Master s Degree Programme in International Business Law and Public International Law

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1 Master s Degree Programme in International Business Law and Public International Law Public International Law (PIL) Structure and content of the programme for students starting in the autumn 2015 Master s Degree Programme in Public International Law is a full-time graduate programme that seeks to prepare a selected group of participants for a high-level legal career. Rapid globalization has brought about new and challenging legal issues that have emphasized the need for lawyers who can work effectively with multiple legal systems. Master s Degree Programme in Public International Law will prepare graduates to face challenges and create their own opportunities in this dynamic and changing field. It offers a wide range of courses on the role and place of law in the international world. The language of the Programme is English. The research carried out in public international law at the University of Helsinki is known worldwide for its critical and interdisciplinary approach that goes beyond conventional interpretation and systematization of international legal rules. The Programme thus offers cutting-edge teaching in numerous subject areas and encourages students to engage in developing a critical approach to and an awareness of the consequences of law and legal education in general. All courses are taught by top class academics with extensive experience in the study and application of international law. Master s Degree Programme in Public International Law is meant for graduates interested in developing their expertise in international law so as to cope with the ever increasing demands of the globalizing and interdependent world. The Programme is well known and highly appreciated by both private and public sector employers such as law firms, banks, multinational companies, ministries and courts. The courses included in the Programme are such that they demand the participating students some basic level of knowledge on international law. The Programme will improve and broaden the skills the students have obtained from their earlier legal studies. The Faculty of Law at the University of Helsinki is the leading law Faculty in Finland and one of the most prestigious law Faculties in Europe. It is focused on educating both national and international legal experts for the most demanding legal careers. All teaching given in the Faculty is based on the academic research work and practical experience of the teachers. Master s Degree Programme in Public International Law is an integral part of the Faculty of law and offers the students quality education. Staff of the PIL programme Teacher responsible for the Programme Dr Jarna Petman, Senior Lecturer in International Law, Vice-Dean Other teachers in PIL: Amorosa, Paolo Björklund, Martin Forji, Amin George García-Salmones, Mónica Hannikainen, Lauri Jacobsson, Johanna Jiménez Fonseca, Manuel Kari, Ville Keedus, Liisi Kivinen, Tero Klabbers, Jan Klabbers, Margareta Kmak, Magdalena Koskenniemi, Martti 1

2 Kremer, Jens Kuoppamäki, Riikka Lundstedt, Tero Minashvili, Ketino Niemelä, Pekka (TBC) Rech, Walter Reyes Tagle, Yovana Singh, Sahib Slotte, Pamela Soirila, Ukri Stoyanova, Diliana Tapia Navarro, Nadia Tapio, Jenni Tiittala, Tuomas Toivanen, Reetta Trommer, Silke Tuori, Taina Tähtinen, Lauri Wohlström, Kristian Zhang, Kangle Structure and content of the programme (120 credits*) 1. General studies (8 credits) 2. Compulsory studies (30 credits) 3. Optional studies (12 credits) 4. Advanced studies (70 credits) Public International Law (PIL) Coursework (50 credits) Advanced studies (70 credits) General studies (8 credits) 8 Research seminar exam 10 Compulsory studies (30 credits): Principles (4) Principles of International Law (4) Sources (4) e.g., Law of Treaties (4) Subjects (6) e.g., International Human Rights Law (6) e.g., The Law of International Organizations (4) Specific Problems (10) e.g., International Law and the Use of Force (6) 30 Research seminar Optional studies Thesis Writing Seminar (6) Optional studies (12 credits): 12 Total 50 Total 70 * Students who have completed their secondary high school in Finnish or Swedish in Finland must in addition to other degree requirements complete Finnish and Swedish language studies required for Finnish Bachelor s of Laws degree (5+5 credits). These language studies can be included in the minimum requirements of the programme (120 credits). 2

3 1. General studies for all master s students (8 credits) Orientation (2 credits) - Orientation course (1 credit) - Personal study plan (1 credit) Elements of Modern Law (6 credits) Teacher: University Lecturer Ari Hirvonen Contents of the course: Seminars, essay ECTS credits: 6 Level of the course: Advanced 2. Compulsory PIL studies (30 credits including Principles (4), Sources (4), Subjects (6), Specific Problems (10) and one writing seminar (6) Principles (4 credits) Principles of International Law Teacher: University Lecturer Magdalena Kmak Contents of the course: Lectures and exam Period: Autumn 2015 Credits: 4 Aim of the course and learning outcomes The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basic concepts of international law. The structure of international law o Nature and origins, sources, subjects, jurisdiction, powers and immunities, individuals in international law o The law of responsibility o International courts and tribunals o Sanctions, countermeasures and collective security The substance of international law o Use of force, law of armed conflicts o International criminal law o The seas, air, outer space, environment, global economy The context of international law How the course is completed and learning assessed: open book exam Sources (4 credits) Law of Treaties Lecturer: Sahib Singh Contents of the course: Lectures and an exam Credits: 4 Treaties are the sadly overworked workhorses' in the international legal system: whenever states aim to arrange something, they do so through a treaty. This course discusses the concept of treaty, the making, 3

4 effects, application, validity and termination of treaties, and in doing so will closely follow the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. How the course is completed and learning assessed: an open-book exam will conclude the course Subjects (6 credits) The Law of International Organizations Lecturer: Diliana Stoyanova Contents of the course: Lectures and an exam Credits: 4 Aim of the course and learning outcomes The aim of this course is to summarize the legal biography of international organizations, as well as their identity and position in the global governance (both legal and political) ecosystems. Instead of giving students information that is readily available in Wikipedia i.e. the names of UN or EU organs, the voting percentages, etc. we will examine the tension between IOs and their Member States, their legal structure (i.e. organs), the position of IOs in the international legal order (including the inter-io relationship), as well as other relevant issues like financing, powers, responsibility, transparency, etc. This critical approach will give students not only a theoretical understanding of the legal issues relevant to IOs, but also an insight into broader intra-, inter- and extra-io legal dynamics. The course will include the following topics (topics are not necessarily limited to one lecture) 1) Definition and legal theories. Short history, classifications. 3 legal dynamics 2) Legal Personality, Privileges and immunities 3) IOs in PIL Powers attributed vs. implied powers (inherent powers?). Responsibility 4) IOs in PIL Law of treaties, law-making capabilities, IO treaty-making 5) IOs and the Members membership, financing, dispute-settlement 6) Intra-IOs legal dynamic decision-making, organs, employment relations, dissolution 7) Inter-IO fragmentation, regimes, intra-un coordination (participation, observer status, cooperation), WTO-IMF-World Bank coordination 8) Civil society in IOs, Public-private partnerships at UN, transparency policies 9) Regional IOs EU, ASEAN, etc. 10) Federalism / constitutionalism / pluralism / coordination whereto next? How the course is completed and learning assessed Open-book exam International Human Rights Law Lecturer: Jarna Petman plus tutorials by Ukri Soirila, Tero Kivinen and Ketino Minashvili Contents of the course: Lectures, tutorials and an end-exam Period: Autumn 2015 Credits: 6 Aim of the course and learning outcomes By the end of the course students should have gained 1) an overall awareness of the history of the idea that there be international protection for human rights; 2) a solid understanding of the systems and documents of international human rights law, and 3) a more detailed knowledge of the law of the various supervision and enforcement mechanisms at international and regional levels alike. The course will consist of: (i) ten lectures (2 hours each) 4

5 Lecture One: Historical Background Lecture Two: Enforcing Human Rights: United Nations Lecture Three: Regional Enforcement: Europe Lecture Four: Regional Enforcement: Americas Lecture Five: An Afterthought: Minorities, Groups Lecture Six: On Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Lecture Seven: Right to Liberty Lecture Eight: Freedom of Expression Lecture Nine: The Right to Life Lecture Ten: Freedom from Torture and (ii) eight tutorials (1 hour each) How the course is completed and learning assessed Class attendance will count for 10 %; tutorial attendance and participation (presence; contribution to discussions and writing summaries of, or reactions to, the reading materials) will count for 40%; and the final exam will count for 50% of the grade. The final exam will contain a mix of short and essay style questions. Specific Problems (10 credits) International Law and the Use of Force Lecturer: Jarna Petman and tutorials by Lauri Hannikainen, Tero Lundstedt and Paolo Amorosa Contents of the course: Lectures, tutorials and an exam Credits: 6 Writing seminars (6 credit) A writing seminar focuses on basic knowledge and skills needed in writing a scientific seminar paper. During the course students will work alone or in pairs and progressively write a scientific paper under a topic given. The students will submit their work for the teacher responsible for the seminar and present their findings in front of the class. Instructions on how to write a scientific paper will be provided during the course. All students have to include one writing seminar in their compulsory PIL studies. In addition to one compulsory writing seminar, students can take other writing seminars as well and include these in optional studies. A writing seminar is always worth 6 ECTS credits. Writing seminars: García-Salmones, Mónica et al.: Writing Seminar: International Law and Philosophy II: Exploring Key Concepts of International Law (20922) (6 ECTS) Jiménez Fonseca, Manuel & Amin Forji: Writing Seminar: International Law in Colonial Context (6 ECTS) Keedus, Liisi: Writing Seminar: Ius ad Bellum: Theories of Just War (6 ECTS) Tuori, Taina: Writing Seminar: Moot Court Seminar on the Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights (22105) (6 ECTS) Tähtinen, Lauri: Writing Seminar: Historical Contexts and Moments in the Law of Nations (6 ECTS) Wohlström, Kristian: Writing Seminar: International Case-Law Seminar (20816) (6 ECTS) 5

6 3. Optional studies All students must complete at least 22 credits of optional studies. Students are allowed to take optional courses before having completed all compulsory PIL studies. The following optional courses are especially recommended for PIL students: Kari, Ville & Margareta Klabbers: Law of the Sea (4 ECTS) Kmak, Magdalena: International Migration Law (22102) (4 ECTS) Kmak, Magdalena & Tuomas Tiittala: Helsinki Law Clinic (10 ECTS) Kmak,Magdalena & Tuomas Tiittala: Introduction to Law Clinic Programme (4 ECTS) Koskenniemi, Martti: History of International Law: Sovereignty and Property (20920) (4 ECTS) Reyes Tagle, Yovana: WTO and Regional Economic Integration (20794) (4 ECTS) Trommer Silke et al.: International Trade Law (20904) (4 ECTS) Moot Court Competitions (16 credits) offered by the Faculty 4. Advanced studies 70 credits Research seminar and exam, and thesis 60 credits Teacher: University Lecturer Magdalena Kmak Contents of the course: Research seminar, project exam and thesis ECTS credits: 60 Period: Autumn 2016 Spring 2017 Level of the course: Advanced Research seminar and exam ( credits) The research seminar is an academic year-long project during which students will participate on seminar meetings, complete seminar assignments, take a seminar exam, write a master s thesis and present their findings in front of the class. The purpose of the research seminar is to improve the academic argumentation and writing skills of the students. The seminar also includes methodological studies. The detailed program for the research seminar is given on the first seminar meeting. The research seminar starts with a research exam. The purpose of the exam is to introduce the students to the topic of the seminar. The literature for the project exam will be announced later. Students have to apply for the research seminar by sending a written application to the responsible teacher. The application has to include at least the following information: full name and student number of the applicant; starting date of PIL studies and completed courses, grades and total amount of credits. No more than 20 students may attend the seminar. Thesis (40 credits) PIL students are required to complete a master's thesis, which is a research assignment with a workload corresponding to 40 credits. Writing of the thesis will be supported by participation in the research seminar and by the research exam. The topic for the thesis shall be agreed individually with the responsible teacher. Students are encouraged to choose such a topic for their thesis that supports their academic ambitions. The recommended length of a thesis is 60 to 80 full printed pages (A4, 12 pt, Times New Roman or similar, spacing 1.5, normal margins). The thesis must be bound and contain a summary page after the title page. Advanced optional studies (10 credits) See 3. optional studies above. 6