國際投資條約與投資仲裁相關的法律議題，係國際經濟法的重要課題，同時涉及公、私法層面的法律交錯關係，具有學術與實務的重要價值。迄2011年底為止，全球約計有2833 項雙邊投資條約（Bilateral Investment Treaties，簡稱BITs）、數百項自由貿易協定或廣義之經濟協定。該等協定對外國投資人與投資設有實體保護之規範，例如非歧視待遇、公平與公正待遇(fair and equitable treatment)、充分保護與安全待遇(full protection and security)、避免違法徵收等。而此等規範之適用，亦常與一國對環境、公共衛生或人權政策的規範權(right to regulate)產生若干衝突。
另一方面，與一般國際法不同者，國際投資條約多設有「投資人與國家」仲裁（investor-state arbitration）條款，賦予外國投資人得直接訴諸國際仲裁機構（例如International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes,簡稱ICSID）或依據國際仲裁規則（例如United Nations Commission International Trade Law Arbitration Rules,簡稱UNCITRAL），針對地主國之相關措施提出投資仲裁，以解決相關爭議。「投資人與國家」仲裁係現代國際投資條約的重要特色，已自成重要的爭端解決體系，亦呈現諸多適用爭議。
又我國近年來簽署若干投資保護協定，包括ECFA下之兩岸投保協議、台日雙邊投資協議、台紐自由貿易協定及台星自由貿易協定下之投資專章等。此等發展，說明了國際投資條約及相關投資仲裁之適用問題，可能隨著經貿協定而對我國法律體系之發展有所影響。

本課程將討論國際投資法主要實體規範及投資仲裁適用之相關問題。以下略述主要課程內容:
A. General topics:
1. Introduction to the study of international investment law
2. Sources of international investment law
3. Definition
4. Expropriation
5. Non-arbitrariness
6. Non-discrimination
7. Full protection and security
8. Fair and equitable treatment
9. Umbrella clause
10. Dispute settlement (ICSID v. UNCITRAL)
11. Investment guarantees: political risk insurance
B. Specific Topics(suggested)
1. MFN and dispute settlement
2. Intellectual Property Rights in BIT
3. Inconsistent Investment Jurisprudence on Indirect Expropriation
4. Financial Crisis and BITs: Emergency Exceptions
5. Human rights, environment and public health issues under investment arbitration
6. Using international commercial arbitration to resolve investment treaty Issues
7. New York Convention at 50: An Overview
8. The non-compliance of Argentina with the ICSID Awards and Possible Solution
9. The backlash from investor-state arbitration: The denouncement from the ICSID?
10. China and the ICSID
11. Taiwan’s case in investment agreements, investment chapter of Trans-Pacific Partnership: Overview and Issues