Module Catalogue 2026/27

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

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Aims

This module aims to provide you with knowledge and understanding of different aspects and general principles of English contract law. To this end, the module gives you an overview of the requirements for the formation of a contract, consideration, terms, interpretation and enforceability of a contract, vitiating factors, damages and other remedies. In particular, the module aims to:

1)       Develop knowledge and understanding of the general principles and traditional approaches of English contract law and compare them with alternative models and techniques.

2)       Develop independent thinking and think practically in this field, and apply the legal rules and principles to specific situations.

3)       Develop the ability to identify and analyse problematic issues within the law of contract.

4)       Gain an analytical and critical approach to contract law and an awareness of social, policy and other issues that can impact on contractual relations, including fairness, inequality of bargaining power and public policy.

5)       Develop an understanding of the underlying values in contract law and how they interact with each other.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module will examine in detail the English law of contract, drawing where relevant on materials from other jurisdictions. Attention will be paid to the characteristics of the contract, the nature, purpose and approaches of contract law, the nature and requirements of contractual agreement, consideration and other requirements for enforceability of contracts, terms and interpretation of contracts, vitiating factors and remedies. Traditionally, contract law alongside tort law is the 'law of obligations' and therefore an important part of everyday life for individuals, businesses and even public agencies. Knowledge and understanding of contract law is imperative in a variety of theoretical and practical dispute resolution and problem-solving contexts. The emphasis of the module is therefore on applying the rules, principles and concepts of contract law to real-life cases with practical consequences and to contextualise the law in relevant legal practice, social, economic, political, historical, philosophical, ethical and cultural settings. The syllabus will be structured:

(1)       Formation
-       The history of contract and its place in the liberal tradition
-       The purpose of contract law in modern society
-       Offer and acceptance
-       Consideration and the intention to create legal relations
-       Formalities

(2)       The terms of a contract:
-       Express terms
-       Implied terms and contractual interpretation
-       Exception Clauses
-       Consumer contracts and consumer protection

(3)       Vitiating factors
- Misrepresentation
- Mistake
-       Duress
-       Undue Influence
-       Illegality

(4)       Discharge and remedies
-       Performance, frustration and breach of contract
-       Damages
-       Specific performance
-       Injunction
-       Award of an Agreed Sum
-       Restitution

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module, students should be able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of:

- The law on the topics covered in the module, using appropriate concepts, interpretive techniques and terminology;
- The role of liberal political and economic thought on the development of principles of contract
- The formation of a contract, including the role and unique nature of consideration in English contract law and other common law systems
- How contractual terms are interpreted, defined and incorporated into contracts
- Terms that may be considered unfair, and the additional protection afforded to consumers
- The factors that can impact upon the validity of a contract
- The remedies available in case of breach of contract
- The role of extra-legal normative frameworks that govern social and contractual relationships

Intended Skill Outcomes

Cognitive skills – having completed the module, students will be able to demonstrate these subject-specific skills:

- The ability to interpret statutes governing contractual relations, as well as identifying the key aspects of central cases that have informed the trajectory of contract law.
- The ability to place developments in contract in the greater socio-economic context in which contract law-making takes place.
- The ability to critique these developments, identifying where laws have adapted to socio-economic pressures, and where laws may need to be reformed.

Key transferable skills – having completed the module, students will be able to:
- Deal effectively with complicated real-world scenarios and identify the contractual provisions that may be relevant.
- Demonstrate critical reasoning skills.
- Demonstrate skills in collecting, handling, evaluating and applying information.
- Demonstrate oral and written presentation skills through active participation in seminars and preparation of written tasks.
- Demonstrate the ability to carry out independent research and identify relevant primary and secondary legal materials.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The teaching in this module is designed to provide three separate ways of stimulating critical thinking. The lectures have been designed to provide a law in-context approach whereby each of the topic areas is viewed through a different contextual lens. Skill-based Seminars have been designed to provide practical training in the application and analysis of the law. Finally, the reading has been balanced to provide a level of self-study and knowledge acquisition combined with some elements of analysis. This analysis is highlighted through seminar preparation questions which provide the necessary link between knowledge and application. The content of the seminars mimics the format of the formative and summative assessments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment for this module is designed to validly and reliably measure achievement of the module’s intended learning outcomes, with a clear alignment between knowledge acquisition, application, and analytical skills. The summative assessment comprises a digital examination that counts for 100% of the overall mark and consists of two parts.

Part A - consists of compulsory MCQs and MSQs and contributes 33% of the overall mark. It assesses students’ breadth of knowledge of core legal doctrines and terminology across the syllabus.

Part B requires the answering of a problem question, where students answer one of two options, assessing their ability to apply legal rules to factual scenarios and to construct coherent legal arguments. Together, Parts A and B ensure coverage of both foundational knowledge and applied legal reasoning.

The formative assessment strategy reinforces learning and supports preparation for the summative examination. Students will undertake in-class formative practice with problem questions to develop legal problem-solving and exam technique under low-stakes conditions. Additionally, MCQs and MSQs are incorporated throughout the module as topic-linked formative exercises. These provide regular opportunities for self-assessment and feedback, without contributing to the summative grade. This combination of formative tasks directly mirrors the format and cognitive demands of the summative assessment, thereby strengthening students’ readiness and confidence.

General Notes

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