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LWM60

International refugee law

Module information>

Academic Direction
UCL, Queen Mary University of London
Modes of Study
Online

In this course we will initially look at the historical move towards affording protection to persons who may be deemed to be a refugee.

We will examine what is meant by the term refugee, the classical definition, as well as investigating the main international instrument which determines whether or not someone is defined as a refugee. This course also covers the European dimension to refugee law, the rights of refugees and contemporary issues in refugee law and will give you a strong overall understanding of International Refugee Law and its ongoing importance.

Module A: The development of, and responsibility for, international protection of refugees

LWM60A

  • Historical perspective
  • The legal framework: The 1951 Refugee Convention and other instruments
  • Who is a refugee?
  • Assessment in refugee status determination procedures
  • Regional approaches to refugee protection

Module B: The EU dimension of refugee law

LWM60B

  • Europe and asylum: the history
  • The Common European Asylum System
  • Asylum rights in the EU
  • The EU New Pact on Migration and Asylum

Module C: International law instruments and rights in depth

LWM60C

  • The rights of refugees – introduction
  • Other rights of refugees and asylum seekers
  • Solutions for refugees put forward by the UNHCR
  • Pushbacks of refugees at sea

Module D: Contemporary issues in refugee law

LWM60D

  • Internally displaced persons and victims of trafficking and smuggling
  • Specific categories of people applying for asylum
  • Refugees from armed conflicts and temporary protection
  • Policies externalising asylum procedures

Assessment

Each module will be assessed by a 45-minute unseen written examination.

Sequence

It is strongly recommended you complete Module A first.

How to apply

You can apply to study a module individually as a standalone unit or as part of a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Laws qualification. (In either scenario, they must be studied in order.)

These modules also contribute towards the following specialist pathways for Laws:

  • Human Rights Law
  • International Justice
  • Law and Development
  • Public International Law

Apply via Postgraduate Laws.