An undergraduate course in Law.

This course explores various types of commercial transactions, the role played by finance, and the forms of business organisations which can enter into commercial transactions. You’ll examine the legal regulation of the sale of goods, the supply of services, and agency, distribution and franchise agreements. In addition to gaining knowledge and understanding of this important and growing area that affects business organisations, you will develop associated legal and study skills. The course deals principally with the law of England and Wales.

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What you will study

This is a 30-credit course suitable for study if you have an interest in the way in which the law impacts on and regulates commercial transactions, and can be studied as part of the free-choice element of the LLB. 

The course considers the legal principles of contract law and the sale of goods in relation to business and consumer transactions. It also explores the role played by finance, consumer protection and competition law. In addition, you will be provided with an opportunity to develop a range of associated skills including:

• the basic principles of drafting commercial agreements and how they affect business and consumer transactions
• problem solving by identifying material facts and legal issues, applying legal principles and exceptions to find solutions
• conduct legal research and come to a reasoned conclusion.

Entry

This is a Level 2 course and you will need the study skills required for this level of study, which may have been obtained either from Level 2 study with the OU or from another university.

While this course can be studied on a stand-alone basis it assumes that you already have knowledge and understanding of the English legal system. We strongly advise you to study both Rules, rights and justice: an introduction to law (W100) (if you are a non-graduate) and Understanding law (W200) before starting this Level 2 course.

Please note that prior study of W100 alone is insufficient preparation for this Level 2 course.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Outside the UK

Please note that this course is only concerned with the law of England and Wales.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability

The written study material is available in a comb-bound format. The study materials (excluding text books) may be available on CD-ROM in PDF format and are also available to download from the College of Law website. Some components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. You will need to spend time using a personal computer and the internet. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

Study materials

What's included

Two course manuals and case book. Access to a course website that offers forums, learning resources, news items and access, via the OU library, to online legal databases for research purposes.
The study materials are updated annually, but it may be necessary to update during your study of the course if there is a major (and unexpected) change to the law.

Computing requirements

You will need a computer with internet access to study this course as it includes online activities, which you can access using a web browser.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2007 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
• If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
• If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.6 or later.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor with whom you can communicate by email, telephone and post, who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Your tutor will also run online tutorials that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to take part in. 

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and end-of-module assessment (EMA) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment or EMA on paper.

The end-of-module assessment (EMA) is a project. 

Professional recognition

If you are intending to count this towards the free-choice element of the LLB, and you hope to enter the Legal Professions, you should read carefully our Recognition leaflet 3.13 Law. There are different entry regulations into the legal professions in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. You should read the Recognition leaflet as it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet these requirements.

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in May 2013. From 2014 we expect it to be available once a year, in October.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Law: the individual and the state (W201)
• Law: agreements, rights and responsibilities (W300)
• Law: ownership and trusteeship: rights and responsibilities (W301)
• Understanding law (W200)
• Employment law and practice (W221)

How to register

We regret that we are currently unable to accept registrations for this course. Where the course is to be presented again in the future, relevant registration information will be displayed on this page as soon as it becomes available.

Student Reviews

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information read Distance learning explained.

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