The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the institutional framework of the European Community within the European Union and to enable them to develop problem-solving skills in relation to some of the main substantive areas of European Community Law. In particular, the course will focus on the following areas:

the relationship between Community Law and national law;
the lawmaking process within the Community;
the role of the European Court of Justice;
free movement of goods;
free movement of persons;
Community competition law.

Teaching Block 1:
1 x 2,500 word assignment - 50%
The assignment will assess learning outcomes 1-3.

Teaching Block 2:
1 x 2 hour examination - 50%
The examination will assess learning outcomes 1-5.


To pass the module, students must obtain an average mark of at least 40% and a mark of at least 35% in each component.

Whole group sessions
These will mainly be used to introduce broad concepts but will also involve case studies and group exercises where appropriate.
2 hours per week for 22 weeks = 44 hours.

Small group sessions
These will be used to explore particular aspects of EC law in more detail. They will consolidate and build on the knowledge acquired in the whole group session and will develop the analytical and problem-solving skills on which the students will be assessed.
5 one-hour sessions per teaching block = 10 hours.

Independent study
Students will be expected to spend a considerable amount of time on independent study. The main resources to assist them with this are the Study Guide and the EC Homepage. The Study Guide will provide a directed programme of learning guidance. For each small group session, it will include preparation tasks and follow-up tasks as well as reflective assessment forms to help students to assess their progress by identifying strengths and weaknesses. As well as containing an electronic version of the Study Guide, the EC Homepage will provide students with consolidation sheets after each tutorial and will make available copies of lecture handouts once the lectures have taken place.
246 hours.

Development of skills
In the first teaching block, students' preparation for and participation in the small group sessions will develop the skills of analysis and commentary upon research and current developments. In the second teaching block, such preparation and participation will develop problem-solving skills by encouraging students to apply their knowledge of the law to give an accurate statement of the legal position in hypothetical situations. The preparation tasks for many of the small group sessions are designed to develop students' IT research skills by requiring them to locate specific documents and bring them with them to the session. Students are also given a more general IT research exercise to help them to develop the skills necessary to seek out further information for themselves


TOTAL LEARNING TIME = 300 hours.

Steiner, J. and Woods, L. Textbook on EC Law 8th ed. (Oxford: OUP 2003.)
Tillotson, J. and Foster, N. Text, Cases and Materials on European Union Law 4th ed. (London: Cavendish 2003.)
Weatherill, S. and Beaumont, P. EU Law, 4th ed. (London: Penguin 2004.)
Craig, P. and De Burca, G. EU Law, Text Cases and Materials 3rd ed. (Oxford: OUP 2003.)
Arnull, A. et al. Wyatt and Dashwood's European Union Law, 4th ed. (London: Sweet and Maxwell 2000.)

The EC Study Guide and associated materials.
Appropriate texts, legislation, cases and journals.
Computing facilities (necessary to access materials on the web and specialist online databases.)