Last modified: 22 Jul 2026 13:42
This course seeks to guide students through the core aspects of company law and corporate governance including, inter alia, corporate legal personality, directors’ duties, the protection of minority shareholders, and the basics of corporate finance. The legal study will be combined with commercial and strategic scenarios such as private equity deals, initial public offerings (IPOs), and corporate control battles. Major policy debates will also be engaged.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
|
||
One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.
Course Aims: The course is aimed at providing students a solid understanding of the key issues in Company Law, namely: the nature and function of limited liability; corporate constitution; the division of powers within a company; directors' duties; minority shareholder protection; and the basics of corporate finance.
Main Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of the seminars, students are expected to understand the following:
1. Limited liability and piercing the corporate veil;
2. Company's constitution;
3. Company contracts;
4. Key aspects of corporate governance, including a division of power between board and general meeting; residual powers of general meeting; general meetings and resolutions; board meetings; legal rules governing the enforceability of transactions with companies;
5. Directors' duties;
6. Minority shareholder protection; and
7. Legal capital.
Knowledge and Understanding: As above.
Subject Specific Skills and Concepts: As above.
Key Skills (Transferrable): Company law facilitates the development of students' commercial awareness, communication, problem solving and other skills.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
1,500-words. |
Word Count | 1500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | To appreciate specific company law rules by referring to the basic principles and analytical tools acquired in the course. |
| Conceptual | Understand | To gain understanding of the legal framework and basic principles of company law. |
| Procedural | Apply | To apply the principles, rules, and case laws to concrete company scenarios. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 70 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Online Exam |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Re-submission of failed element in re-sit diet; the failed course will be capped at 09 (D3). |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | To apply the principles, rules, and case laws to concrete company scenarios. |
| Conceptual | Understand | To gain understanding of the legal framework and basic principles of company law. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To appreciate specific company law rules by referring to the basic principles and analytical tools acquired in the course. |
| Reflection | Create | To communicate orally and in writing information, advice and choices in an effective and persuasive manner. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | To engage with the discussion of the critical issues in the domain of company law such as corporate governance and stakeholder perspective. |
We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.
