Module LAW3157B for 2018/9
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW3157B: European Union Law
This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.
Module Aims
This module seeks to provide you with a foundational knowledge of the institutions of the EU, the form of its laws, and its central ideas of free movement. In particular, on successful completion of this module, you should be able to: communicate knowledge and understanding of the major principles of EU law; identify the relevant issues which arise in a problem or essay question; analyse and evaluate and apply the law in context to reach conclusions.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate detailed and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the legal nature of the European Union and its legal order, including its competences, institutional structure, sources of law and key legislative procedures; 2. demonstrate detailed and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of key aspects of substantive EU law; 3. demonstrate knowledge of and critically evaluate the interaction between European Union law and the domestic legal systems of the Member States, with particular reference to the United Kingdom; 4. research both theoretical and practical legal questions related to the key aspects of both procedural and substantive EU law and demonstrate competence in applying various EU law provisions selectively in order to formulate and critically evaluate a response to it; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. demonstrate detailed and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a range of legal rules, relevant legal concepts, values and principles, and the ability to appreciate their contextual, social and political implications; 6. apply legal knowledge to an essay question, discuss it and suggest solutions/ conclusions, while making informed and effective judgments about the merits and relevance of particular information and making reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments; 7. integrate and assess relevant information selected from primary and secondary legal sources using appropriate interpretative techniques, and argue effectively, reflectively and concisely, orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the discipline and in task-specific ways; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 8. take responsibility for own learning, and work effectively and proactively with others within a group, meeting obligations to the other members of the group, sharing ideas and managing conflict; 9. identify, retrieve and use efficiently a range of library-based and electronic resources with minimum guidance; 10. manage time independently and efficiently in preparing for learning activities, and work independently within a limited time frame to complete a specified task. |
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:
Introducing the European Union: history and evolution.
EU institutions: The Commission, Council of the EU, European Council, European Parliament and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Sources of EU law: transfer, competence and law making.
The EU legal system: The Treaties, primary and secondary legislation. General principles.
Doctrine of supremacy. Reception of EU law by member states.
Direct and indirect effect. State liability.
Preliminary Rulings. Actions against Member States.
Free movement of goods – tariffs and fiscal barriers.
Free movement of goods – non-fiscal barriers.
Free movement of workers.
EU citizenship.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | 122 | 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 & teaching activities | 12 | 12 x 1 hour lectures |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activity | 6 | 4 x 1.5 hour seminars |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 6 | 4 x 1.5 hour syndicate workshop meetings & activities |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 4 | 4 x 1 hour Q&A sessions |
| Guided Independent study | 60 | 12 x 5 hour Individual reading and lecture preparation |
| Guided Independent study | 12 | 4 x 3 hours Syndicate preparation |
| Guided Independent study | 12 | 4 x 3 hours Seminar preparation |
| Guided Independent study | 8 | Formative assessment |
| Guided Independent study | 30 | Summative assessment preparation |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar questions, discussed in syndicates and seminars | 4 x 1.5 hr syndicate meetings, 4 x 1.5 hr seminars | 1-10 | oral feedback from tutors and peers |
| Essay | 1500 words | 1-10 | Written feedback |
| Multiple Choice Examination | 30 minutes | 1-10 | Written feedback |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 2500 words | 1-10 | Written Feedback |
| Multiple Choice Examination | 50 | 1 hour | 1-10 | Written feedback available through ELE. General comments given on ELE. |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2500 words) | 1-10 | August reassessment period |
| Multiple choice examination | 1 hour | 1-10 | August reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
It is planned to make a custom textbook available for purchase. Other texts include:
P. Craig and G. de Burca, EU Law: Text, Cases and Materials (most recent edition)
D. Chalmers European Union Law (most recent edition)
C. Barnard European Union Law (most recent edition)
N. Foster Blackstones EU Treaties & Legislation (most recent edition)
