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International Refugee Law (LAWS70366)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
September
Lecturer
Professor Michelle Foster, Coordinator
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | September |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject explores and examines the international legal regime for the protection of refugees. The essential premise of the subject is that refugee law should be understood as a mode of human rights protection, the viability of which requires striking a balance between the needs of the victims of human rights abuse and the legitimate aspirations of the countries to which they flee. The primary objective of the subject is to enable students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the international legal regime for international protection – the basis for being granted protection in 147 countries, including Australia. The subject will situate Australian refugee law and policy within the context of Australia’s international obligations.
Principal topics include:
- History of the international system of refugee protection
- Legal and institutional framework of international legal protection
- The implementation of the Refugee Convention in Australian law
- Refugee status determination: domestic and international dimensions
- Responsibility sharing and shifting
- Principles of treaty interpretation applied to refugee law
- The definition of ‘refugee’ in international law
- Exclusion from refugee protection.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have an advanced and integrated understanding of the international development of refugee law and knowledge of the different international instruments governing refugee law at the international level
- Have an advanced understanding of the key questions involved in the definition of a refugee, and the different approaches taken to these issues in the comparative jurisprudence
- Be able to critically examine, analyse, interpret and assess the effectiveness of the international legal regime for refugee protection
- Be an engaged participant in debate regarding the way in which international refugee law interacts with the Australian domestic legal system
- Have a sophisticated appreciation of how comparative material may be used in refugee cases in Australia
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to generate critical and creative ideas relating to the future of the international refugee regime
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to independently examine, research and analyse existing and emerging legal issues relating to international refugee law
- Have the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information regarding international refugee law to relevant specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Be able demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment and responsibility as a practitioner and learner in the field of international refugee law.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students who have completed any of the below subjects are not permitted to take LAWS70366 International Refugee Law:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50101 | Refugee Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Take-home examination (5,000 - 6,000 words) (100%) (9 - 12 November)
or - Research paper (8,000 - 10,000 words) (100%) (12 December) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- September
Principal coordinator Michelle Foster Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24- 34 hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 15 August 2018 Pre teaching requirements The pre-teaching period commences four weeks before the subject commencement date. From this time, students are expected to access and review the Reading Guide that will be available from the LMS subject page and the subject materials provided by the subject coordinator, which will be available from Melbourne Law School. Refer to the Reading Guide for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 12 September 2018 to 18 September 2018 Last self-enrol date 31 January 2018 Census date 12 September 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 2 November 2018 Assessment period ends 12 December 2018 September contact information
Lecturer
Professor Michelle Foster, Coordinator
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a first come, first served basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist printed materials will be made available free of charge from the Melbourne Law School prior to the pre-teaching period.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
Last updated: 3 November 2022