Last modified: 22 Jul 2026 13:42
This course examines the private international law issues arising in cross-border family relationships, with particular emphasis on the protection of children and families across national borders. It provides students with a thorough grounding in the principal Hague Conventions in the field of international family law: the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention, the 1993 Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention and the 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention.
Students will develop an understanding of the operation of these instruments in practice, including their relationship with relevant European Union law, particularly the Brussels IIb Regulation in matters of parental responsibility and international child abduction. The course also considers contemporary and emerging challenges, including international surrogacy, legal parentage, and the cross-border recognition and regulation of family agreements.
Alongside the substantive legal framework, the course introduces the role and working methods of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in the negotiation, implementation, review and promotion of the uniform interpretation of international family law instruments.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
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| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
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One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.
The course explores the legal challenges arising where family relationships, children or parental responsibilities involve more than one legal system. It focuses on the principal international instruments adopted under the auspices of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, namely the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, and the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children.
Students will examine the scope, operation and practical application of these Conventions, including their interaction with domestic law, human rights standards and relevant EU law. Particular attention will be given to the Brussels IIb Regulation and its provisions concerning parental responsibility and international child abduction.
The course also addresses major contemporary developments in international family law, including cross-border surrogacy, legal parentage, and family agreements with an international element. It considers current international efforts to develop legal responses in these areas.
The Hague Conference’s role in developing and maintaining international family law instruments will be considered throughout the course. This includes an introduction to its methods of work, the role of Special Commissions, the development of guides to good practice and other non-binding materials, and mechanisms intended to promote consistent interpretation and effective implementation of the Conventions.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Open book exam, 2 essays 1,500 words each. |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
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| Feedback | Word Count | 3000 | ||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Re-submission of failed element in re-sit diet; the failed course will be capped at 09 (D3). |
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| Factual | Remember | ILO’s for this course are available in the course guide. |
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