The details

Course: International Trade and Maritime Law

Start date: October 2025

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 1 year

Location: Colchester Campus

Delve in to the legal principles surrounding the exciting field of global trade with a focus on the shipping industry. Specialise in two key areas of commercial law: International Trade law and Maritime law, building your knowledge and skills within a continuously growing niche industry. These two areas bring together many fields of law from advanced contract to the law of the sea. The international nature of this course, covering international trade and shipping, is matched by the diverse staff and students that form our truly global community.

You develop a thorough and in-depth knowledge and understanding of the main principles of law in the areas of international trade and maritime law. Exploring the social, political, cultural and economic background of the laws in question, you gain an understanding of how national, European Union Law and International Law interact. You will cover a variety of topics, including:

Financing International Trade
How Marine Insurance protects ships and cargoes
International Law of the Sea issues
Sale and Carriage of Goods by Sea Contracts
Environmental Protection Laws

We are ranked 49th for Law in THE World University Rankings by subject 2024, which is 9th in the UK, and we are 3rd in the UK for research power in law (THE research power measure, REF2021).

Our course uniquely combines International Trade Law with a particular focus on Maritime Law and our close proximity to London means you are near the heart of the UK Finance, Insurance and Shipping industries. You develop your intellectual and critical faculties, encouraging you to think independently and teaching you to present rational, coherent and accurate arguments orally and in writing. It will provide you with an excellent foundation for any career.

Why we're great.

Explore the regulation concerning the sale and transaction of goods around the world and make a global impact
Indulge in research-led teaching and explore the latest breakthroughs in the field
Choose from optional modules to develop extensive knowledge in the areas that interest you the most

Our expert staff

LLM International Trade and Maritime Law is taught by international experts in the field, teaching specialised modules which will develop your skills in research, litigation and negotiating. Our internationally diverse community of staff and students gives us a breadth of cross-cultural perspectives and insights into law and justice around the world.

Dr Anil Yilmaz Vastardis is a Senior Lecturer. Her main research interests lie within international investment law and business and human rights.

Dr. Durand Cupido is a Lecturer in Law and a qualified attorney of the High Court of South Africa (non-practising). Durand has practised as a commercial litigation attorney and continues to advise on maritime law and related matters.

Prof. Onyeka Osuji previously practised in corporate and commercial law before a career change into academia. He is currently a Reader in Law and his research interests lie within Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Consumer Protection, Development and Corporate Regulation. Dr Osuji is also qualified as a barrister and solicitor of Nigeria and a (non-practising) solicitor of England and Wales and has advised individuals, corporations, and national and international governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Dr Tara Van Ho is a Senior Lecturer in Essex Law School. She has been one of the leaders of our Essex Business and Human Rights Project, through which she advised states, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, and businesses on issues of business, investment, and human rights. Her main research interests are business and human rights, investment law and human rights, economic, social and cultural rights, and transitional justice.

Dr. Carlo Petrucci is a specialist in Competition Law having studied the topic of private enforcement of EU Competition Law. He is conducting research on EU policy-making, market regulation, and digital economy.

Specialist facilities

Volunteer at the Essex Law Clinic where you can work alongside practicing solicitors to offer legal advice to clients
Gain commercial awareness at our Business and Legal Advice Clinic
Participate in mooting competitions to develop your skills, particularly important if you hope to become a barrister
Test your mediation and negotiation skills in our Client Interviewing Competition (sponsored by Birkett Long Solicitors)
Join our Model United Nations society, which can improve your skills of argumentation, oral presentation and research
Network at our student-run Law Society, Human Rights Society, and Bar Society, which provides legal advice to the Commonwealth Students' Association (CSA)
Take advantage of networking opportunities throughout the year with visiting law firms

Your future

Essex Law School graduates have gone on to a wide variety of careers in international and intergovernmental organisations or employment with governments across the world, in commerce and banking, in non-governmental organisations and, as might be expected, in the legal profession and the judiciary. Students have joined Protection and Indemnity Clubs, working in the Insurance industry including Lloyd's of London opportunities; they join shipping companies and associations such as the International Maritime Purchasing Association. Others have gone on to Shipping Law firms or Commercial Banks and you can aspire to careers in organisations such as the International Maritime Organisation, UN Conference on Trade and Development or the International Chamber of Commerce. Maritime Law offers a plethora of opportunities and whilst you are at Essex, our staff can advise what type of careers will be suitable according to the modules you found interesting on the course.

During the year, we hold a careers session for our students in which we reflect upon our own careers and how they have been built as well as those from former students. We are always available to discuss career options and if you are interested in a particular area of the law, we can link you up with the relevant alumni to offer advice.

We also work with the university's Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

UK entry requirements

A 2:2 Degree in Law or a joint honours Degree in another subject with Law.

Applicants who do not hold a Law Degree but who have at least six months of relevant professional experience, traineeships, or professional qualifications/certifications issued by professional bodies such as Bar Associations can apply and will be considered. Please provide your CV.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other components.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Additional Notes

The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.

Course structure

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 05: OPTIONAL

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 06: OPTIONAL

(30 CREDITS)

Teaching

Postgraduate students in Essex Law School usually attend two-hour workshops, or a one-hour lecture and one-hour seminar for each module each week.

Taught through small-group interactive seminars that foster critical debate and analysis
Teaching is supplemented by lectures, where appropriate
Postgraduates are welcome to join the numerous guest lectures held at the School yearly

Assessment

Modules are assessed via a coursework, an examination, or a combination of the two.

Dissertation

Your dissertation is normally 12,000 words in length
You will have the freedom to select your own dissertation topic
A special dissertation module that offers guidance on topic selection and the writing process, as well as one-to-one supervision given from a member of academic staff

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.