General provisions

Determined on November 27, 2012 by Faculty of Law’s Teaching Committee, Uppsala University, by virtue of Chapter 6 Section 14 and 15 of the Higher Education Ordinance. The course plan enters into force on January 1, 2013.

In General

The course amounts to 15 university points (15 ECTS credits) and is an optional course at advanced level in the studies for the degree of Master of Laws, according to the degree requirements adopted 16 April 2007 by the Board of the Faculty of Law of Uppsala University. The course is held in English.

Entry requirements

Students in the Law Programme must have attained five passes out of the six courses given at undergraduate level. All the obligatory phases of the course in which the student has not yet attained a pass must have been fulfilled. Law programme students must have passed the exam for term course 4.

Exchange students must at least have passed two years of studies in law and have sufficient command of the English language.

If special reasons exist the Board of Exemption may grant exemption from the acceptance requirements.

Learning outcomes

The course aims to focus upon the development of EU criminal law and the significant challenges EU legislative action in this field poses, where knowledge about the EU legal system and EU criminal law, and the relationship between the EU and national legal systems will enhance the students’ understanding of the dynamic European legal order.

After the course, students shall be able to: describe and explain central elements covered by the course; analyse practical situations and problems; find and correctly refer to relevant legal sources and apply them to the relevant situation; draw conclusions and give suggestions; and, critically analyse the development of European law.

Grading criteria

The grades given are Fail (U), and the passing grades Pass (B), Pass with credit (Ba) and Pass with distinction (AB).

For the grade Pass (B), the student is required to achieve all the learning outcomes in a descriptive, explaining and analytical fashion with attempts to draw conclusions and give suggestions.

For the grade Pass with credit (Ba), in addition to the requirements for grade B, the student is required to demonstrate the capability of taking an analytical and methodological approach through a structured reasoning, a well performed legal analysis and a documented ability to draw conclusions and give suggestions.

For the grade Pass with distinction (AB), in addition to the requirements for grade Ba, the student must demonstrate good analytical skills through well-structured, elaborated comments and critical thinking, enabling the student to take positions based on convincing arguments and a high degree of independence.

Content

The course deals with the development of European law with focus upon EU criminal law cooperation. The course covers different aspects of the constitutional development of the EU and the specific challenges within this field, the protection of fundamental rights and the relationship between the individual and the state, and the relationship between the EU and its Member States.

Instruction

The teaching consists mainly of seminars. The seminars aim to provide students with a deeper understanding of the relevant subject area and applicable legal sources. The teaching in the form of seminars is based on the technique of problem based learning, which means that students are expected to prepare the seminar questions in advance, individually and in working groups consisting of four to five students. At the actual seminar students are expected to present their findings and participate actively in the discussion.

Assessment

During the course students shall write an essay. All students shall also present their own essay, act as discussant on another student’s essay, or act as chair on a panel where several essays are presented. A written exam takes place at the end of the course. Students may bring treaties, course literature, course materials and self-made notes to the exam. In order to pass the course the students must participate in the seminars and lectures (see the study plan for details), participate actively in the seminars, compose and orally present and discuss an essay. The relative value of composing, orally presenting and discussing an essay is further specified in the study plan.

Cheating is not allowed. Exams and essays must be the individual work of the student – they are non-collaborative activities. Essays must contain references to the sources used. When a student is found cheating, disciplinary measures will be taken in accordance with University rules. Such measures range from a warning to a suspension of up to six months,

The grades given are Fail (U), and the passing grades Pass (B), Pass with credit (Ba) and Pass with distinction (AB).