Teaching methodology

The students' learning process is organized around three types of educational activities:

1. GUIDED ACTIVITIES

These activities take place in the classroom, during the scheduled hours for the course, and involve the active participation of the teaching staff. They include lectures by the teaching staff, questions from students, and other activities aimed at helping students acquire the basic knowledge of the subject and the necessary competencies.

Starting in the 2023/2024 academic year, classes in Private International Law are divided into theory classes and seminars. The theory classes are based on the teaching staff's presentation of the fundamental aspects of the course syllabus. The seminars will primarily focus on solving practical cases and conducting other activities that allow for a deeper understanding of specific topics, such as preparing presentations and completing various exercises, either individually or in groups. They may also include guest lectures relevant to the course subject. Participation in the seminars requires an active attitude from students: first, through the preparation of sessions via prior readings and searching for necessary documents; and second, through active participation during the seminars, either orally or in writing, as indicated by the teaching staff in each case. Students are encouraged to ask questions to clarify their doubts, both during theory classes and seminars.

The primary working materials will be the legal texts covered during the course and the recommended bibliography (see the corresponding section). Additional materials may be provided through the virtual campus. Relevant regulations will be analyzed during the classes, so it is essential that students have access to these materials during both theory classes and seminars.

2. SUPERVISED ACTIVITIES

Individual and group tutorials, when necessary.

3. INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES

Independent activities include all those in which students manage their time and effort autonomously, either individually or in groups. This includes reading and studying legal texts, textbooks, case law, and other materials, as well as researching the resources necessary to prepare for classes and, especially, seminars.

Reading and studying the textbook Lliçons de dret internacional privat (Barcelona, Atelier, latest edition of 2026) can be particularly helpful, especially for preparing the theoretical part of the course.

Regarding the development of skills to solve practical cases, the best approach is obviously the prior preparation of the cases discussed during the course and regular attendance and participation in the seminars. In any case, and especially for those who are unable to attend and regularly complete the course's practical activities, the following self-study workbook (with solutions) is recommended: Arenas García, Rafael, Casos básicos de Derecho internacional privado con sus soluciones (Barcelona, Atelier, 2023, 2nd ed.).

NOTE: Fifteen minutes of one class session, within the schedule established by the faculty or degree programme, will be reserved for students to complete surveys evaluating the teaching staff's performance and the course.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous Assessment Activities

[The table is kept: First practical case 12.5% (1.25 points out of 10); Final exam (theory) 50% (5 points out of 10); Final practical exam 25% (2.5 points out of 10); Second practical case 12.5% (1.25 points out of 10).]

REGULAR ASSESSMENT

The course assessment will be conducted as follows:

a) 50% of the final grade (up to 5 points) will correspond to the final theoretical exam. This exam will be oral, and in it students must demonstrate their command of the subject.

b) 25% of the grade (up to 2.5 points) will correspond to a practical test held at the end of the course, on a date that will be announced at the start of the course via the virtual campus.

c) 25% of the grade (up to 2.5 points) will correspond to two written in-class assignments, on dates to be announced at the start of the course via the virtual campus. Each of these two assignments will count for 12.5% of the final grade (up to 1.25 points each).

The practical tests that count towards the grade —the two in-class assignments completed during the course [section "c)"] and the final practical test [section "b)"]— must be completed without the use of any materials, with the sole exception of the course syllabus and, in groups taught in English, a dictionary of that language or a bilingual one (English and another language). In the final theoretical exam [section "a)"], only the course guide may be consulted.

d) The final grade will result from the weighted average of the final theoretical exam [section "a)"], the final practical test [section "b)"], and the two in-class assignments [section "c)"]. Failure to complete the assignments specified in section "c)" does not prevent passing the course, provided that the grades obtained in the exams under sections "a)" and "b)", using the weighting criteria described, achieve a sufficient overall average according to the general academic regulations applicable at UAB.

In order to be assessed, students must attend at least one of the practical activities indicated in sections "b)" or "c)". If this condition is not met, the student will receive a grade of "not assessable". This condition does not apply to those who choose the single assessment option (see the relevant section below).

Final grades publication will include information on the date for grade review. This review may include all assessable activities completed during the course.

During the course, students may request meetings with the teaching staff to discuss the rationale behind their grades and the assessment criteria applied. These meetings do not preclude the possibility of a later exam review, as governed by the paragraph above.

REASSESSMENT

Students who have not passed the course in the regular assessment may take the reassessment. Students who have passed the course in the regular assessment may not take the reassessment to improve their grade.

The reassessment will include a theoretical exam with the same format as the regular-assessment theoretical exam (section "a)") and a practical test (section "b)"). Therefore, the grades obtained in the theoretical and practical reassessment will account for 75% of the final grade. The remaining 25% will correspond to the two in-class assignments completed during the course, referenced in section "c)" of the regular assessment; these cannot be reassessed.

Students may choose to sit the reassessment for both the final theoretical exam and the final practical case, or only for one of the two. In the latter case, the grade from the non-reassessed component obtained in the regular assessment will count toward the final grade.

SINGLE ASSESSMENT OPTION

On 30 May 2022, the UAB Academic Affairs Committee approved the single-assessment option, by amending article 265 of UAB's Academic Regulations. This single assessment is considered an exception to the general evaluation system and is therefore only available to those who explicitly request it. Its implementation will follow the substantive and procedural conditions determined by each faculty. Therefore, students wishing to use the single-assessment option for Private International Law may apply under the specific regulations of the Faculty of Law. See the following link: https://www.uab.cat/doc/PautesAvaluacioUnica

The single assessment will consist of three tests:

1. Theoretical exam (50% of the grade).
2. Practical case (40% of the grade).
3. Additional question, practical exercise, or text commentary (10% of the grade).
4. 
   

To pass the course, students must obtain a sufficient overall average according to the general academic regulations applicable at UAB.

The theoretical exam will be oral, following the same rules as in the regular assessment. Both the practical case and the additional question, practical exercise, or text commentary must be completed without the use of materials, with the exception of the course syllabus.

REASSESSMENT OF THE SINGLE ASSESSMENT

Students opting for the single assessment also have the opportunity for reassessment if they fail in the regular call. The reassessment will likewise consist of a theoretical exam, a practical case (40% of the grade), and an additional question, practical exercise, or text commentary (10% of the grade). To pass, students must again achieve a sufficient overall average under UAB's general academic rules. Students may choose to reassess all three components or only some of them. In the latter case, the grade from the non-reassessed component obtained in the regular assessment will be carried forward to the final grade.

USE OF AI

The use of AI in assessable activities is not permitted in this course.

FRAUDULENT CONDUCT

IMPORTANT: If a student copies, commits plagiarism, or is found using a prohibited device during an assessment activity, the teaching staff will grade that assessment activity with a 0, and will notify the Dean's Office of the Faculty by submitting a report on the circumstances and evidence of the incident, requesting that disciplinary proceedings be opened against the student. This assessment activity will not be recoverable. If more than one irregularity occurs in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for that course is 0.