Contract law
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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.
What you will study
The module begins by discussing the requirements for entering into a valid contract, clarifying how these are tested by the courts, 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, duress, 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.
Entry requirements
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.
Preparatory work
You might find the following resources useful in preparation for this module:
What's included
You will be provided with the module textbook Poole’s Casebook on Contract Law 15th edition (Merkin and Saintier) and have access to a module website, which includes:
- an eBook version of the module textbook
- a week-by-week study planner
- course-specific module materials
- audio and video content
- assignment details and submission section
- online tutorial access and tutor support.
Computing requirements
You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.
Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.
To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).
Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.
Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.
It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.