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International Arbitration

Module description

International arbitration is one of the most important methods for resolving private international commercial disputes. Disputes relating to international commercial sales, foreign investments, insurance and reinsurance, and construction, are often resolved by arbitration, as are maritime commercial disputes under a charter party, a bill of lading, or a ship sale agreement. 

The module is suitable if you are interested in international commercial law and international dispute resolution. The module aims to provide you with a practical understanding of the mechanisms governing the arbitration of private commercial law disputes and is thus particularly valuable for students considering working or pursuing further research in this area. No previous experience in the area is required/necessary. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

The main aims of the module are to provide you with a solid understanding of international commercial arbitration, its practical applications, alongside its underpinning legal principles. The module aims to enable you to provide legal insight in respect to many aspects of an international commercial arbitration agreement/procedure, from the validity of the arbitration agreement and the procedural aspects of international commercial arbitration, to the possibility of challenging an arbitral award, and the enforcement of an award under the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention).

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate deep, systematic knowledge and understanding of the practice of international commercial arbitration;
• 2. Undertake complex critical evaluation of the main legal rules and procedures relevant to international arbitral practice using specialist literature and research.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Use internationally relevant legal and non-legal materials in relation to international commercial arbitration;
• 4. Demonstrate detailed and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of legal concepts and critical awareness of their social and political implications.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Demonstrate the ability to comprehensively use a range of resources for specific learning tasks;
• 6. Present, explain and critically evaluate a range of substantive and theoretical arguments in assessments and teaching sessions;
• 7. Work independently and manage time efficiently in preparing for learning activities and assessments.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• the main principles of international commercial arbitration: the legal regime of arbitration agreements
• the key stages and processes the arbitral procedure (from the appointment of the arbitrators to the ways in which the award can be challenged and the main rules of arbitration used in international practice
• recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards (including under the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral (Awards of 1958).

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• N Blackaby and ors,?Redfern & Hunter on International Arbitration?– student version (6th ed. 2015)
• Ferrari, F Rosenfeld, and J Fellas, International Commercial Arbitration: A Comparative Introduction (Elgar 2021) 

Key words search

International arbitration ; commercial arbitration