Last modified: 22 Jul 2026 16:46
This course examines the law of the European Union and its evolving relationship with the legal systems of the United Kingdom. Students will explore the composition and function of the EU institutions, the sources and effects of EU law, state liability, and judicial review, alongside key substantive areas such as human rights, the fundamental freedoms, and competition law. Throughout, particular attention is paid to how the relationship between the UK and EU legal systems continues to develop in the wake of Brexit.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The course begins by tracing the origins and historical development of the European Union, before turning to how EU law continues to operate within and affect the UK following Brexit. Students will study the structure and function of the EU institutions, along with the sources and legal effects of EU law within domestic legal systems, including the principle of state liability. The course also engages with the protection of fundamental rights within the EU legal order.
Building on these foundations, students will examine the Single Market and its core freedoms, including the free movement of persons and citizenship rights, the freedom of establishment and to provide services, and the free movement of goods. The course concludes with an examination of EU competition law, situating it within the broader framework of market regulation. Throughout, students are encouraged to critically assess how the relationship between UK and EU law has evolved, and continues to evolve, since Brexit.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
The assessed essay will be returned with written feedback. Feedback will be given on an ongoing basis in tutorials in the form of tutors' responses to students' in-class contributions. |
Word Count | 1200 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Knowledge and understanding of the essential principles of EU Law |
| Factual | Understand | Find the relevant law from a variety of sources |
| Procedural | Analyse | Think logically and critically; distinguish the legally from the irrrelevant |
| Procedural | Apply | Appreciate the way in which the relevant legal rules are applied to the particular facts |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Synthesise Ideas and information from different sources |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
On-campus Multiple-Choice Questions class test worth 50% of the overall grade. Students will use their own laptops with lockdown browsers enabled. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Knowledge and understanding of the essential principles of EU Law |
| Factual | Understand | Find the relevant law from a variety of sources |
| Procedural | Analyse | Think logically and critically; distinguish the legally from the irrrelevant |
| Procedural | Apply | Appreciate the way in which the relevant legal rules are applied to the particular facts |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Synthesise Ideas and information from different sources |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Find the relevant law from a variety of sources |
| Conceptual | Understand | Knowledge and understanding of the essential principles of EU Law |
| Procedural | Analyse | Think logically and critically; distinguish the legally from the irrrelevant |
| Procedural | Apply | Appreciate the way in which the relevant legal rules are applied to the particular facts |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Synthesise Ideas and information from different sources |
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