Postgraduate Course: International Investment Law (LAWS11131)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will give an introduction to the major themes and issues of international investment law. The focus of study is the rules contained in the network of more than 3000 bilateral and multilateral treaties on investment protection, as well as the growing number of decisions by arbitral tribunals in this field. Students will analyse the substantive principles of investment law, such as most-favoured nation treatment, fair and equitable treatment, and the rules relating to expropriation. They will also study mechanisms for dispute settlement in the context of investment disputes, particularly investor-state arbitration. Throughout the course, students will consider the extent to which international investment law draws an appropriate balance between investment protection on the one hand and the ability of states to regulate on key public policy issues on the other hand. Students will also look at the challenges of developing a coherent regime of investment rules. |
| Course description |
The course comprises ten two-hours seminars covering the following topics and themes:
- Historical introduction to international investment law
- Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITS)
- Multilateral Investment Treaties (MITS)
- Settlement of investment disputes
- Standards of treatment in international investment law
- Expropriation
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 50 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
20% essay (2500 words)
70% essay (4000 words)
10% class participation |
| Feedback |
Students will receive feedback in advance of the summative assessment as there will be discussion in at least one seminar of a problem question and oral feedback on answering the question will be provided |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Developed knowledge and understanding of the general principles of international investment law and related dispute settlement mechanisms
- Develop research skills in order to locate and read relevant materials, including investment treaties and arbitral awards, as well as skills in the critical analysis of these materials - by the end of the course, students should be able to build a reasoned argument concerning the interpretation and application of key provisions of investment treaties
- Students will be expected to carry out independent and group work during the course, both in preparing for class and during class exercises
- Students will be expected to participate in class discussions and make presentations on key issues, thereby developing key communication skills.
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Reading List
Students can prepare for this course by reading:
M. Sornarajah, The International Law on Foreign Investment (Cambridge University Press, 3rd edition, 2010), chapter 1
OR
R. Dolzer and C. Schreuer, Principles of International Investment Law (Oxford University Press, 2nd edn, 2012), chapter 1.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Please see Learning Outcomes |
| Keywords | International Economic Law,Investment,Investor-State Arbitration |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr James Harrison
Tel: (0131 6)50 2040
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr David Morris
Tel: (0131 6)50 2010
Email: |
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