International Business Law (2165) |
| Credits: 6,0 | | Study load hours: 162 | Period: semester 2 (6sp)  |
| Language of instruction: English | | Exam contract: not possible |
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Advising sequentiality bound on the level of programme components
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Group 1 |
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Following programme components are advised to also be included in your study programme up till now.
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Property and Contract Law (2125)
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12.0 stptn | |
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International Law (1884)
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6.0 stptn | |
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Or group 2 |
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Following programme components are advised to also be included in your study programme up till now.
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Property and Contract Law (9677)
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8.0 stptn | |
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International Law (1884)
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6.0 stptn | |
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This is an advanced-level course designed for students who already possess a foundational understanding of key legal domains, including private international law, contract law, international law, and civil law. Proficiency in English is essential to fully engage with the course materials and participate in discussions.
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The International Business Law course offers a comprehensive exploration of private law and its critical function in enabling and structuring international trade. Students will examine foundational principles of international business law that govern cross-border commercial transactions, with a central focus on contracts and the principle of contractual freedom—key mechanisms that empower businesses to build and sustain global relationships.
Throughout the course, students will analyze how legal frameworks at the national, European, and international levels shape and limit the freedom to contract. A recurring theme will be the harmonization of legal systems: how international laws and agreements influence convergence in business law across jurisdictions.
Rather than isolating legal theory, this course anchors legal concepts within the context of real-world business transactions. Topics include for example:
- International sale of goods and standard contractual terms;
- International carriage of goods;
- The integration of sustainability and technological innovations in international legal frameworks.
Due to time limitations, the course will focus on selected key concepts, equipping students with practical tools to navigate the field effectively in their future careers. Furthermore, students will gain deeper insight into selected areas of business law and refine legal competencies increasingly essential in a globalized environment. Practical exercises include, among others: simulated court and arbitration proceedings on international trade; drafting legal opinions; analyzing and applying legal principles across diverse legal sources. Group collaboration is an integral part of the course, and students will also develop a pluralistic legal mindset—an essential skill for engaging with and interpreting overlapping legal systems worldwide.
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| Compulsory course material |
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Mandatory and facultative literature will be posted on Blackboard.
Slides from the classes will be posted on Blackboard. |
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| Remarks |
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It is strongly recommended that students reach out to the course instructor at marta.kolacz@maastrichtuniversity.nl for further guidance or inquiries. |
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Lecture ✔
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Small group session ✔
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Tutorial group ✔
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Case study ✔
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Discussion/debate ✔
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Exercises ✔
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Group work ✔
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Homework ✔
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Paper ✔
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Presentation ✔
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Role playing (simulation) ✔
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Seminar ✔
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Semester 2 (6,00sp)
| Evaluation method | |
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| Oral evaluation during teaching period | 10 % |
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| Transfer of partial marks within the academic year | Yes, with condition |
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| Conditions transfer of partial marks within the academic year | If a student gets a grade of at least 50% for the presentation, the
grade will be carried over to the resit. |
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| Other evaluation method during teaching period | 30 % |
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| Other | Moot court exercise (written and oral parts) - it is a group exercise.
The groups will receive a joint grade for written and oral parts. The
details will be announced during the course. |
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| Transfer of partial marks within the academic year | Yes, with condition |
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| Conditions transfer of partial marks within the academic year | If a student gets a grade of at least 50% for the Moot Court, the grade
will be carried over to the resit. |
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| Written exam | 60 % |
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| Transfer of partial marks within the academic year | Yes, with condition |
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| Conditions transfer of partial marks within the academic year | If a student gets a grade of at least 50% for the exam, the grade will
be carried over to the resit. |
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| Additional information | Depending on enrolment numbers, presentations may be conducted in groups. However, each student will be assessed individually. Specific details regarding presentation format and evaluation will be provided during the course.
Detailed instructions concerning each assignment will be provided in the course manual and during the classes. The final grade is calculated based on a weighted average with the components value as expressed above. If the student does not participate in one (or more) of the partial evaluations, the grades for these partial evaluations will be a 0-grade within the calculations of the final grade. The results of partial evaluations can differ in the range of available points (20).
In consultation with the Education Management Team and the Student Administration, the lecturer determines the schedule and the examination format for a possible catch-up exam. The examination format may deviate from the examination format used during the regular examination period. The schedule and examination format will be communicated to the student after the request for a catch-up exam has been approved. |
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Second examination period
| Evaluation second examination opportunity different from first examination opprt | |
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| Explanation (English) | The grades for the exam will be carried over if at least 50% of the
grade was received.
The written exam during the second evaluation period will be the same as
the written exam during the first evaluation period.
The grades for the presentation will be carried over if at least 50% of
the grade was received.
A new presentation will have to be done if less than 50% of the grade
was received for the presentation.
The grades for the Moot Court will be carried over if at least 50% of
the grade was received.
A new Moot Court will have to done individually if less than 50% of the
grade was received for the Moot Court.
Depending on the number of participants, the evaluation form can be
changed at the second chance. |
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Learning outcomes | EC = learning outcomes DC = partial outcomes BC = evaluation criteria |
Master of Laws
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- EC
| EC02 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme has specialised academic knowledge of and insight into the doctrines and systematics of those branches of law relevant to the elective subjects in the master’s programme, including from a European and comparative law perspective. They are able to apply that knowledge and those insights, including from a European and comparative law perspective. (academic, specifically legal, skills and knowledge) | | | - DC
| The student acquires specialized academic knowledge in the field of International Business Law, in particular in relation to contracts for the international sale of goods, contracts for the international carriage of goods including multimodal transport, and financing international trade. | - EC
| EC03 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme has insight into the recent societal developments and the academic research in the sector. (academic, specifically legal, skills and knowledge) | | | - DC
| The student acquires insight into recent legal research in the field of international business law, in particular by engaging in independent research him or herself. | - EC
| EC04 - De master in de rechten heeft inzicht in de problematiek van eenmaking van het recht, in het bijzonder binnen de Europese context. (wetenschappelijk-disciplinaire kennis) | | | - DC
| The student acquires understanding of the challenges concerning harmonisation and unification of law in the field of international business transactions at a European and global level. | - EC
| EC05 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme has insight into the continuous interaction between national, supranational and international law. (academic, specifically legal, skills and knowledge) | | | - DC
| The student acquires academic knowledge of the continuous interaction between national, European and global legal instruments in the field of International Business Law. | - EC
| EC06 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme is able to critically and independently use, consult and select various Dutch, English and French (digital) legal sources. (general academic research competences) | | | - DC
| The student is able to find, analyse and use diverse (digital) resources in Dutch and English in order to solve problems during the tutorial meeting as well as for writing the research paper. | - EC
| EC07 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme is able to analyse, process and make responsible use of legislation, case law, legal doctrine and other legal sources. (general academic research competences) | | | - DC
| The student is able to make effective and responsible use of a combination of legislative provisions, case law, doctrine and other legal sources for the solution of a complex problem and for writing a research paper. | - EC
| EC08 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme is able to independently conduct research at an academic level (with a junior academic researcher as benchmark), to critically reflect upon the research and to report on it. (general academic research competences) | | | - DC
| The student conducts independent research to write a research paper on a topic related to the field of international business law. | - EC
| EC09 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme is able to detect the different elements and the relevant legal rules in a complex problem and subsequently to select one or more adequate solution strategies, to support the selected solution strategy(s), and to apply the chosen solution strategy(s). (general competence) | | | - DC
| The student is able to critically analyse the law and apply it to a complex case in the field of international business law. | - EC
| EC10 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme is able to identify the various stakeholders and their specific interests in a complex problem and to integrate those in their own reasoning and approach. (general competency) | - EC
| EC11 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme is able to adequately communicate and present their own ideas, positions and solutions in various contexts, both orally or in writing, using the Dutch, English and French (legal) language. (general competency) | | | - DC
| The student is able to communicate his or her ideas, solutions and viewpoints in spoken and written (legal) English in the following contexts (i) participation during tutorial meetings, (ii) holding a presentation, (iii) preparing a written handout for fellow students, (iv) writing a research paper. | - EC
| EC15 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme demonstrates a critical attitude, and is able to gain overview of a variety of legal positions, to assess them critically and to arrive at one's own, substantiated legal opinion. (general competency) | | | - DC
| The student is able to analyse a complex legal problem in the field of international business law and identify and assess different legal solutions. | - EC
| EC16 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme is able to contribute in a group, in an active and constructive manner, to a common goal in a multidisciplinary context. (general competency) | | | - DC
| The student collaborates in a small group outside the tutorial meeting to acquire in-depth knowledge in one element of the complex problem to be solved by the whole tutorial group during the meeting. | - EC
| EC17 - A graduate of the Master of Laws programme is able to plan, to evaluate, and where necessary, to adjust their own approach and learning processes in an independent manner. (general competency) | | | - DC
| The student is responsible for planning his or her own research paper. |
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| Included in these programmes | Tolerance3 |
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Y
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choice master for private (UH)
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Y
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Exchange Programme Laws
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Y
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Master of Laws Government and Law
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Y
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Second year Master of Laws: Laws - corporate
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Y
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1 Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.12.2, section 2. |
| 2 Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.15.1, section 3. |
3 Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.16.9, section 2.
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