Program Content

 

Module 1: International Law 

Fall (April-July 2021)

This module provides knowledge of contemporary international law, including the main developments in practical international dispute resolution and the basic principles regarding nature, structure, and sources of international law.

Courses:

The evolution of the international system and its impact on international law

Introduction to contemporary international law

Introduction to the European and German law

The changing role of subjects of international law (states, individuals, international organizations)

The rights and obligations of individuals under international law

The responsibility of the state in accordance with international law

Bases of jurisdiction under international law (territorial, extraterritorial, universal)

The settlement of disputes in contemporary international law

The structure and functions of the international court of justice and the international tribunal for the law of the sea

International law and questions related to the environment and natural resources.

 

Module 2: International Trade: WTO and Intellectual Property

This module consists of an understanding of international trade and its new regulations, economic principles behind multilateral systems and the structure of the WTO, anti-dumping prevention regulations, subsidies, etc. Evolution of the law that governs international trade according to the fundamental rules of the GATT/ WTO. Besides an overview of intellectual property is part of the module.

Courses:

Introduction of the GATT/WTO system: past, present and future

The emergence of international economic law

New issues concerning trade and the environment: trends in the light of dispute settlement

Trade in services: WTO, FTA, etc.

Intellectual property and dispute settlement

Artificial intelligence and law: issues concerning international regulation

Procedures for the settlement of international and domestic disputes in intellectual property

Winter (July- September 2021)

The Chilean cases in the dispute settlement system of the WTO

The settlement of disputes under the WTO: panels, appellate body and compliance

Increased competition in international trade: antidumping, subsidies and other issues raised by the WTO

 

Module 3: International Trade: Regional Economic Integration

This module examines questions of regional economic integration from both a theoretical and a practical view.  The aim is to provide an in-depth understanding of international economics and the economics of regional integration.

Courses:

Regional economic integration in the European Union (progress and obstacles)

The experience of economic integration in Latin America: a critic assessment (MERCOSUR, Andean community, Central American community, Caribbean community)

Rules and principles concerning free trade and dispute settlement under free trade agreements with particular reference to those entered into by Latin American countries

Rules and principles concerning dispute settlement under the Chile-European Union association agreement

Inter-continental free trade negotiations: negotiations of the transpacific free trade agreement; Canada European Union free trade agreement; regional integral economic association agreement (RCEP)

Dispute resolution in highly integrated regional systems (NAFTA, EU)

Research methodology

 

Module 4: International Investments

Spring (September- December 2021)

The purpose of this module is to introduce the regime of foreign investment at international level, the role of the investment protection treaties, and the foreign investment chapters included in the free trade agreements, included a particular focus in Chile.

Courses:

Introduction to international investment treaties and investment treaty arbitration, with particular reference to ICSID

Diplomatic protection

Investments and trade and the new European Union policies

Further thoughts on fair and equitable treatment

Direct and indirect expropriation, fair and equitable treatment and other standards of protection under investment treaties and free trade agreements

ICSID: revision and annulment of the award

The regime of foreign investments under Chilean legislation and international agreements

Practical problems of investment arbitration/ European energy charter

 

Module 5: International Commercial Arbitration

This module provides knowledge regarding the aspects present in any international commercial arbitration process, following the rules of the international chamber of commerce and the homogenization of contract law, highlighting the work of institutions such as UNCITRAL and UNIDROIT.

Courses:

The solution of international financial conflicts and the insolvency of States

New issues in international commercial arbitration

The operation and practical problems of the New York Convention

General principles of international contracts

Arbitration rules of the International Chamber of Commerce and relating practice

Arbitration in accordance with UNCITRAL rules

Dispute boards

International sport arbitration

German arbitration law

International commercial arbitration in Chile. International arbitration:  unidroit and lex mercatoria

Evaluation of the methodology for the thesis project.

Heidelberg Term (March 2022)

In Heidelberg, students shall participate in the following workshops:
Workshop: The individual and the state in contemporary Europe: issues in international and community law.
Workshop: Managing the international society under the rule of law: new challenges for international law.

 

Module 6: Master Thesis

In this module, students write their master thesis regarding one field of the programme, previously students can choose topics, tools to research effectively, and cite sources correctly. They continue to be able to structure the course of the presentation and conclude their evaluation as a scientific contribution.

 

Module 7: Oral exam 

The oral final exam should show that the candidate has broad basic knowledge as well as in-depth knowledge in limited topics of the examination area.