LW7095 - International Commercial Law

What will I learn on this module?

This module has an overall aim to provide students with an understanding of how an international sale of goods contract works, i.e., which law will be the governing law of the contract; which trade term will be incorporated into the contract and why; and how the goods will be financed and which law will govern the financing of the goods; as well as the transport of those goods from the Seller to the Buyer by means of sea or inland waterway carriage. As 80% of all international sale of goods contacts may be negotiated by means of applying the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), major emphasis is placed on when the CISG must apply automatically as the governing law of the contract and when the CISG may apply automatically as the governing law of the contract. Carriage of goods by sea by means of charter parties and under bills of lading are also studied including the Hague and the Hague Visby Rules. The topics covered will include: (1) Difficulties of Parties Entering into Cross-Border Agreements and Contract Clauses Generally Included in Written Agreements for the Sale of Goods, (2) Articles 1-29 and 95 of the CISG: When the CISG is the Governing Law of the Contract and Formation of a CISG Contract, (3) Articles 30-51 and 66-70 of the CISG: Obligations of the Seller and Passing of Risk, (4) Articles 53-68 and 71-88 of the CISG: Obligations for the Buyer and Obligations Common to the Seller and the Buyer Including Damages, (5) Trade Terms and INCOTERMS 2010, (6) Financing the Goods and Letters of Credit, (7) Carriage of Goods by Sea: Common Law Charter Party Contracts of Affreightment and Statutory Bill of Lading Contracts of Affreightment, (8) Carriage of Goods by Sea: Implied Obligations and Exceptions to Liability, (9) Carriage of Goods by Sea: Hague and Hague Visby Rules, (10) Summary of International Sale of Goods and Carriage of Goods.

How will I learn on this module?

You will receive a mixture of lectures and seminars. The lectures will cover a range of key theoretical and practical concepts in international commercial law. The seminars will provide you with an opportunity to apply concepts covered in the lectures and gain further practical insights. Directed learning will focus on pre-reading, activity-based learning through specially designed workshop exercises and the use of the e-Learning portal (Blackboard Ultra). Your Formative assessment will be achieved by self-test questions and case studies in module materials, group discussion, informal peer assessment and assessed and non-assessed exercises. Answers to self-test questions and answer plans to the case studies will be provided on Blackboard Ultra and your tutor will give oral and written feedback to you as required. Your independent learning will centre on you identifying further reading and research to provide deeper/broader knowledge and understanding of international commercial law. Regular formative feedback will be provided by the teaching team and module tutor during timetabled sessions. You will be provided with detailed feedback on your summative assignment for this module and, as part of your reflective development, such feedback can be utilized in the preparation of subsequent module assessments on the programme. You are therefore able to demonstrate self-reflection and reflective practice within the module and on the programme as a whole, with feedback of appropriate quality and the positive application of formative feedback on learning.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

The University is well-placed to support you in learning and research with an excellent library and teaching facilities, access to on-line legal databases and resources and appropriate software. Support will include feedback from academics during small group sessions, through formative and summative assessment. You will be provided with guidance on answering all types of questions in relation to international commercial law and this will utilise small group session questions, multiple choice questions and quizzes. You will be given guidance on the assessment criteria and the learning outcomes for the module. This module is designed and will be managed by your designated Module Tutor. All relevant materials and instructions will be accessible on-line through Blackboard Ultra, and the module site is maintained by your Module Tutor. You may communicate with your Module Tutor and your Small Group Session Tutor by e-mail, telephone or face to face by appointment outside of your sessions as well as during your sessions if you encounter any difficulties relating to any aspect of the module.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. You will be able to display and critically apply expert knowledge within the field of International Commercial Law.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

2. You will be able to analyse and communicate complex legal and policy issues relating to International Commercial Law.

3. You will be able to critically evaluate source material, suggest alternative approaches to International Commercial Law and its application in practice and reflect on the application of your knowledge and that of others within practical contexts.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

4. You will take responsibility for your own independent learning in the field of space law and policy, working independently to further enhance existing skills and develop new skills to a high level.

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment will be achieved by self-test questions and case studies in module materials, group discussion, informal peer assessment and assessed and non-assessed exercises.

Summative Assessment will be undertaken on an individual basis by way of assignment which constitutes 100% of the marks for this module. This assignment aims to encourage a deep and critical approach to learning, developing an ability to think widely about the issues presented within the module and to explore these in-line with directed and independent learning and will be no more than 3,000 words.

Assessment criteria are provided to enable you to understand what is expected of you and how you will be judged on your performance.

Pre-requisite(s)

NA

Co-requisite(s)

NA

Module abstract

You will study how an international sale of goods contract works, i.e., which law will be the governing law of the contract and how that law is determined, with emphasis on the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG); INCOTERMS 2010 and Letters of Credit. You will also study how carriage of those goods subject to the underlying international sale of goods contract works by means of sea or inland waterway transportation with emphasis on charter party contracts of affreightment and bill of lading contracts of affreightment including the Hague and Hague Visby Rules. With the international and geopolitical environment changing so dramatically, the skills and knowledge gained on this module will be highly valued by employers. Those who have an awareness of international commercial law will be at a significant advantage in respect of future employability.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 1 year Full Time

Department Northumbria Law School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2024

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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