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Accessibility statement
Qualification dates
StartEnd
03 Oct 2026Mar 2027
This module employs a range of multimedia sources and engaging activities to immerse you in key issues and debates relevant to contract law. The focus will be on the key transactional stages of contracts, the rules that regulate contracts, and the problems that arise with them. This will include addressing themes of technology, inequality, international influences, and the fairness of contracts that are used every day. It is taught to you through one family’s experiences of contracts in daily life.
The module begins by discussing the requirements for entering into a valid contract and clarifying how the courts apply these, for example, whether an individual has the capacity to sign a contract. You'll see how contracts are agreed, how obligations are enforced, and how disputes are resolved. The module will introduce you to different sources of law and explain the role of contract law and the courts in determining where and when contractual obligations arise.
You'll learn key contractual concepts such as offer and acceptance, terms (the contents of contracts) and remedies (how to resolve problems with contracts) through a module narrative with characters that use contracts in everyday situations. The module will introduce the law relating to a range of contracts and their contents, such as misrepresentation, mistake, and unfair terms. The module will also help you to familiarise yourself with recognising contracts and methods of resolving contractual problems.
The final part of the module offers you the opportunity to choose from an exploration of contemporary contract law, examining digital technologies and contracts, or international contract law, exploring international influences on contract law. This will allow you to engage with critical concepts of contract law and help develop the skills and appreciation needed for onward study.
Throughout the module, you'll be encouraged to engage with themes of law reform, technology, unfairness, inequality and rights through a range of multi-media sources, interactive activities and module materials. You'll also be given opportunities to develop key skills such as reading case law, reading and understanding information from different sources, and communication skills.
If you are new to study at university level, or are returning after some time, we recommend that you first study an OU level 1 law module such as Criminal law and the courts (W111) or Civil justice and tort law (W112), unless you are a graduate entry student.
If you are studying this module as part of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB) (R81) or Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (graduate entry) (LLB) (R82), then you will need to have studied or be studying on a concurrent presentation of Public law (W211) before enrolling on W212.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
You might find the following resources useful in preparation for this module:
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You will have digital access via Law Trove to Poole’s Casebook on Contract Law 16th edition (Merkin R. and Saintier S.), and a module website, which includes:
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying W212 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
Contract law starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2029.
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