International refugee law
Module information>
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