Business and law Access module

What you will study

This multidisciplinary module provides an excellent introduction to studying with The Open University as you'll use printed and online materials to cover a wide range of topics in law and business.

The module is divided into three blocks:

Block 1 – Business, law and everyday life
This block introduces you to your case study characters. You’ll follow them through the first steps of setting up a business, learning about the legal system and how it affects their lives. You'll consider who counts as a ‘legal person’ and what that means for businesses, plus the differences between criminal and civil law. You’ll also see how to start a business, consider what makes something a crime and learn to work with real legal materials. There is an emphasis on developing your study skills which lay the foundation for future academic work.

Block 2 – Resolving differences and working together
This block addresses ways of resolving differences and working together. You’ll build on your study of law by exploring parts of the UK legal system, by considering when an individual might find themselves in court, why a business might choose to avoid court, and where to turn for legal advice. You'll also learn about the significance of age in law and business.

You'll explore the practical and ethical issues businesses face in sourcing and marketing their products and key considerations, such as how to communicate with customers, the importance of their wider context, and how people work happily together in different organisations.

While exploring these concepts, your online learning skills are developed, including reading and note-taking, and academic skills focus on constructing an essay.

Block 3 – Business and law case studies
You’ll delve into some key questions surrounding business and law, including, why criminal courts punish people and the importance of business ethics and environmental responsibility. You’ll explore some contemporary issues in depth to develop the ideas considered in previous blocks, including the age of criminal responsibility, what happens when business cause harm, and how do we protect consumers – and businesses – from fake online reviews?

By looking holistically at these issues and the previous material, you’ll develop academic skills of critical evaluation and comparison, and you’ll have the opportunity to plan and write an essay to consolidate these essential skills.

There are three student choice weeks giving you the opportunity to learn more about an area that interests you. You may also choose the option of catching up, or revisiting material that you missed or would like to engage with again. There are so many things to learn about in the subject areas of business and law that we can’t possibly fit it all into one module, so this is your opportunity to choose an area that interests you most.

The module includes multimedia material and a website with further study materials and resources as well as online quizzes and interactive exercises to help test your understanding.

• reading and interpreting information
• producing written communications
• time management and organisational skills
• problem solving.

You will also have the opportunity to gain skills such as working with audio and video material, using online forums and searching the internet for information. This experience will provide you with a gentle introduction to using a computer to support your study, and will equip you with the basic computing skills you will need for the next step in your studies.

Towards the end of the module you will have the opportunity to participate in activities which will help you to make decisions about your future study plans.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will keep in touch by a combination of phone, written correspondence and, if you want, email. There are no face-to-face tutorials; all tutorials are conducted on a one-to-one basis between you and your tutor. You may have an opportunity to experience a group tutorial and use online rooms. Your tutor will help you to plan your work and to think about the ideas explored in the module. Your tutor will also comment on and help you with your written work. At the end of the module, you will discuss your progress with your tutor, and you will work together to review your learning.

Assessment

You do not have to sit an examination for this module. Assessment consists of four short written assignments. Your tutor will mark your assignments and give you constructive written feedback to develop your study skills and confidence.

Regulations