International refugee law

LWM60

In this course we will initially look at the historical move towards affording protection to persons who may be deemed to be a refugee. We will examine what is meant by the term refugee, the classical definition, as well as investigating the main international instrument which determines whether or not someone is defined as a refugee. This course also covers the European dimension to refugee law, the rights of refugees and contemporary issues in refugee law and will give you a strong overall understanding of International Refugee Law and its ongoing importance.

Study as an individual course

Module A: The development of, and responsibility for, international protection of refugees

LWM60A

Historical perspective
The legal framework: The 1951 Refugee Convention and other instruments
Definition of refugee: Beyond the classical definition
Assessment in refugee status determination procedures
International approaches to refugee protection
Legal protection of international displaced persons and stateless persons

Module B: The European dimension of refugee law

LWM60B

European immigration practices and policies
The evolving European Union Acquis on asylum: The European framework for refugee protection
European Union refugee status determination procedures
Responsibility and internal protection: European Union Directive on qualification for international protection
European Union jurisprudence: Interaction of the European Convention on Human Rights and refugee law

Module C: The rights of refugees

LWM60C

Standards of treatment
Durable solutions to refugee problems
Selected substantive rights of refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention:

Principle of non-discrimination
Right to a fair trial
Family reunification
Employment
Housing
Education
Freedom of movement.

Module D: Contemporary issues in refugee law

LWM60D

Refugee issues and armed conflicts: Dynamic of mobility and displacement
Women and children refugees
Non-Refoulement: A peremptory norm of international law
Loss and denial of refugee status: Article 1F of the 1951 Refugee Convention

Assessment

Each module will be assessed by a 45-minute unseen written examination.

Sequence

It is strongly recommended you complete Module A first.

How to apply

You can apply to study a module individually as a standalone unit or as part of a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Laws qualification. (In either scenario, they must be studied in order.)

These modules also contribute towards the following specialist pathways for Laws:

Human Rights Law
International Justice
Law and Development
Public International Law

Apply via Postgraduate Laws.

Professor Rebecca Wallace

Professor Rebecca Wallace was appointed Research Professor in International Human Rights and Justice at Robert Gordon University Aberdeen in December 2012. Professor Wallace has also been Visiting Scholar to the School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University, Washington DC and the Ariel Sallows Professor in Human Rights at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. From April 2009 – November 2012 Professor Wallace was Director of the Centre for Rural Childhood, University of the Highlands and Islands, based at Perth College.

During this time she remained as a Visiting Professor at RGU. Prior to joining RGU in 2003 she was Head of Napier University Law School in Edinburgh and Director of its Masters Programme in International Law. She is a member of Lincoln's Inn as a non-practicing barrister a part-time judge of the First tier Tribunal (asylum and immigration).

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