International Refugee Law

Subject LAWS70366 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

September, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start 10-Aug-2016
Teaching Period 07-Sep-2016 to 13-Sep-2016
Assessment Period End 07-Dec-2016
Last date to Self-Enrol 14-Dec-2015
Census Date 07-Sep-2016
Last date to Withdraw without fail 28-Oct-2016

This subject has a quota of 30 students. Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.



Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24-26 hours
Total Time Commitment:

136-150 hours

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.

Prerequisites:

Melbourne Law Masters Students: None

JD Students: Successful completion of either of the below subjects:

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Corequisites: None
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.

Non Allowed Subjects:

Students who have completed any of the below subjects are not permitted to take LAWS70366 International Refugee Law:

Subject
Core Participation Requirements:

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

  • The ability to attend a minimum of 75% of classes and actively engage in the analysis and critique of complex materials and debate;
  • The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
  • The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
  • The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
  • The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
  • The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact Student Equity and Disability Support.

Coordinator

Prof Michelle Foster

Contact

Lecturers

Professor Michelle Foster (Coordinator)
Professor Guy Goodwin-Gill

Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: www.law.unimelb.edu.au/masters

Subject Overview:

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’ at international law
  • Exclusion from refugee protection.
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.
Assessment:
  • Take-home examination (5,000-6,000 words as specified in the subject reading guide) (100%) (4 - 7 November)
    or
  • 10,000 word research paper (100%) (7 December) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator

A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.

Prescribed Texts:

Specialist printed materials will be made available free of charge from the Melbourne Law School prior to the pre-teaching period.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: www.law.unimelb.edu.au/subject/LAWS70366/2016
Related Course(s): Graduate Diploma in Government Law
Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law
Graduate Diploma in International Law
Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies
Juris Doctor
Master of Human Rights Law
Master of Law and Development
Master of Laws
Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration (Enhanced)
Master of Public and International Law

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