LAW505 Diplomatic and Consular Law
LAW505 Diplomatic and Consular Law
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Master of Arts (M.A.) in Comparative Public Law
Mirza Ljubović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The purpose of the course is to provide an introduction to the diplomatic and consular law and most up to date developments thereof. In order to upgrade their theoretical knowledge, students develop the ability to resolve specific practical issues by analysing the relevant treaty provisions and jurisprudence, in particular case-law of the International Court of Justice. The first part of this course focuses on the issues of diplomatic law, including special missions and diplomatic law of international organizations. The second part of the course addresses the topics of consular law.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
1. Cooper A.F., Heine J., Thakur R. eds.: The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy, Oxford University Press, 2013. 2. Feltham, R. G.: Diplomatic Handbook, 7th Edition, Addison Wesley Longman Limited, England, 1998.
Additional Literature
1. Malcolm N. Shaw: International Law, 6th Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2008. 2. Berridge G.R., Keens-Soper M., Otte T.G. eds.: Diplomatic Theory from Machiavelli to Kissinger, Palgrave Macmillan, 2001.Teaching Methods
Teaching will be delivered by active lectures, class discussions and in-class assessment of academic and video materials
Lectures will provide students with an overview of the law and the key principles/issues relevant to particular topics
After each lecture, discussed below, students will be equipped to complete independent study including reading of literature, cases, and international legal materials
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Diplomatic Law; The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 | 1st Textbook, chapter 5; Convention |
| 2 | Setting the scene: From Club to network diplomacy; The establishment of diplomatic relations and of permanent diplomatic missions | 1st Textbook, Chapter 2; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 1 |
| 3 | The main actors: Min. of foreign affairs; The Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 1st Textbook, chapter 3; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 2 |
| 4 | The diplomatic mission; General observations and definitions; The head of mission; Administration and coordination | 1st Textbook, chapter 3; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 3 |
| 5 | Commercial and economics section; Consular section, Press and information section; Service and specialist attachés | 1st Textbook, chapter 3; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 3 |
| 6 | Absence or indisposition of a head of mission; Appointments, Arrivals and departures; The diplomat | 2nd Textbook, Chapter 3 |
| 7 | Protocol and Procedure; Flags; Dress; State ceremonies | 2nd Textbook, Chapter 4 |
| 8 | Diplomatic privileges and immunities | 1st Textbook, chapter 5; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 5 |
| 9 | MID-TERM EXAM | Covers the preceding materials |
| 10 | Diplomatic privileges and immunities-continued | 1st Textbook, chapter 5; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 5 |
| 11 | Consular privileges and immunities: the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 | 1st Textbook, chapter 5; Convention |
| 12 | Consular affairs; Consular officers and consular posts; Consular functions; Student's visit to an institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1st Textbook, chapter 5; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 6 |
| 13 | Severance of consular relations | 2nd Textbook, Chapter 6 |
| 14 | Media, Diplomacy and Geoplitics; The diplomat and the media | 1st Textbook, chapter 3; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 11 |
| 15 | Revision of taught materials, preparation for final exam | Covers the preceding materials |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW505.1 | Course | - | - | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00 - 15:00 | A F2.22 | |
| Tuesday | 13:00 - 15:00 | A F2.22 | |
| Wednesday | 15:00 - 16:00 | A F2.22 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Research essay
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Research essay presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
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:
Final Exam study
42 hours ⏳ (6 week × 7 h)
Midterm Exam study
35 hours ⏳ (5 week × 7 h)
Research essay
14 hours ⏳ (7 week × 2 h)
Research essay presentation
14 hours ⏳ (7 week × 2 h)
Lecture hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 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 [LAW505] 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 Mar 03, 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 | |||||||||
| LAW505 | Diplomatic and Consular Law | 3 | 0 | 6 | Tuesday: 17:00 - 20:00 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mirza Ljubović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 13:00-15:00 Tuesday: 13:00-15:00 Wednesday: 15:00-16:00 |
|||||||
| mljubovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The purpose of the course is to provide an introduction to the diplomatic and consular law and most up to date developments thereof. In order to upgrade their theoretical knowledge, students develop the ability to resolve specific practical issues by analysing the relevant treaty provisions and jurisprudence, in particular case-law of the International Court of Justice. The first part of this course focuses on the issues of diplomatic law, including special missions and diplomatic law of international organizations. The second part of the course addresses the topics of consular law. | |||||||||
| Textbook | 1. Cooper A.F., Heine J., Thakur R. eds.: The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy, Oxford University Press, 2013. 2. Feltham, R. G.: Diplomatic Handbook, 7th Edition, Addison Wesley Longman Limited, England, 1998. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Teaching will be delivered by active lectures, class discussions and in-class assessment of academic and video materials. Lectures will provide students with an overview of the law and the key principles/issues relevant to particular topics. After each lecture, discussed below, students will be equipped to complete independent study including reading of literature, cases, and international legal materials. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to Diplomatic Law; The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 | 1st Textbook, chapter 5; Convention | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Setting the scene: From Club to network diplomacy; The establishment of diplomatic relations and of permanent diplomatic missions | 1st Textbook, Chapter 2; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | The main actors: Min. of foreign affairs; The Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 1st Textbook, chapter 3; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | The diplomatic mission; General observations and definitions; The head of mission; Administration and coordination | 1st Textbook, chapter 3; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Commercial and economics section; Consular section, Press and information section; Service and specialist attachés | 1st Textbook, chapter 3; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Absence or indisposition of a head of mission; Appointments, Arrivals and departures; The diplomat | 2nd Textbook, Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Protocol and Procedure; Flags; Dress; State ceremonies | 2nd Textbook, Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Diplomatic privileges and immunities | 1st Textbook, chapter 5; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 9 | MID-TERM EXAM | Covers the preceding materials | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Diplomatic privileges and immunities-continued | 1st Textbook, chapter 5; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Consular privileges and immunities: the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 | 1st Textbook, chapter 5; Convention | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Consular affairs; Consular officers and consular posts; Consular functions; Student's visit to an institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1st Textbook, chapter 5; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Severance of consular relations | 2nd Textbook, Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Media, Diplomacy and Geoplitics; The diplomat and the media | 1st Textbook, chapter 3; 2nd Textbook, Chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Revision of taught materials, preparation for final exam | Covers the preceding materials | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Research essay | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Research essay presentation | 1 | 10 | 1, 2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Final Exam study | 7 | 6 | 42 | Midterm Exam study | 7 | 5 | 35 | |||
| Research essay | 2 | 7 | 14 | Research essay presentation | 2 | 7 | 14 | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||