Module overview
This module covers international commercial sale contracts, principally CIF and FOB (which account for the vast majority of the world's tonnage internationally shipped), but also other international sales, in particular international commodity sales, and sales envisaging multimodal transport operations.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- rights and duties of the parties (obligations of buyer and seller);
- risk and property;
- payment mechanisms, letters of credit and the UCP 600;
- role of the documents, and the changing documentation;
- relationship between seller and buyer and actual and/or contracting carrier.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- construct legal arguments clearly and coherently in writing and/or orally through seminar discussion;
- demonstrate independence of mind in the presentation and defence of an argument, both orally and/or in writing.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- distinguish relevant from irrelevant materials;
- locate and analyse relevant legal and other primary and secondary source materials including model contracts;
- identify and analyse key issues;
- think critically, develop coherent arguments orally and/or in writing, communicate arguments to a group of peers and defend your position under challenge.
Syllabus
The module covers the sale contracts themselves, their finance, and the relationship between the parties to the sale contract and the contractual and/or performing carriers.
We will cover specifically:
- Rights and duties of the parties (obligations of buyer and seller);
- Risk and property;
- Role of the documents, and the changing documentation;
- Payment mechanisms, letters of credit and the UCP 600;
- Relationship between seller and buyer and actual and/or contracting carrier.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching for this module is by lectures and tutorials. Lectures will introduce the main principles and structure of the subject. You are expected to provide the main input to the tutorials, where the main issues of law are discussed.
The most important part of learning is your own independent study. This will, however, be closely guided, and firmly tied into the lectures, tutorials and assessment. Most of the discussion will revolve around the main legal decisions, and the arguments that have been advanced, and accepted or rejected in the cases.
E-learning
E-learning facilities are provided through Blackboard. Lectures will be recorded in case any part of a lecture is missed, and for revision. Computer-based quizzes will be used alongside the lectures and tutorials to help provide a direction for your study.
Reading
Recommended reading will be provided for each tutorial, and there will be recommended books (which will, however, form only the initial basis for study).
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wider reading or practice | 98 |
| Lecture | 42 |
| Tutorial | 10 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 150 |
| Total study time | 300 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Todd (2002). Cases and Materials on International Trade Law. Sweet & Maxwell.
Todd (2007). Bills of Lading and Bankers' Documentary Credits. Informa.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Set exercises - non-exam
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback:
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Mock Examination
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: 2 mock exams marked by peers in the class
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Mock Examination
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: 2 mock exams marked by peers in the class
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Examination | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Examination | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Examination | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External