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JUS5730 - International Humanitarian Law (The Law of Armed Conflict)

Facts about this course: Credits: 10 Level: Advanced course at master's level Teaching semester: Every autumn semester Examination semester: Every autumn semester Language of instruction: English Administrated by: The Faculty of Law

Detailed course information - Current and previous semesters: Autumn 2012 Autumn 2011

Course content

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) establishes protection for civilians, other non-combatants as well as combatants, and limits methods and means of warfare in armed conflict. The rules seek to balance fundamental principles of humanity against military necessity. The principle of proportionality, the principle of distinction between military objectives and civilian objects, as well as the prohibition against means of combat that lead to unnecessary suffering and superfluous injury, form the basis for this body of law.

The legal bases for IHL are rules of international customary law as well as treaty law, in particular the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 with their additional protocols of 1977, and the Hague Regulations of 1907. In addition there are several specific treaties pertaining to e.g. use of certain weapons and other means of warfare.

International Humanitarian Law is a part of the wider topic Public International Law. It touches upon the rules on the legality of warfare (jus ad bellum), but the main focus is on the rules that apply when an armed conflict is going on (jus in bello), irrespective of the nature of the conflict. International Humanitarian Law has certain contact points with inter alia two other topics under Public International Law; International Criminal Law and International Human Rights law.

Learning outcomes

See ‘Detailed course information’ regarding requirements and syllabus.

Admission

You may register for this course if you have admission to a Master of Law-programme at UiO, the faculty's exchange-programme or have admission to Law-electives at masters-level. All applicants must fill the formal prerequisites.

International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisites

• Admission to the faculty’s exchange-programme or
• Active study-right for a study programme, masters-level at the University of Oslo or
• Norwegian Masters of Laws degree or equivalent or
• Passed forth year, 96 – Cand. Jur programme (or exams that are equivalent) or
• Passed JUR3000, Masters of Laws programme at the University of Oslo (or exams that are equivalent).

Recommended prior knowledge

Three years of law studies.

Overlap

10 credits against JUR1730 - International Humanitarian Law (The Law of Armed Conflict). 10 credits against VALKRIG - Krigens folkerett/internasjonal humanitærrett. 10 credits against JUXKRIG - Krigens folkerett / internasjonal humanitærrett. 10 credits against JUR5730 - International Humanitarian Law (The Law of Armed Conflict).

Teaching

Lectures.

Language of teaching for this course is English. This means that all
communication during lectures/seminars will be in English, and all
literature and auxiliary materials are in English.

Teaching takes place throughout the semester.

Exam information

4 hour written examination.

Exam resources

Auxiliary materials allowed during examinations for courses taught in English.

Recommended/Special Material

Previous exam papers

Language of examination

The language of examination for this course is English. This means
that the examination question will be given in English, and students
may answer in English only.

Assessment and grading

Course grades are awarded on a descending scale using alphabetic grades from A to E for passes and F for fail. Read more about the grading system .

Explanations and appeals

Students can request an explanation of their grades, and can also appeal against their grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals

Possibility of make-up exams and re-takes

You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam .

Withdrawing from exams and limits on re-takes

A student can sit for this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do this in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit for the exam.
A study programme may have rules that further limit the number of times a student may re-take this exam. In such instances the rules of the study programme will have priority.

Exam options for students with special needs

Please se Detailed regulations for the Faculty of Law, Chapter 3 regarding application, responsibilities and special measures.

Students may apply for access to alternative exam resources or exam forms on the basis of chronic illness and/or special needs that create a marked disadvantage to other students in the exam situation. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

Evaluation of this course

Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. As a student at the University of Oslo you will therefore be asked to participate in various types of evaluation of our courses, facilities and services. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, in-depth evaluation of this course, a so called "periodic evaluation".

Other information

The language for this course is English. Students enrolled in the
Masterprogrammet i rettsvitenskap must pass one
English subject as part of their degree, this course will meet these
obligations.

This subject is taught at Master 's level. The subject is also taught at Bachelor's level (15 ECTS credits), see JUR1730 - International Humanitarian Law (The Law of Armed Conflict). Please see the chapter above, regarding overlap. For instances of overlap, credits will be deducted on the subject at Bachelors's level.

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