Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025

Module LAW52730: International Sales Law

Department: Law

LAW52730: International Sales Law

Type Open Level 4 Credits 30 Availability Not available in 2024/2025 Module Cap None

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • to provide an advanced and comparative study of law and policies relating to international sale of goods transactions, with the focus on the Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (UK).

Content

  • history of the law on international sales and the evolution of legal policies relating to it;
  • the commercial structure of an international sales transaction (to include principles regarding shipping and payment in international transactions);
  • a comparative analysis of the key legal aspects of an international sales transaction, under the Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (UK);
  • emerging issues in international sales transactions, such as the treatment of NFTs and the use of regional treaties.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Students will be able to:
  • demonstrate a knowledge of the commercial and legal structure of an international sales transaction;
  • demonstrate a knowledge of the historical background of the CISG and the SGA 1979, the legal and commercial policies behind them, and their relevance to current issues;
  • demonstrate a knowledge of the use of the CISG and SGA 1979 in current commercial practice;
  • demonstrate a knowledge of the emerging issues in international sales practice and law.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Students will be able to:
  • identify relevant sources for research in relation to the CISG and SGA 1979;
  • understand the differences in legal methodology under each;
  • employ appropriate methodology and material in researching legal issues under each.
Key Skills:
  • Students will be able:
  • to undertake independent research;
  • to evaulate critically the arguments of others;
  • to deal with complex legal meterials and to express a position on the law on a cogent and clear fashion.

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

  • Seminars will be used to impart the fundamentals of the subject.
  • Students are expected to engange in extensive guided reading on the subject.
  • Assessment will be by summative essay; formative assessment will comprise an essay based on the style of the summative.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Seminars 15 Weekly 2 hours 30
Preparation and Reading 270
Total 300

Summative Assessment

Component: Summative Essay Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
essay 6000 words 100% yes

Formative Assessment:

One assignment, of up to 1000 words, in the form of a summary or outline of the topic of their essay.


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