Master of Law in International Law Modules and Contents

This module provides knowledge of contemporary international law, including the main developments in practical international dispute resolution and the basic principles regarding nature, structure, and sources of international law.

COURSES

• The evolution of the international system and its impact on international law
• Introduction to contemporary international law
• Introduction to the European and German law
• The changing role of subjects of international law (States, individuals, international organizations)
• The rights and obligations of individuals under international law
• The responsibility of the state in accordance with international law
• Bases of jurisdiction under international law (territorial, extraterritorial, universal)
• The settlement of disputes in contemporary international law
• The structure and functions of the international court of justice and the international tribunal for the law of the sea
• International law and questions related to the environment and natural resources.

WHERE AND WHEN

• Autumn term (April - July)
• HCLA, Santiago de Chile

This module conveys in-depth knowledge of international trade and its current regulations, the economic principles behind multilateral systems and the structure of the WTO, anti-dumping prevention regulations and subsidies. It also deals with the evolution of the law governing international trade according to the fundamental rules of the GATT/ WTO and offers an overview of intellectual property.

COURSES

• Introduction of the GATT/WTO system: past, present and future
• The emergence of international economic law
• New issues concerning trade and the environment: trends in the light of dispute settlement
• Trade in services: WTO, FTA, etc.
• Intellectual property and dispute settlement
• Artificial intelligence and law: issues concerning international regulation
• Procedures for the settlement of international and domestic disputes in intellectual property 
• The Chilean cases in the dispute settlement system of the WTO
• The settlement of disputes under the WTO: panels, appellate body and compliance
• Increased competition in international trade: antidumping, subsidies and other issues raised by the WTO

WHERE AND WHEN

• Autumn term (April - July) and winter term (July - September)
• HCLA, Santiago de Chile

This module examines questions concerning regional economic integration, both from a theoretical and a practical view. It provides in-depth understanding of international economics and the economics of regional integration.

COURSES

• Regional economic integration in the European Union (progress and obstacles)
• The experience of economic integration in Latin America: a critic assessment (MERCOSUR, Andean community, Central American community, Caribbean community)
• Rules and principles concerning free trade and dispute settlement under free trade agreements, with particular reference to those entered into by Latin American countries
• Rules and principles concerning dispute settlement under the Chile-European Union association agreement
• Inter-continental free trade negotiations: negotiations of the transpacific free trade agreement; Canada-European Union free trade agreement; regional integral economic association agreement (RCEP)
• Dispute resolution in highly integrated regional systems (NAFTA, EU)
• Research methodology

WHERE AND WHEN

• Winter term (July - September)
• HCLA, Santiago de Chile

This module introduces the regime of foreign investment at international level, the role of the investment-protection treaties, and the foreign investment chapters included in the free-trade agreements, with a particular focus on Chile.

COURSES

• Introduction to international investment treaties and investment treaty arbitration, with particular reference to ICSID
• Diplomatic protection
• Investments and trade and the new European Union policies
• Further thoughts on fair and equitable treatment
• Direct and indirect expropriation, fair and equitable treatment and other standards of protection under investment treaties and free trade agreements
• ICSID: revision and annulment of the award
• The regime of foreign investments under Chilean legislation and international agreements
• Practical problems of investment arbitration/European energy charter

WHERE AND WHEN

• Spring term (September - December)
• HCLA, Santiago de Chile

This module provides knowledge regarding the aspects present in any international commercial arbitration process, following the rules of the international chamber of commerce and the homogenization of contract law, and highlighting the work of institutions such as UNCITRAL and UNIDROIT.

COURSES

• The solution of international financial conflicts and the insolvency of States
• New issues in international commercial arbitration
• The operation and practical problems of the New York Convention
• General principles of international contracts
• Arbitration rules of the International Chamber of Commerce and relating practice
• Arbitration in accordance with UNCITRAL rules
• Dispute boards
• International sport arbitration
• German arbitration law
• International commercial arbitration in Chile. International arbitration: unidroit and lex mercatoria
• Evaluation of the methodology for the thesis project.

WHERE AND WHEN

• Spring term (September - December)
• HCLA, Santiago de Chile

HEIDELBERG STAY (MARCH)

In Heidelberg students attend the following courses:

• Course: The individual and the State in contemporary Europe: issues in international and community law. 
• Course: Managing the international society under the rule of law: new challenges for international law  

In this module, students write their master thesis, which deals with one of the program’s subject fields. In their thesis students shall show effective use of research tools and correct citation of sources. This module allows students to conclude their evaluation with a scientific contribution.

WHERE AND WHEN

• Summer term (December - February)

The oral final exam should show that the candidate has a broad basic knowledge as well as in-depth knowledge in limited topics of the examination area.

WHERE AND WHEN

 

• During the month of March
• Heidelberg