Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW3157B: European Union Law

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

EU law remains important to English lawyers. Firstly, the EU has been a source of inspiration for a considerable amount of law that is now retained and applied in England and Wales. Secondly, the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement strongly indicates that the EU will remain a significant UK trading partner for the foreseeable future. The purpose of this module is therefore to provide you with a foundational understanding of EU law, which will help elucidate aspects of English and Welsh law, and which will equip you with the knowledge and perspective needed for an outward-looking and globalised practice.

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. identify, explain and critically evaluate key issues in EU law and to apply relevant rules and theories; 2. compare, analyse and synthesise the principal rules and theories relating to EU law.
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. demonstrate detailed knowledge of legal concepts and their contextual, social, and political implications; 4. select, integrate and present coherently and reflectively relevant law and legal or theoretical arguments.
Personal and Key Skills	5. manage relevant learning resources, information and learning strategies to develop own arguments and opinions with minimum guidance; 6. work independently and manage time efficiently in preparing for scheduled learning activities and assessments.

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
30	120	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	30	12 x 2.5 hour seminars
Guided independent study	70	individual reading and seminar preparation
Guided independent study	20	Formative assessment
Guided Independent study	30	Summative assessment preparation

Online Resources

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