. Each assessment is worth 50% of the overall mark.
Teaching Methods
The teaching will usually take the form of classes, involving discussion of prepared reading, supplemented by lecturing from the module teacher to introduce and consolidate the discussion. Use of WebCT, our online learning environment, will also help reinforce learning.
