2010 European Summer Program in Law at the Università di Macerata in Italy
Italy is at the centre of Europe – historically, culturally and legally – due to its vast influence in the formation of European and international law, via Roman law. It is in recognition of its fundamental role that Murdoch University School of Law is responding to the changing needs of its students and Australian society in an increasingly globalised world by proposing a new Program centered on both international and European law in Macerata, one of Europe’s oldest universities.
The European Law Summer Programme:
Challenge and Opportunity
Australia’s place in the global community is one of increasing importance, and with this comes a greater demand for jurists who understand and can operate comfortably between the world’s diverse legal systems and cultures.
After the success of the first European Summer Law Program in 2009, Murdoch University School of Law continues to respond to this need and challenge by offering three law units during a four-week period from 28 June to 23 July 2010 as part of the European Summer Law Program at the Università di Macerata in Italy.
The following three units are scheduled to be offered in the 2010 European Summer Program in Law:
- LAW342 European Union Law;
- LAW325 Comparative Law; and
- LAW318 International Intellectual Property Law.
These units are Murdoch University School of Law units, taught intensively in English, available to Murdoch law students or cross-institutional Australian law students. Some Murdoch University Business students may be able to enrol in the Program based on their academic record, subject to obtaining permission to enrol from the Program Director.
Each unit will be taught in intensive mode over 25 hours (with in addition about 12 hours of sessions with local judges, lawyers and invited legal experts) and will be worth 4 credit points; there may also be additional sessions with Italian judges and/or other jurists. Students may enrol in a maximum of 3 units, for a maximum of 12 credit points. Classes will meet for 100 minutes per day on Monday through to Thursday of the first three weeks and on Monday through to Wednesday of the fourth week. All classes will be conducted either in the morning or afternoon.
Students who successfully complete this Program’s units may receive credits towards their LLB or JD degree at their respective Australian universities. All grades awarded are Murdoch Law School grades.
Any student in good standing at a law school in Australia who will have completed one year of academic work, or the equivalent prior to enrolment, and satisfied any unit prerequisite is eligible for participation in the Program.
Macerata is a provincial capital in the Marches region of Italy, about 35 km from the Adriatic Sea and 250 km from Rome. It is world-renown for its annual open-air opera festival in July which takes place in the 7,000-seater Sferisterio - a Neoclassical arena erected in the 1820s. Though much of the city centre was built between the 16th and 19th centuries, it also has many sites of historical and archaeological interest.
Geographic Location of Macerata , Italy – in the centre of Europe
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Views of the Old Centre of Macerata and Sferisterio, scene for some of Italy’s finest summer opera. |
The teaching of law has an even more ancient tradition in the city, with the Università di Macerata having individuals studying law as far back as 1290, making it one of Europe’s oldest universities. It has remained over the centuries a prestigious institution of higher education and linked to distinguished jurists from all over Europe.
A State university of more than 12,000 students with Programs in all major social sciences disciplines (education and training, law, literature & philosophy, economics & finance, cultural heritage, political science and social science & communications), the Università di Macerata has a number of well-known research institutes, including an Institute of International and European Union law. It is in part this expertise in international and European law which Murdoch and other law students will be able to benefit from as part of the 2010 European Summer Program.
The following fees and costs are estimates only.
Murdoch students will pay tuition to Murdoch for each unit. All participating students pay also a non-refundable $300 registration and processing fee, as well as a fee for materials, activities and computer access at Macerata of €200 (estimate only, subject to confirmation). Students who are not successful in their application will be refunded the $300 fee.
Accommodation in a university-managed residence a short walk from the Università di Macerata is made available to European Summer Law Program students for approximately €220.20 a month in a shared room, or €270 a month single (subject to confirmation).
Additionally, students will need to organise their own flight (around $1,800 to $2,300 from Perth to Italy). Murdoch University students have travel and medical insurance coverage for the duration of the Program, but cross-institutional enrolled students will need to obtain separate coverage.
Reasonably priced meals can also be had locally or at the Università. Students should budget for at least $150-200 a week for food, though a night out on the town can of course be a lot more expensive.
| RESOURCES AND MATERIALS |
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Students in the 2010 European Summer Law Program have access to a diversity of research and study facilities. They will have access to the law and general libraries at the Università di Macerata, as well as to computer laboratories and wireless Internet access. In addition, they will be able to remotely access Murdoch University Law Library electronic information, databases and digitised print material.
Students will also receive reading guides for their units at the Università di Macerata.
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Murdoch University School of Law’s European Summer Law Program offers an enriching experience beyond the four walls of a classroom. In addition of providing a setting to interact with Italian judges and European jurists as part of the unit teaching experience, a number of other functions and activities are currently being planned, including:
- Ciao/G’day Welcoming Reception: An inaugural drinks and nibbles in the first week of lectures to enable students to meet and make plans together, as well as to familiarise themselves with the staff at Macerata and other colleagues.
- Weekly get-togethers for all participants to share experiences and exchange information
- Guided tour of the city and region
- Visit of the Macerata courts and meeting with the President of the Court (Chief Justice)
- Students will also have free access to a swimming pool near their residence.
| CONTACT AND OTHER INFORMATION |
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For further information and enquiries, please contact:
Lyn Tooley,
School of Law
Murdoch University
Murdoch
WA 6150
Email:
l.tooley@murdoch.edu.au
Phone: +618
9360 6192
Fax: +61 8 9310 6671
Application Form can be downloaded from the web page here.
