Welcome to the Institute of Foreign and Comparative Law

IFCOL, a research institute with full department status within the School of Law, strives to be the premier research institution in the development and application of private international law, public international law and comparative law in Africa. To this end, we aim:

• maintain and develop our database of private international law rules, particularly in the area of family law and succession law.
• track the development of regional law, particularly within the Southern Africa Development Community
• monitor Africa's participation in the development of public international law, particularly as regards international development law.
• undertake comparative law studies on various aspects of private, commercial and public law in African states.

In carrying out these objectives, we serve the information needs of students, the legal profession, governments as well as private and commercial interests. As an academic institution we also hope to stimulate debate and further research within the broader academic community.