Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW2004B: Contract Law

This module descriptor refers to the 2024/5 academic year.

Module Aims

This module examines the English law of contract and its theoretical doctrines and practical applications. Attention will be paid to the formation of contractual relations, the requirements for enforceability of contracts, terms and interpretation of contracts, performance and breach of contracts, vitiating factors and remedies. The module examines the law of contract in its social, moral and commercial setting. The module aims to:

(a) give you an understanding of the different aspects of the law of contract;
(b) encourage you to think practically in this field, and apply the legal rules and principles you have learned to specific situations, and;
(c) enable you to identify and evaluate issues within the law of contract.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate a thorough understanding of the main areas of English law of contract and be able to describe and discuss the theoretical and practical contexts in which they operate; 2. demonstrate awareness of some wider social and contextual implications of the areas of contract law;
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of legal concepts, values, principles, institutions and procedures, and the ability to explain the relationships among them; 4. demonstrate ability to apply legal knowledge to a problem and to discuss it.
Personal and Key Skills	5. demonstrate effective and accurate communication skills in a manner appropriate to the discipline / different contexts; 6. identify, retrieve and use efficiently a range of resources with some guidance;

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Introduction
• Formation of Contract (Formal Requirements; Offer and Acceptance)
• Consideration and Qualifications to Consideration
• Intention to Create Legal Relations
• Terms of Contract
• Exception Clauses
• Performance and Breach
• Misrepresentation
• Unequal Bargaining
• Frustration
• Remedies

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
55	245	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	55	22 x 2.5 hour seminars
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	151	Individual reading and seminar preparation
Guided Independent Study	94	Assessment preparation

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

ELE – vle.exeter.ac.uk