LLAW3044

General Course Information

1.1 Course details

Course code: LLAW3044
Course name: Public International Law
Programme offered under: LLB Programme
Semester: First
Designated research course: Not applicable
Specialization: International trade and economic law
Prerequisites / Co-requisites: Not applicable
Course offered to non-law students: Yes
Credit point value: 6 credits

1.2 Course description

Public International Law governs inter-state relationships and entities such as individuals, international organizations and so on. The scope and importance of public international law has expanded dramatically in the last century due to increased awareness and studies towards globalisation, escalation of conflicts, environmental issues and human rights violations.

The undergraduate course aims to introduce the basics of the core aspects of public international law, including the law of obligations, law of peace, law of war and human rights against contemporary contested scenarios at the time of the course. With a view to give the students a practical perspective there will also be a short introduction to the use of public international law in the domestic law context.

1.3 Course teachers

Name E-mail address Office Consultation
Course convenor Peter Malanczuk malanczu@hku.hk TBA By email

Learning Outcomes

2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course

CLO 1  To understand the basic legal techniques and concepts of international law.

CLO 2 To grasp the international law aspects of basic issues of current affairs in international relations.

CLO 3 To be equipped to engage in more advanced study and research of international law.

2.2 LLB Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llb-plo/

2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course

PLO A PLO B PLO C PLO D PLO E PLO F
CLO 1
CLO 2
CLO 3

Assessment(s)

3.1 Assessment Summary

Assessment task Due date Weighting Feedback method* Course learning outcomes
Case presentation TBC 25% 1 1, 2, 3
Conference simulation presentation TBC 25% 1 1, 2, 3
Research paper 4 Dec 2023 50% 1 1, 2, 3
*Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher)
1 A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle
2 Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle
3 Individual review meeting upon appointment
4 Group review meeting
5 In-class verbal feedback

3.2 Assessment Detail

To be advised by course convenor(s).

3.3 Grading Criteria

Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf

Learning Activities

4.1 Learning Activity Plan

Seminar 3 hour-seminar in an intensive mode in September 2023
Private study time: 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks

Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.

4.2 Details of Learning Activities

To be advised by the convenor(s).

Learning Resources

5.1 Resources

Reading materials: Reading materials are posted on Moodle
Core textbook: Paola Gaeta, Jorge E. Vinuñales & Salvatore Zappalà, Cassese’s International Law, 3rd ed. (Oxford University Press 2020, eBook version available)
Recommended reading list: TBA

5.2 Links

Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/