Module: Law & Politics of Brexit

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Law & Politics of Brexit
Module Code	LAW1066 (ITS: LG5059)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

The purpose of this module is to instruct students on the law and politics of the withdrawal from the European Union (EU), using the historical example of Brexit – the United Kingdom (UK) departure from the EU – as a case study to enhance the understanding of European law & policy. By combining legal and political analysis, and by drawing on the extensive intellectual resources of the Brexit Institute (Ireland’s only and Europe’s first academic centre created to analyze Brexit), the module provides students with cutting-edge instruments to understand one of the most defining events of our times.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the process of withdrawal from the EU, their stages and their features
2. Identify the legal and political mechanisms that shape withdrawal
3. Evaluate the constitutional and political consequences of withdrawal
4. Gain an advanced understanding of Brexit as a watershed historical process
5. Assess the key challenges resulting from Brexit, for Ireland, the UK, the EU

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	No Description
Directed learning	90	Preparatory Readings for Class, background readings for assessments
Directed learning	11	Preparing and submitting 2-3 questions for weekly submission, 30 minutes
Class Presentation	25	Preparing for group presentation
Report	40	Preparing and submitting policy paper
Report	62	Preparing and submitting research report
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	20619	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Ian Cooper	Module Teacher	Federico Fabbrini, Niels Kirst

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Research Paper	n/a	80%	n/a
Assignment	Formulating questions for class discussion	10%	n/a
Presentation	In class group Presentation	10%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction: The Law & Politics of Brexit

Withdrawal and EU Law Features of Exiting from the EU

Historical Background on UK / EU Relationships

Brexit Referendum and UK Politics Features of Exiting from the EU

Withdrawal Negotiations

Withdrawal Agreement

Northern Ireland Protocol

Future Relationship Negotiations

Future Relationship Agreements

Conclusion: Brexit and the Future of Europe

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Federico Fabbrini (ed): 2017, The Law & Politics of Brexit, Oxford University Press,
Federico Fabbrini (ed): 2020, The Law & Politics of Brexit. Volume 2: The Withdrawal Agreement, Oxford University Press,
Federico Fabbrini (ed): 2021, The Law & Politics of Brexit. Volume 3: The Framework of New EU-UK Relationships, Oxford University Press,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None