LAW3257 : Principles of International Arbitration
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Available for Study Abroad and Exchange students, subject to School approval at module registration
- Module Leader(s): Dr Myriam Gicquello
- Lecturer: Dr Abdul Karim Aldohni
- Owning School: Newcastle Law School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
Pre Requisite Comment
N/A
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
The module aims to introduce students to international arbitration – both commercial and investment – by considering their historical background, shared core principles, legal frameworks, and their criticisms. The module also critically engages with contemporary issues that have recently emerged in the context of arbitration, such as climate change and artificial intelligence.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module covers international arbitration. This means both international commercial arbitration (i.e., two private parties against one another) and international investment arbitration (i.e., a foreign investor against their hosting state).
The module covers how international arbitration became a popular means for the resolution of international disputes, looking at its historical background and international legal texts (New York Convention 1958 and the ICSID Convention 1965). It also addresses how states have responded to arbitration by looking at domestic laws in select jurisdictions (e.g. England and Wales and France) and institutional frameworks, such as the UNCITRAL Model Law.
Against this background, the module considers the life of an arbitration – from the agreement to arbitrate, its initiation with the composition of the tribunal, its proceedings to its end with a final and binding arbitral award. It considers the core principles in each stage with a comparative analysis of international commercial and investment arbitration when relevant. These core principles are also critically addressed by considering the rising challenges and criticisms voiced against these principles.
The module also critically analyses how arbitration has – or has yet to respond – to more contemporary issues such as climate change and the rise of artificial intelligence.
The module will therefore be structured into 3 parts, each part addressing a range of topics as described above.
1: Introduction to International Arbitration.
2: Principles of International Arbitration and their Challenges
3: International Arbitration and Contemporary Issues
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 60 | 1:00 | 60:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 4 | 2:00 | 8:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Scheduled throughout the module |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 107 | 1:00 | 107:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures:
The lectures aim to provide an overview of the main characteristics / principles of international arbitration (i.e. both commercial and investment) and of the challenges arising from these. They will also explore additional controversial issues in response to modern challenges and new technology.
Workshops:
Workshops will be used as a preparation for the written assessment. They will provide the opportunity to develop critical thinking, legal analysis and legal writing skills, and oral skills. They will also allow for a deeper appreciation of the knowledge and issues addressed in the lecture and how to transpose these in a legal instrument (i.e. legal advice/opinion).
Drop-in / Surgery:
Individual drop-in sessions will be offered to students at scheduled times to answer any individual queries in greater depth on module content and/or assessments.
Independent Study:
This will consist of directed reading and tasks to consolidate and expand on the learning in the lectures, to prepare for the small group teaching, and to also prepare for assessment. With these additional activities, students will develop their legal reasoning skills and critical analysis using relevant literature on debated issues.
Assessment Preparation and Completion:
This entails completing the MCQ and legal drafting exercise (3,000w). This therefore includes carrying independent research and legal analysis, writing-up lectures and workshops’ notes, and revisions.
The format of resits are determined by the Board of Examiners.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prof skill assessmnt | 2 | M | 70 | Legal drafting exercise (3000 words) in response to a problem scenario (i.e. drafting a piece of legal advice/opinion). |
| Computer assessment | 2 | M | 30 | Knowledge-based and applied Multiple Choice Questions |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Both aspects of the assessment are designed to apply students’ understanding of the knowledge conveyed through lectures, workshops, and independent learning to hypothetical scenarios taken from real life examples or mooting competitions. The purpose of this is to:
a. assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the legal framework of international arbitration, its principles and challenges;
b. assess students’ ability to carry out independent research and identify relevant authority;
c. assess students’ ability to interpret legal documents and considering real-world applications and effects by assessing arguments, evaluating their merits or otherwise and respond accordingly.
With the legal drafting exercise (70%), students are required to draft a piece of legal advice/ opinion in response to a problem scenario and provide justifications, reasoning, for their decision.
With the multiple-choice questionnaire (30%), students are required to answer a mix of multiple-choice questions applied to a range of problem scenarios and to test their knowledge on the principles and issues addressed in the module.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- LAW3257's Timetable