The module will provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the core principles relating to formation, performance and discharge of contracts and an appreciation of the commercial implications of such principles.

Issues covered will include:

- formation of contracts
- contractual obligations under terms of the contract
- exclusion clauses and unfair contract terms
- vitiating factors and their consequences
- methods of discharging contracts
- remedies for breach
- legal developments resulting from commercial activity and technological advances

The presentation will consist of a 6 minute oral presentation and a piece of written work (1,000 words) during Semester 1 (50%) The presentation will assess Learning Outcomes 1 - 5

1 x 2 hour examination at the end of Semester 2 (50%)
(The students will be allowed to take into the examination room their copy of the case study which will be provided in advance of the examination. The students may underline or highlight the text of the case study but will not be allowed to annotate it. Where relevant statutory provisions will be provided in the examination room). The examination will assess Learning Outcomes 1 - 3.

Students must achieve an overall mark of 40% averaged over both assessment elements and not less than 25% in each element.

Poole J, Casebook on Contract, Current Edition, Open University Press
Richards, P. Law of Contract, Current Edition, Pearson Longman
Richard Taylor & Damian Taylor Contract Law Directions (latest edition) OUP

Whole group sessions - a series of participatory lectures will disseminate basic knowledge and understanding as the foundation of preparation for a structured programme of tutorial sessions - 2 hours per week x 22 weeks = 44 hours.

Small group sessions - a series of tutorial sessions will examine particular aspects of the Law of Contract. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used to encourage and develop both individual and collaborative learning, for example, a moot and an information technology based tutorial - 10 hours per semester = 20 hours.
Directed study and independent learning - principally, this will consist of preparation for tutorials and directed research. The module study guide provides students with an integrated programme of learning guidance via further reading references, tutorial workplans.

Completion of the tutorial workplans will encourage students to focus of the type of problem areas which can be assessed and facilitate tutorial discussion. The use of the workplans during the period of the module is intended to place a greater emphasis on analytical skills. An unseen, compulsory question on the examination paper, based on a pre-seen case report, and the format of the written presentation will enable an element of research to be assessed. Completion of tutorial reflective assessment forms at the end of each tutorial will encourage students to assess their progress, identify strengths and weaknesses and manage their time more effectively - 236 hours.

TOTAL LEARNING TIME = 300 HOURS.

Access to appropriate texts, legislation and case law.
Module Study Guide.
Computing facilities will be needed to access material available on the web and specialist on-line databases.
Specialist software.