International Business Transactions (LAWS70392)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
April
Teaching Staff:
Soterios Loizou (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
November
Teaching Staff:
Geert van Calster (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | April November |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is a basic 'how-to' on international business transactions and is essential for those wishing to practise international trade law. The subject intentionally covers a vast array of related topics, with the focus being on the legal issues faced by practising lawyers in the field. Particular emphasis is placed on issues such as trade terms, international sales of goods, documentary credits, carriage of goods, customs and border regulations. This subject also considers several issues relating to international trade, such as intellectual property rights, licensing, franchising and governmental measures regulating investment. Such coverage ensures students are exposed to the most important and frequent issues facing the practising trade lawyer.
Indicative list of principal topics:
- Basic trade contracts and common trade terms
- Choice of law and choice of jurisdiction in international trade contracts
- The Vienna Convention on International Sale of Goods
- Payment systems, including documentary credits and collections
- Customs law, including classification and valuation of the goods
- Import and export restraints
- Regulatory issues and red tape
- Franchising
- Intellectual property rights, including parallel importation of goods
- Foreign direct investment.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have an advanced understanding of how basic international trade transactions are structured and work in practice
- Be able to critically examine, analyse, interpret and assess trade terms and the text of treaties, legislation and contractual documents
- Understand and be able to engage with contemporary and controversial issues relating to international business law
- Have an advanced understanding of the relevant regulatory regimes governing basic international trade and investment transactions
- Have an understanding and appreciation for how trade transactions are financed and how risk is transferred
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to generate critical and creative ideas relating international business law, and to critically evaluate existing case law, principles and concept
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to independently examine, research and analyse complex legal issues relating to various aspects of an international business transaction
- Have the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information regarding various aspects of an international business transaction to relevant specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are taught at an advanced graduate level and requires a thorough background in common law. While efforts are made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, teaching and assessment activities are designed to give an advanced and integrated understanding of the discipline of law for legal practitioners, learners and researchers.
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Assessment 1: Class participation | Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Assessment 2, Option 1: Take-home examination
| April offering: 23 - 26 May 2025 | November offering: 19 - 22 December 2025 | 90% |
Assessment 2, Option 2: Research paper
| April offering: 4 June 2025 | November offering: 14 January 2026 | 90% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Students must choose assessment from the options listed above. If an option contains parts, all parts must be completed if that option is chosen.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- April
Principal coordinator Soterios Loizou Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 12 March 2025 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 9 April 2025 to 15 April 2025 Last self-enrol date 17 March 2025 Census date 11 April 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 April contact information
Teaching Staff:
Soterios Loizou (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
- November
Principal coordinator Geert van Calster Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 27 October 2025 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 24 November 2025 to 27 November 2025 Last self-enrol date 31 October 2025 Census date 28 November 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 2 January 2026 Assessment period ends 6 February 2026 November contact information
Teaching Staff:
Geert van Calster (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment, subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Commercial Law Course Master of Laws Course Graduate Diploma in International Law Course Graduate Diploma in Laws Course Graduate Diploma in International Economic Law Course Master of Public and International Law Course Master of Law and Development Course Juris Doctor - 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If subject coordinator approval is required, or for further information about Community Access Program study, please contact us
(enquiries for current students | enquiries for prospective students).
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025