General provisions

The course is offered within the Master's Programme in International Humanitarian Action, 120 ECTS credits and the Master's Programme in Humanitarian Action and Conflict, 60 ECTS credits.

Entry requirements

The course on International Law in Humanitarian Assistance is only available to students admitted to the Master Programme in International Humanitarian Action and the Master Programme in Humanitarian Action and Conflict.

Learning outcomes

The aims of the course are to provide students with a basic understanding of international law relevant in humanitarian assistance. After successful completion of the course, students should have the following competences:

• an understanding of the structure of international law;
• an understanding of the legal context of humanitarian aid operations and interventions and the international mechanisms for the protection of human rights;
• the ability to describe the legal duties of personnel engaged in humanitarian aid;
• an ability to analyse various aspects of international humanitarian law which relate to humanitarian aid operations, particularly the protection of civilians.

Content

The course is focused on rules of international law relevant to international organisations and other actors in their work with humanitarian assistance. In particular, the course is focused on basic human rights and humanitarian law.

Instruction

The teaching on this campus course includes both lectures and seminars. Attendance at seminars and at least 75% of lectures is compulsory. Students who miss seminars must compensate this absence. In general, students who miss more than 25% of lectures must also compensate. However, students who are absent for substantially more than 25% of lectures must instead take part in lectures the next time the course is provided. Participation in all lectures is highly encouraged since the lectures facilitate reading and analysis of the course literature.

The language of instruction is English.

Assessment

Active participation in all seminars is a requirement of the course. The examination for the course consists of a ”take-home essay”, papers and group presentations.

Grade: VG, G or U (Pass with Distinction, Pass or Fail) as well as ECTS grades.

Transitional provisions

Students on a course regulated by this syllabus have the right to be examined for up to two years after their course instance has ended, and in accordance with this syllabus. In exceptional circumstances, they may also be examined later. Normally, instruction will only be given according to the latest version of the course syllabus.