The degree is awarded on the basis of nine final examinations at the end of the three-year course (or four years in the case of Law with Law Studies in Europe). Phase II of the Final Honour School includes the first and second term of the final year; the Final Examinations are taken in the third term of the final year.

There has never been a more exciting time to study Public International Law (PIL). Issues of PIL and international justice are at the forefront of public debates to a greater degree than ever before. International law provides the technical and intellectual underpinnings to large areas of international co-operation, including the prosecution of war crimes (both internationally and nationally), the legality of the use of force against States (e.g. Iraq), environmental protection, the scope of human rights protection (e.g. the ‘war on terrorism’), the economic effects of globalisation promoted through the work of institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the settlement of land and maritime boundary disputes, and the resolution of jurisdictional conflicts arising in the context of anti-trust and other forms of economic regulation by States. PIL today not only impacts and shapes decisions by States to a greater degree than ever before, but it also penetrates into the national legal order – often through national court decisions – to give rights to individuals and corporations to an extent that is unrivalled in the history of the subject. These developments have in turn led to the growth of lawyers and law firms who specialise in the practice of PIL. This is in addition to the demand for PIL lawyers in governments, inter-governmental organizations (such as the United Nations and the large number of UN Specialized Agencies), and non-governmental organizations.. For those who do not intend to follow a career in international law, the subject provides a broad sweep of issues which illuminate not merely questions of international law but the problems and processes of the world of diplomacy. The PIL course at Oxford covers the major areas of general international law and is not over-specialized. The lectures cover the core tutorial topics on the nature and sources of international law, the law of treaties, international legal personality, jurisdiction and immunities, the law of foreign investment, State responsibility, the use of force and the procedures for peaceful settlement of disputes. In addition, the lectures introduce students to special areas such the law of the sea, international criminal law, international environmental law, international economic law and investment arbitration. The consideration of these subject areas takes place within their broader policy context and having regard to recent experience. Although in principle the syllabus is extensive, both the teaching practice and the mode of setting the FHS paper avoid any drawbacks which might result from this wide scope. Thus, different teachers will focus on different selected topics, and the student will find that it is not necessary to know the whole syllabus from A to Z. In the same context, the Schools paper provides a wide selection of questions.

A one-year sample of courses from our BA programmes, aimed only at students visiting from our partner universities.

There has never been a more exciting time to study Public International Law (PIL). Issues of PIL and international justice are at the forefront of public debates to a greater degree than ever before. International law provides the technical and intellectual underpinnings to large areas of international co-operation, including the prosecution of war crimes (both internationally and nationally), the legality of the use of force against States (e.g. Iraq), environmental protection, the scope of human rights protection (e.g. the ‘war on terrorism’), the economic effects of globalisation promoted through the work of institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the settlement of land and maritime boundary disputes, and the resolution of jurisdictional conflicts arising in the context of anti-trust and other forms of economic regulation by States. PIL today not only impacts and shapes decisions by States to a greater degree than ever before, but it also penetrates into the national legal order – often through national court decisions – to give rights to individuals and corporations to an extent that is unrivalled in the history of the subject. These developments have in turn led to the growth of lawyers and law firms who specialise in the practice of PIL. This is in addition to the demand for PIL lawyers in governments, inter-governmental organizations (such as the United Nations and the large number of UN Specialized Agencies), and non-governmental organizations.. For those who do not intend to follow a career in international law, the subject provides a broad sweep of issues which illuminate not merely questions of international law but the problems and processes of the world of diplomacy. The PIL course at Oxford covers the major areas of general international law and is not over-specialized. The lectures cover the core tutorial topics on the nature and sources of international law, the law of treaties, international legal personality, jurisdiction and immunities, the law of foreign investment, State responsibility, the use of force and the procedures for peaceful settlement of disputes. In addition, the lectures introduce students to special areas such the law of the sea, international criminal law, international environmental law, international economic law and investment arbitration. The consideration of these subject areas takes place within their broader policy context and having regard to recent experience. Although in principle the syllabus is extensive, both the teaching practice and the mode of setting the FHS paper avoid any drawbacks which might result from this wide scope. Thus, different teachers will focus on different selected topics, and the student will find that it is not necessary to know the whole syllabus from A to Z. In the same context, the Schools paper provides a wide selection of questions.

The process of European integration has entailed a transfer of foreign relations powers from the Member States to the European Union (EU) that does not follow the lines of any other legal development. It is different from the experience of federal States, in so far as the devolution of foreign relations powers is only partial, and it has certainly not entailed the disappearance of the Member States as international legal persons. On the other hand, the quantity and the quality of the functions exercised by the EU on the international plane, and its capacity to develop its own course of foreign relations, makes it an entity with few, if any, traces of resemblance with other existing international organisations.

The course deals with questions at the intersection of European law, public international law, and international relations. It looks both to the inside, giving an overview of the foreign relations law of the EU, and to the outside, examining the legal framework in which the EU acts on the international plane. Looking at some of the core areas of international law, the course examines the problems of and prospects for a supra-national actor in a legal system which is still largely dominated by States. The ultimate question to be explored: Is international law adapting to a new actor or must the EU assume statehood to be a full actor in international law?

The course covers the following topics: the foreign relations law of the EU, the relationship between international law and European law, treaty relations of the EU and its member States (mixed agreements), the EU as a creator of customary international law, the EU as a member of international organizations and a party before international tribunals, international relations and diplomatic powers of the EU, promotion and enforcement of international law by the EU (sanctions, human rights, standards of democratic governance), the transatlantic divide between the EU and the US on matters of international law, violations of international law by the EU and its member States and their international responsibility.

The course is directed at graduates with an interest both in international law and European law. Basic knowledge of these subjects is an advantage. Students without such knowledge will be directed to basic reading in these fields.

The course on International Dispute Settlement is concerned with the peaceful settlement of disputes involving the application of international law, including inter-State disputes, and disputes between States and individuals or corporations.

One part of the course is concerned with the study of a range of institutions concerned with dispute settlement such as arbitral tribunals, the International Court of Justice, and more specialised bodies such as the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, the World Trade Organisation, and other institutions handling economic and political disputes. The institutions selected for study vary from year to year.

The second part of the course provides an outline of the principles of procedural law that operate in international tribunals, including international commercial arbitration tribunals. This part of the course involves the study of issues such as jurisdiction and admissibility, the determination of law governing procedure and the law governing the merits of a case, remedies, the recognition and enforcement of judgments and awards, and the review of judgments and awards.

This course introduces students to the main principles and institutions of international economic law. It focuses primarily on the institutions and substantive law of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). In addition to introducing participants to the major legal disciplines under the GATT/WTO and the basic principles and cores concepts of the GATT/WTO (Base on in-depth study of the relevant GATT/WTO case law), the course considers the underlying philosophy of free trade and a number of the controversies concerning the future evolution of the WTO and its relationship to globalisation, regionalism, and the attempt by States to achieve other policy objectives (such as protection of the environment). No prior knowledge of international law or economics is necessary. Students without such knowledge will be directed to basic reading in these fields.

This course will examine the international law issues which arise in relation to armed conflicts. One of the themes running through the course will be how international law regulates cross-border conflicts involving non-State actors. The course will be divided into two parts. Part one will consider the international legal issues relating to whether and when States are entitled to use armed force. In this part of the course, we will examine the content of the prohibition of the use of force contained in the UN Charter as well as the exceptions to that prohibition. In particular, we will examine the scope of self-defence in international law, (especially as it applies to attacks by non-State groups). Questions to be considered include the criteria for a lawful response in self-defence and the legality of anticipatory/preemptive self defence. This part of the course will also consider other possible exceptions to the prohibition of the use of force - such as the doctrine of humanitarian intervention or responsibility to protect. The last section of the first part of the course will examine the powers of the United Nations to authorize the use of force for peacekeeping and peace enforcement. The second part of the course examines the law that applies during an armed conflict. We will address the distinction between the law applicable to international armed conflicts and that applicable to non-international armed conflicts. We also consider the extent to the which the so called “Global War on Terror: should be considered an armed conflict to which international humanitarian law applies. In this part, we will also gain an overview of the “Geneva law” relating to the humanitarian protection of victims of war and the “Hague law” relating to the means and methods of warfare. In particular, we will examine the distinction between combatants and non-combatants and the law that applies to the detention of lawful and unlawful combatants in time of armed conflict. We then turn to the law that applies to the conduct of hostilities, examining in particular the rules relating to targeting and weaponry. Finally, we consider the extent to which international human rights law applies in time of armed conflict.

The Law of the Sea course is concerned with public international law and not with commercial shipping law.

The course provides a comprehensive grounding in the subject, combining the study of maritime zones (such as the territorial sea, Exclusive Economic Zone, Continental Shelf and High Seas), with the study of the main bodies of law regulating users of the seas (such as navigation, fishing, pollution, scientific research and military activities).

The teaching involves relating the problems of the law of the sea to underlying principles and policy factors and to other relevant areas of general international law, including sources, the law of treaties and principles of state responsibility.

There has never been a more exciting time to study Public International Law (PIL). Issues of PIL and international justice are at the forefront of public debates to a greater degree than ever before. International law provides the technical and intellectual underpinnings to large areas of international co-operation, including the prosecution of war crimes (both internationally and nationally), the legality of the use of force against States (e.g. Iraq), environmental protection, the scope of human rights protection (e.g. the ‘war on terrorism’), the economic effects of globalisation promoted through the work of institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the settlement of land and maritime boundary disputes, and the resolution of jurisdictional conflicts arising in the context of anti-trust and other forms of economic regulation by States. PIL today not only impacts and shapes decisions by States to a greater degree than ever before, but it also penetrates into the national legal order – often through national court decisions – to give rights to individuals and corporations to an extent that is unrivalled in the history of the subject. These developments have in turn led to the growth of lawyers and law firms who specialise in the practice of PIL. This is in addition to the demand for PIL lawyers in governments, inter-governmental organizations (such as the United Nations and the large number of UN Specialized Agencies), and non-governmental organizations.. For those who do not intend to follow a career in international law, the subject provides a broad sweep of issues which illuminate not merely questions of international law but the problems and processes of the world of diplomacy. The PIL course at Oxford covers the major areas of general international law and is not over-specialized. The lectures cover the core tutorial topics on the nature and sources of international law, the law of treaties, international legal personality, jurisdiction and immunities, the law of foreign investment, State responsibility, the use of force and the procedures for peaceful settlement of disputes. In addition, the lectures introduce students to special areas such the law of the sea, international criminal law, international environmental law, international economic law and investment arbitration. The consideration of these subject areas takes place within their broader policy context and having regard to recent experience. Although in principle the syllabus is extensive, both the teaching practice and the mode of setting the FHS paper avoid any drawbacks which might result from this wide scope. Thus, different teachers will focus on different selected topics, and the student will find that it is not necessary to know the whole syllabus from A to Z. In the same context, the Schools paper provides a wide selection of questions.

The process of European integration has entailed a transfer of foreign relations powers from the Member States to the European Union (EU) that does not follow the lines of any other legal development. It is different from the experience of federal States, in so far as the devolution of foreign relations powers is only partial, and it has certainly not entailed the disappearance of the Member States as international legal persons. On the other hand, the quantity and the quality of the functions exercised by the EU on the international plane, and its capacity to develop its own course of foreign relations, makes it an entity with few, if any, traces of resemblance with other existing international organisations.

The course deals with questions at the intersection of European law, public international law, and international relations. It looks both to the inside, giving an overview of the foreign relations law of the EU, and to the outside, examining the legal framework in which the EU acts on the international plane. Looking at some of the core areas of international law, the course examines the problems of and prospects for a supra-national actor in a legal system which is still largely dominated by States. The ultimate question to be explored: Is international law adapting to a new actor or must the EU assume statehood to be a full actor in international law?

The course covers the following topics: the foreign relations law of the EU, the relationship between international law and European law, treaty relations of the EU and its member States (mixed agreements), the EU as a creator of customary international law, the EU as a member of international organizations and a party before international tribunals, international relations and diplomatic powers of the EU, promotion and enforcement of international law by the EU (sanctions, human rights, standards of democratic governance), the transatlantic divide between the EU and the US on matters of international law, violations of international law by the EU and its member States and their international responsibility.

The course is directed at graduates with an interest both in international law and European law. Basic knowledge of these subjects is an advantage. Students without such knowledge will be directed to basic reading in these fields.

The course on International Dispute Settlement is concerned with the peaceful settlement of disputes involving the application of international law, including inter-State disputes, and disputes between States and individuals or corporations.

One part of the course is concerned with the study of a range of institutions concerned with dispute settlement such as arbitral tribunals, the International Court of Justice, and more specialised bodies such as the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, the World Trade Organisation, and other institutions handling economic and political disputes. The institutions selected for study vary from year to year.

The second part of the course provides an outline of the principles of procedural law that operate in international tribunals, including international commercial arbitration tribunals. This part of the course involves the study of issues such as jurisdiction and admissibility, the determination of law governing procedure and the law governing the merits of a case, remedies, the recognition and enforcement of judgments and awards, and the review of judgments and awards.

This course introduces students to the main principles and institutions of international economic law. It focuses primarily on the institutions and substantive law of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). In addition to introducing participants to the major legal disciplines under the GATT/WTO and the basic principles and cores concepts of the GATT/WTO (Base on in-depth study of the relevant GATT/WTO case law), the course considers the underlying philosophy of free trade and a number of the controversies concerning the future evolution of the WTO and its relationship to globalisation, regionalism, and the attempt by States to achieve other policy objectives (such as protection of the environment). No prior knowledge of international law or economics is necessary. Students without such knowledge will be directed to basic reading in these fields.

This course will examine the international law issues which arise in relation to armed conflicts. One of the themes running through the course will be how international law regulates cross-border conflicts involving non-State actors. The course will be divided into two parts. Part one will consider the international legal issues relating to whether and when States are entitled to use armed force. In this part of the course, we will examine the content of the prohibition of the use of force contained in the UN Charter as well as the exceptions to that prohibition. In particular, we will examine the scope of self-defence in international law, (especially as it applies to attacks by non-State groups). Questions to be considered include the criteria for a lawful response in self-defence and the legality of anticipatory/preemptive self defence. This part of the course will also consider other possible exceptions to the prohibition of the use of force - such as the doctrine of humanitarian intervention or responsibility to protect. The last section of the first part of the course will examine the powers of the United Nations to authorize the use of force for peacekeeping and peace enforcement. The second part of the course examines the law that applies during an armed conflict. We will address the distinction between the law applicable to international armed conflicts and that applicable to non-international armed conflicts. We also consider the extent to the which the so called “Global War on Terror: should be considered an armed conflict to which international humanitarian law applies. In this part, we will also gain an overview of the “Geneva law” relating to the humanitarian protection of victims of war and the “Hague law” relating to the means and methods of warfare. In particular, we will examine the distinction between combatants and non-combatants and the law that applies to the detention of lawful and unlawful combatants in time of armed conflict. We then turn to the law that applies to the conduct of hostilities, examining in particular the rules relating to targeting and weaponry. Finally, we consider the extent to which international human rights law applies in time of armed conflict.

The Law of the Sea course is concerned with public international law and not with commercial shipping law.

The course provides a comprehensive grounding in the subject, combining the study of maritime zones (such as the territorial sea, Exclusive Economic Zone, Continental Shelf and High Seas), with the study of the main bodies of law regulating users of the seas (such as navigation, fishing, pollution, scientific research and military activities).

The teaching involves relating the problems of the law of the sea to underlying principles and policy factors and to other relevant areas of general international law, including sources, the law of treaties and principles of state responsibility.

This course introduces students to the main principles and institutions of international economic law. It focuses primarily on the institutions and substantive law of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). In addition to introducing participants to the major legal disciplines under the GATT/WTO and the basic principles and cores concepts of the GATT/WTO (Base on in-depth study of the relevant GATT/WTO case law), the course considers the underlying philosophy of free trade and a number of the controversies concerning the future evolution of the WTO and its relationship to globalisation, regionalism, and the attempt by States to achieve other policy objectives (such as protection of the environment). No prior knowledge of international law or economics is necessary. Students without such knowledge will be directed to basic reading in these fields.