Postgraduate Module Descriptor

LAWM089: Consumer Protection

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

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 to the issues of consumer protection in context (relation contract-consumer law; competition – consumer law; the role of consumer behaviour; harmonisation of consumer law; consumer notions; concept of mixed contracts; average and vulnerable consumers);
issues revolving around the consumer contract’s conclusion; discussion of consumer protection against unfair commercial practices;
issues of consumer protection in conclusion of contracts with regard to adhesion contracts, standard terms and conditions; examination of the concept of unfairness of contract terms, as well as the consequences of such unfairness;
regulation with regard to the conclusion of specific, popular consumer contracts, such as contracts of sale and contracts pertaining to travel; information rights, right of withdrawal, non-conformity and individual remedies; air passenger rights; package travel;
consumer protection when the deal goes wrong; regulations with regard to product safety and liability as well as with regard to enforcement of consumer rights;
impact of the digitalisation of the market on consumer protection;
issues related to promoting sustainable consumption through consumer protection measures.

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
30	270	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	15	10 x 1.5 hour lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	15	10 x 1.5 hour seminars
Guided independent study	150	Preparation for seminars
Guided independent study	120	Preparation of formative and summative assessments

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

See in particular the Web pages of the EU Commission on: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/index_en.htm

Case law of the European Court of Justice available at: http://curia.eu

Westlaw, Lexis, Eurlex