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.

Learning outcomes: After completing the module, students have extensive 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. Thus, they are in a position to comprehensively assess the facts concerning the problems of jurisdiction in International Law and how controversies are solved.

Furthermore, the courses aim to provide necessary tools and knowledge to study other modules of the program related to international regimes, globalizing tendencies in economic and social areas as well as the solution of controversies. This should encourage students to share their professional experience in class to learn from each other. Additionally, students have comprehensive, fundamental knowledge of new developments and perspectives in contemporary International Law from a theoretical and practical perspective. Students should especially: understand the concept of subjects developed in International Law, from the traditional perspective based on the State to the introduction of the individual under the rules of International Humanitarian Law, International Law of Human Rights and International Economic Law. Understand the origin of International Environmental Law, its principles and the global environmental problems. And understand the evolution of the individual in International Law from the perspective of the development in the field of Human Rights, considering the main protection systems designed by the international community.

Credits: 7,5 

WHERE AND WHEN

• April to 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

Learning outcomes: this module is designed to give students an understanding of International Trade and its new regulations. At the same time, they can understand the economic principles behind multilateral systems and the structure of the WTO and thus resolve conflicts on a practice-oriented and academic level. They are aware of the scope of anti-dumping prevention regulations, subsidies etc. and can critically evaluate the economic integration in Latin America. In addition, they are able to follow the professional and socio-political discourse regarding International Trade and its new regulations. They also have the ability to work out more complex issues and legally assess them. Students will be able to deal with unknown case designs and can solve issues in the consulting practice efficiently and safely after having understood each stage of the process that takes place within the framework of the Dispute Settlement System of the World Trade Organization; generate a reflection on the experience of developing countries as well as a general evaluation of the system. Additionally, students will - understand the fundamentals and the main characteristics of technical barriers to trade, health and sanitary measures and intellectual property rights contained in the different bodies of the WTO agreement. - understand the specific case of the dispute settlement system in the Chile-European Union Agreement.

Credits: 5

WHERE AND WHEN

• April to July and July to 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

Learning outcomes: this course examines questions of regional economic integration from both a theoretical and a practical view. It covers the core trade theories under perfect and imperfect competition and applies them to understanding the pattern of trade. This module aims to provide an in-depth understanding of international economics and the economics of regional integration and to outline and assess the extent to which international trade theory and recent developments in trade policy analysis shed light on current national and international policy issues. The module also covers the formation of regional trade agreements. The topics covered in this module are relevant to gain an appreciation for how the world economy works. Students acquire an in-depth understanding of international economics and the economics of regional integration and learn to outline and assess how disputes in free trade agreements are settled. As a result of analysing and understanding the forces shaping the global economic analysed in this course, students are equipped with strong analytical skills which will help the pursue a career as an international economist either in academia, in a multilateral organisation, in the public or private sector.

Additionally, students will be able to demonstrate a solid understanding of international trade theory; be able to show an awareness of both traditional trade theory and the most important recent developments in both theory and empirical research on international trade; be able to demonstrate an appreciation of how these issues relate to current policy issues in international economics; be able to demonstrate a broadened theoretical understanding of economic theory and how it can be applied to analyse policy issue; be able to apply the analytical skills to issues associated with international trade and regional integration. 

Credits: 13,5

WHERE AND WHEN

• July to 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

Learning outcomes: the purpose of the module is to introduce the regime of foreign investment in Chile, the role played by the Investment Protection Treaties (API-BIT) and the foreign investment chapters included in the Free Trade Agreements which Chile has subscribed. Through case studies, students should be able to examine and understand in depth the substantive aspects of investment protection, in light of the findings and reasoning of ICSID judgements and NAFTA rules. Students will be able to deal with unknown case designs and can solve issues in the consulting practice efficiently and safely. After completion of this module, students can recognize possible double taxations and thus classify them according to national law as well as double taxation treaties and resolve conflicts in a practiceoriented and at the same time scientific level. In addition, they are able to follow the professional and socio-political discourse on and against strategies for international tax avoidance. They also have the ability to assess and solve complex legal issues.

Credits: 5

WHERE AND WHEN

• September to 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.

Learning outcomes: the students acquire knowledge in the field of divergent courses with a focus on international commercial arbitration and can independently solve basic legal problems and cases in the mentioned areas. The purpose of the course is for students to know, understand and learn to use the conceptual, behavioural, strategic and practical aspects that surround and are present in any international commercial arbitration process from its preparation to its closure, in accordance with the rules of the Chamber of International Trade. At the same time, students learn to understand the evolution of Contract Law, in order to distinguish its principles and analyse the current situation of the homogenization of Contract Law, highlighting the work of institutions such as UNCITRAL and UNIDROIT. After completion of this module, students can understand the central fundamentals of the most important concepts in the scheme of German Public Law. Furthermore, students can understand the basic structure of the German Federal System and the basic rules regulating the protection of Fundamental Rights in the Fundamental Law of the Federal Republic of Germany. This module is designed to ensure students are prepared for institutional visits that include a talk about the cases or topics discussed at the time of the visit in Heidelberg. The purpose of the module is to introduce the regime of foreign investment in Chile, the role played by the Investment Protection Treaties (API-BIT) and the foreign investment chapters included in the Free Trade Agreements which Chile has subscribed. Through case studies, students should be able to examine and understand in depth the substantive aspects of investment protection, in light of the findings and reasoning of ICSID judgements and NAFTA rules. Students will be able to deal with unknown case designs and can solve issues in the consulting practice efficiently and safely. 

Credits: 7,5 

WHERE AND WHEN

• September to 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.

Learning outcomes: the oral final exam shIn 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.

Credits: 16,5

WHERE AND WHEN

• December to Mid-March

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.

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

Credits: 5

WHERE AND WHEN

• March
• Heidelberg University/offline (self-learning) 

HEIDELBERG STAY (MARCH)

During the academic stay in Heidelberg, students complete the final phase of the program, including the finalization of the Master’s thesis (Module 6) and the oral examination (Module 7). In addition, students attend seminars around the following topics: 

• The Individual and the State in Contemporary Europe: Issues in International and Community Law
• Managing the International Society under the Rule of Law: New Challenges for International Law

During the March academic period, an extracurricular program includes guided visits to international institutions (e.g. the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg, the German Federal Court of Justice, and the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe). In addition, the Graduate Office of Heidelberg University offers student briefings on further degree and doctoral opportunities, as well as on the Heidelberg Alumni International network, and career opportunities.