Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW2139: Comparative Contract Law

This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 academic year.

Module Aims

This module examines some of the key features of English, French, Dutch and German contract law and its theoretical doctrines and practical applications, drawing, where relevant, on European instruments. Particular attention will be paid to pre-contractual relations, the law of mistake, the law of frustration and remedies. The module will identify diverging theoretical and practical approaches and will explore possible explanations for such divergence. The module aims:

(a) to give you an understanding of differences and similarities in English, French, Dutch and German contract law;

(b) to question the theoretical foundations of the key features of each jurisdiction, and;

(c) to enable you to identify and evaluate possible solutions to harmonising European contract law.

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 Skills1. Demonstrate an understanding of the main differences between English, German, French and Dutch contract law and be able to describe and discuss converging and diverging underlying philosophies;
2. Carry out research into differing laws of contract on a comparative basis and produce a significant analysis and synthesis in writing; and
3. Compare the provisions of different legal systems using the functional approach of looking beyond differences in terminology and concepts to concrete outcomes.
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Apply legal knowledge to a problem / case study and to discuss it;
5. Select and explain relevant information from primary and secondary legal sources using appropriate interpretative techniques;
6. Analyse and apply legal data to specific facts and deduce likely outcomes where law is indeterminate.
7. Select and present, in a coherent way, relevant law and legal / theoretical arguments.
Personal and Key Skills8. Demonstrate effective and accurate communication skills in a manner appropriate to the discipline / different contexts;
9. Identify, retrieve and use efficiently a range of resources with some guidance.