B6121 - Private International Law

Academic Year 2026/2027

  • Moduli: Domenico Damascelli (Modulo 1) Alessandra Zanobetti (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 1); In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Law (cod. 9232)

    Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Legal Studies (cod. 6682)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student:

- acquires an in-depth knowledge of private international, crucial for a future legal practice, as well as for international careers;

- possesses the technical tools for understanding and solving the various private issues of an international character, thanks to the presentation of the subject from a comparative perspective, with many examples taken from practice and case-law.

Course contents

The course will enable students to critically understand and professionally address private law issues with elements of internationality. To this end, the main topics of private international law - jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of foreign decisions, international judicial cooperation and assistance - will be analysed, examining the most relevant catgories of private international law - divorce, international contracts and successions mortis causa.
This will allow in particular to explore in a historical and comparative key the different sources of private international law (international sources, sources of EU law, national sources, non-state law), the methods of regulation of private matters with elements of internationality (including party autonomy and rules of uniform substantive law), as well as dispute resolution (state jurisdiction, international arbitration, alternative means of dispute resolution).
The analysis of these issues will allow the examination of different visions of private international law, also analysing public policy in the management of private international law and the role of the subject in EU integration and global governance.

Readings/Bibliography

A.-L. Calvo Caravaca, J. Carrascosa González (editors), European Private International Law, Comares, Granada, 2022

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures and interactive seminars. Interactive seminars involve the analysis and discussion of case law and scholarly writings, made available to students through the website of the course. Students are expected to actively take part in the seminars.

Assessment methods

THE EXAM IS HELD IN ENGLISH

The final exam is oral or written, at the choice of the students.

The written exam consists in questions with 3 possible answers (1 correct, 2 false) on the course programme.

The oral exams consists in questions on the course programme.

Teaching tools

Students are required to get a copy of the textbook.

Case law and reading material will be available on the course website: virtuale.unibo.it.

Office hours

See the website of Domenico Damascelli

See the website of Alessandra Zanobetti