Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW2109: Competition Law

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

The teaching and learning on the module will be research-enriched, considering the latest developments in the area. You will develop your ability to analyse primary materials, engaging with relevant secondary sources. This should enable you to construct balanced legal arguments and take an informed view whilst using a wide range of materials. The specific objectives of the course are:

  • To provide advanced instructions in the main principles of competition law, developing students’ analytical skills;
  • To examine critically the rules prohibiting cartel agreements between undertakings under Chapter I of the UK Competition Act, enhancing students’ ability to analyse complex competition law issues;
  • To analyse the provisions prohibiting an abuse of dominance under Chapter II of the UK Competition Act, specifying the difficulties which enforcers have to deal with;
  • To consider the main principles concerning the merger control, identifying the challenges regulators/businesses face;

To study the principle concerning enforcement of UK competition law, evaluating the effectiveness of the current enforcement regime.

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 knowledge and understanding of the main objectives of completion law and its enforcement.
2. Undertake critical evaluation of the UK competition law provisions.
3. Understand how the UK competition law enforcement regime is functioning.
4. Identify the major challenges which the UK policy-makers are facing.
Discipline-Specific Skills5. Synthesise relevant primary and secondary sources considering important legal implications and various policy-options.
6. Identify central legal issues and problems concerning a regulatory framework.
7. Solve legal problems, identifying relevant issues and specifying the legal positions of parties to complex legal disputes.
Personal and Key Skills8. Construct a legal argument and take an informed view, whilst responding to essay-style questions and problem-style questions.
9. Structure legal arguments with a view to presenting ideas and drawing conclusions, when completing specified tasks.