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Unit outline_

LAWS3499: Migration, Refugees and Forced Migration

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Migration Refugees and Forced Migration is designed to introduce students to one of the most fast moving and engaging areas of public law. At one level, the unit is about government regulation of the entry of persons into Australia. As such, it is a branch of applied administrative law that concerns the very make-up of our society, affecting both who we live with and how we live our lives. Statistics show that more than one in four Australians were either born overseas or had an Australian-born parent. Dramatic skills shortages have seen unprecedented rises in the number of migrants brought to Australia on temporary and permanent visas. In spite of this, controversy persists over the nature of Australia's immigration program and the extent to which the government is doing enough to control both unlawful entry and the quality of the (lawful) migrants. Issues surrounding refugees and asylum seekers are a constant preoccupation. Covering both immigration law and domestic aspects of the law of forced migration the course is also a fine vehicle for exploring issues of human rights and the interaction between domestic and international law. With Sydney receiving the lion's share of the migrants that come to Australia each year, migration law has become a growth area for both lawyers and for migration agents. By placing the current mechanisms for the controlling migration in their legal, social, historical and economic contexts, this unit provides an opportunity to explore the "big" issues raised by migration and to look at why the subject has assumed such a central role in the development of Australia's identity as a nation. The unit of study is designed to foster the following skills: a. Skills of statutory interpretation and problem-solving, through the study and use in practical situations of the Migration Act 1958 and its associated Regulations; b. Skills of legal analysis and evaluation, gained through the examination and synthesis of relevant legislation; of court decisions and of rulings by the Migration Review Tribunal; the Refugee Review Tribunal; and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in its migration division; and c. Oral and writing skills, through class participation, simulation exercises and the preparation of a major research paper.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Law
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
LAWS2010 and LAWS1021 and LAWS2011
Corequisites
? 
(LAWS2002 or LAWS2010 or LAWS5010) and (LAWS1018 or LAWS2005 or LAWS1023 or LAWS5005)
Prohibitions
? 
LAWS3458 or LAWS5158 or LAWS3453 or LAWS5153 or LAWS5199
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Mary Crock, mary.crock@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam hurdle task Final 3 hour take-home exam
Short release take-home exam
60% Formal exam period 3 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO6
Assignment hurdle task Research essay
Essay
40% Mid-semester break
Due date: 27 Sep 2020 at 23:59

Closing date: 01 Nov 2021
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Research essay (40%, 3000 word maximum): The purpose of the research essay is to allow students to pursue a chosen area or topic within the course in more depth. The project aims to encourage the development of basic research and analytical skills; as well as fostering clear thinking and expression of ideas. The essay will also give the students the opportunity to explore aspects of migration law within a broader theoretical and jurisprudential framework. This is a non-redeemable assessment. It is due on 27 September at midnight.
  • Final exam (60%): The take-home exam will test the student's ability to apply the law in given fact situations, just as they will be required to do in practice. A choice of essay questions will allow students to demonstrate their grasp of issues involving the interface between immigration and different areas of public law, politics and economics. The exam will be open book and will cover all aspects of the unit of study.

A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out for this unit of study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this unit of study.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

  • Completely answers the question.
  • Contains striking originality of approach or analysis.
  • Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research (where independent research required).
  • Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed.
  • Is otherwise exceptional in some way.

Distinction

75 - 84

  • Completely answers the question.
  • Achieves a critical and evaluative approach to the issues.
  • Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument.
  • Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument.
  • Generally well expressed and free from errors.
  • Has a clear structure and is well articulated.

Credit

65 - 74

  • Covers main issues fairly well in answering the question.
  • Contains no significant errors.
  • Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues.
  • Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues.
  • Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.

Pass

50 - 64

  • Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument.
  • Contains some significant errors.
  • Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues.
  • Offers a descriptive summary of material relevant to the question.
  • Superficial use of material, and may display a tendency to paraphrase.
  • Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis.
  • Adequate expression.
  • Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment and satisfies the requirements to proceed to higher-level studies in the degree or subject area.

Fail

0 - 49

  • Does not answer the question.
  • Contains significant or numerous errors.
  • Few or no identifiable arguments.
  • Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant.
  • Lack of research or analysis.
  • Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure.
  • Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The late submission of a piece of assessment, which has not been granted an extension, will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment per calendar day or part thereof. After the closing (final extension) date, students who make a successful application for Special Consideration will not receive an extension but an alternative assessment. In the case of the exam, a successful application for Special Consideration will result in a replacement exam.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Migration control and the law: history and practice Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 The constitution and norms of international law Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Immigration and the regulatory revolution Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 04 Common entry (exclusion) criteria Seminar (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Family migration Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 Business and skills-based migration Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 09 Refugees and humanitarian migration Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Expulsion: unlawful status and the enforcement of migration laws Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Merits review Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Judicial review Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance:All students are required to attend 70% of classes (or as otherwise specified by the Unit Coordinator) to satisfy the pass requirements for each unit of study. Attendance requirements may be satisfied by in person and/or online attendanceas specified by theUnit Coordinator. Failure to meet this requirement may result in a student being precluded from sitting the final assessment.
  • Referencing guide: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the most recent version of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style, although you should confirm this with your lecturer, and a link to the website where this is set out comprehensively is available at About the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC).
  • Word count: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will: exclude: bibliography; footnote numbers; footnote citation; cover page and; include: body text; headings and sub-headings; quotations; anything other than numbers and citations in footnotes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library Reading List, available on Canvas. 

  • Mary Crock and Laurie Berg, Immigration and Refugee Law in Australia: Law, Policy and Practice in Australia (Sydney: Federation Press, 2011) (Hereafter ‘Crock and Berg’)
  • You will be required to access relevant legislation through the LEGENDcom database accessed via the library’s online resources

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. analyse the legal framework governing migration control in Australia to determine its coherence, fairness and efficiency
  • LO2. describe the development of current migration and refugee laws and policies in their historical and economic context
  • LO3. evaluate the operation of migration laws and policies so as to determine their coherence, efficiency and fairness
  • LO4. discuss policy issues, including the criteria used in selecting migrants; the access given to lawful and unlawful non-citizens to administrative review bodies and to the courts for the purpose of challenging adverse decisions
  • LO5. examine the interrelationship between migration law, international human rights law, administrative law, constitutional law and criminal law.
  • LO6. understand the legal framework governing migration control in Australia to determine its operation in applied situations, its coherence, fairness and efficiency

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

All classes will be recorded and recordings placed on Canvas.  For students who are unable to attend classes there will be supplementary classes each week over Zoom.

Work, health and safety

At the moment classes are scheduled to occur online via Zoom.  When face to face lectures are allowed,  I would like to encourage students to wear a mask in class

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.