LAW420 International Arbitration Law
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Law
Emir Sudzuka
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Introduction to International Arbiration is an elective course that will consist of weekly 3 hour classes. Apart from presentations by the lecturer, the course will include student presentations, research assignemnts, mock arbitral proceedings and case studies. The course will be connented to the program for the Vis Moot competition in international arbitration, and any students who wish to participate in the competition will have to take the course. The students will learn the fundamental principles and features of international arbitration as a dynamic mechanism for the resolution of commecial and investment disputes that exists in parallel with the jurisdiction of the national courts.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Gary Born International Commercial Arbitration C. L. Lim, Jean Ho, and Martins Paparinskis International Investment Law and Arbitration
Additional Literature
• CIArb Practice Guideline: Interim Measures • LCIA Notes for Arbitrators • Managing Arbitrations and • CIArb Practice Guideline: Procedural Orders CIArb Practice Guideline: Jurisdictional Challenges • CIArb Practice Guideline: Paty non-participation • CIArb Practice Guideline: Applications for security for costs • Van den Berg, Enforcement of an Award Annulled at the Seat of Arbitation • Jonathan Hill Article Determining the Seat of International Arbitration • UNCITRAL Survey of implementation of New York Convention • Starting International Arbitration Pitfalls in the Runway Karrer • Institutional or Ad Hoc Arbitration and the Arbitration Agreement Kreindler • When and Why Arbitration Matters William W. ParkTeaching Methods
Active discussions for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress
Case studies
Mock arbitrations
Research assignments-comparative analysis
Student presentations
Quiz
Ex cathedra lecture
Midterm and final exams.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the historical development of international arbitration, its growth and benefits compared to judicial proceedings and other forms of dispute resolution, differences between commercial and investment arbitration. | Chapter 1 |
| 2 | Arbitration agreement; competence-competence, separability doctrine; independence and impartiality of arbitrators | Chapter 2 |
| 3 | Key instruments in the development of international arbitration: New York Convention, UNCITRAL Model Law, UNCITRAL Rules, ICSID Convention. | Chapter 3 |
| 4 | Arbitral proceedings: initiation and course of the proceedings; the role of the national courts in relation to arbitral proceedings | Chapter 4 |
| 5 | Interim measures, case management, joinder and consolidation in international arbitration | Chapter 5 |
| 6 | Arbitral award: form, validity, enforcement | Chapter 6 |
| 7 | MIDTERM EXAM | Chapters 1-6 |
| 8 | Investment arbitration: history, legal framework and implications | Chapter 7-8 |
| 9 | Sources of jurisdiction for arbitral tribunals in investment arbitration | Chapter 9 |
| 10 | Jurisdictional challenges in investment arbitration | Chapter 10 |
| 11 | Substantive treaty claims in investment arbitration | Chapter 11 |
| 12 | The States' right to regulate in the investment protection regime | Chapter 12 |
| 13 | The reform of the investment arbitration regime – new generation treaties and reformed ISDS | Chapter 13 |
| 14 | Mock arbitration proceedings | 14 |
| 15 | Class Summary | Chapters 7-14 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW420.1 | Course | Monday 15:00 - 17:50 | B F1.8 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Mid-term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Research paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Activity
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Midterm Exam
2 hours ⏳ (1 week × 2 h)
Final Exam
2 hours ⏳ (1 week × 2 h)
Quiz
1 hours ⏳ (1 week × 1 h)
Research Paper
50 hours ⏳ (2 week × 25 h)
Mock Arbitration
50 hours ⏳ (2 week × 25 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [LAW420] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| LAW420 | International Arbitration Law | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Emir Sudzuka | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Thursday: 13:00-15:00 |
|||||||
| esudzuka@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Introduction to International Arbiration is an elective course that will consist of weekly 3 hour classes. Apart from presentations by the lecturer, the course will include student presentations, research assignemnts, mock arbitral proceedings and case studies. The course will be connented to the program for the Vis Moot competition in international arbitration, and any students who wish to participate in the competition will have to take the course. The students will learn the fundamental principles and features of international arbitration as a dynamic mechanism for the resolution of commecial and investment disputes that exists in parallel with the jurisdiction of the national courts. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Gary Born International Commercial Arbitration C. L. Lim, Jean Ho, and Martins Paparinskis International Investment Law and Arbitration | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Active discussions for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress, case studies, mock arbitrations, research assignments-comparative analysis, student presentations, quiz, ex cathedra lecture, midterm and final exams. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the historical development of international arbitration, its growth and benefits compared to judicial proceedings and other forms of dispute resolution, differences between commercial and investment arbitration. | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Arbitration agreement; competence-competence, separability doctrine; independence and impartiality of arbitrators | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Key instruments in the development of international arbitration: New York Convention, UNCITRAL Model Law, UNCITRAL Rules, ICSID Convention. | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Arbitral proceedings: initiation and course of the proceedings; the role of the national courts in relation to arbitral proceedings | Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Interim measures, case management, joinder and consolidation in international arbitration | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Arbitral award: form, validity, enforcement | Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | MIDTERM EXAM | Chapters 1-6 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Investment arbitration: history, legal framework and implications | Chapter 7-8 | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Sources of jurisdiction for arbitral tribunals in investment arbitration | Chapter 9 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Jurisdictional challenges in investment arbitration | Chapter 10 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Substantive treaty claims in investment arbitration | Chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | The States' right to regulate in the investment protection regime | Chapter 12 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | The reform of the investment arbitration regime – new generation treaties and reformed ISDS | Chapter 13 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Mock arbitration proceedings | 14 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Class Summary | Chapters 7-14 | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Mid-term exam | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Research paper | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Activity | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 2 | 20 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture | 3 | 15 | 45 | Midterm Exam | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Final Exam | 2 | 1 | 2 | Quiz | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Research Paper | 25 | 2 | 50 | Mock Arbitration | 25 | 2 | 50 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 22/02/2026 | |||||||||