Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2012-2013 (archived)

Module LAW3011: COMPETITION LAW

Department: Law

LAW3011: COMPETITION LAW

Type Open Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2012/13 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • • Legal Skills (LAW 1041); Contract (LAW 1071); OR, at the discretion of Chairman/Chairwoman of Board of Studies or delegate, a suitable module or combination of modules from another Department.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To provide a general understanding of the foundations of EU competition law;
  • To analyse key concepts of competition law and economics;
  • To analyse leading and recent EU competition law cases.

Content

  • The Goals of Competition law, Schools of Competition Law, some economics of Competition Law;
  • A General Overview of EU Competition Rules;
  • Scope of Article 101 TFEU to horizontal and vertical agreements;
  • Article 101 (3) TFEU exemption;
  • Article 102 TFEU on abuse of dominance;
  • Merger Regulation and Joint Ventures;
  • The Enforcement of EU competition law.
  • The essential pillars of EU competition law will be covered:
  • the application of the competition rules to vertical (distribution) and horizontal agreements (Article 101 TFEU),
  • the abuse of a dominant position (Article 102 TFEU),
  • mergers and joint ventures (EU merger control),
  • the enforcement (Regulation 1/2003).

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Students should be able to demonstrate a sound understanding of the EU competition rules.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Students should be able to analyse key concepts of EU competition law and adopt a pragmatic approach to case law.
Key Skills:
  • Students should be able to gain analytical and writing skills as well as the ability to work independently.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The seminars will be used primarily to impart knowledge, and
  • To enhance students capability to analyse and critically evaluate legal scholarship and recent developments in EU competition law, in the form of two summative essays;
  • One formative and two summative essays;
  • The summative essay tests the ability to focus on the proposed topic and the key issues covered in seminars, to organise content knowledge and to develop logical argumentation based on further independent reading.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Seminars 12 Normally weekly commencing week 3 in each term 2 hours 24
Staff office hours 28 Normally weekly during Michaelmas, Epiphany and Easter Terms 1 hour 28
Preparation and Reading 148
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Summative Essay Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
summative essay 4000 words 100%
Component: Summative Essay Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
summative essay 4000 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

1 essay/term (2000 words max)


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University