How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: Maritime Law

Start date: October 2025

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 1 year

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Essex Law School

Develop a detailed knowledge of the fast developing and niche field of Maritime Law.

Our LLM Maritime Law is a specialist course which will provide you with the skills and knowledge to pursue or advance your career within the maritime and shipping sector. You'll benefit from understanding the social, political, cultural and economic contexts of maritime law and the impacts of the increase in international trade and how the law works in relation to current developments within the maritime and shipping sector.

Throughout the course you'll have the opportunity to study key areas including but not limited to:

Maritime Law and Wet Shipping
Marine Insurance
Admiralty Law
International Trade and Maritime Law
Carriage of Goods by Sea

Mindful of the broader trade and economic context to maritime law, you will also be able to choose from modules that are complementary to the above, including but not limited to

International Trade Finance Law
International Commercial Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
International Sale of Goods

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).

Why we're great.

Our close proximity to London means you are near the heart of the UK Finance, Insurance and Shipping industries.
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

You'll be 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. 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.

Dr Belma Bulut Sahin is conducting research in the fields of carriage of goods by sea, international contract of sales and maritime cybersecurity law. Her most recent publication examines the impact of the Developments of New Technologies in the Shipping Industry and Marine Insurance Market.

Dr Mohammed Khair Alshaleel has wide experience in the areas of international financial law, international trade law and Islamic banking and finance law. He recently obtained research funding for his project 'Digitalising International Trade Finance Process: Interrelationships, Constraints and Opportunities'.

Dr Ugochi Amajuoyi has practical experience working in the offices of the Financial Ombudsman Services before joining Essex Law School. Her research interests include Peer-to-Peer Lending, International Finance, and Consumer Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Specialist facilities

Volunteer at the Essex Law Clinic where you can work alongside practicing solicitors to offer legal advice to clients
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

Maritime Law opens a wealth of employment opportunities, you can aspire to careers ranging from shipping to maritime management.

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.

Entry requirements

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.

Structure

Course structure

We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The course content is therefore reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our courses remain up-to-date so modules listed are subject to change.

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 and modules explained

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 01: CORE

Dissertation

(60 CREDITS)

You’ll undertake a dissertation of 12,000 words in length for your LLM course. This is a compulsory element of the course.

View Dissertation on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

LW619-7-SP

(15 CREDITS)

View LW619-7-SP on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

LW620-7-AU

(15 CREDITS)

View LW620-7-AU on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Carriage of Goods By Sea

(15 CREDITS)

In this module you study the second most important contract in international trade, the carriage contract. You’ll develop substantial knowledge of the carriage contract and will be able to place that within the matrix of international shipment sales, including the insurance and finance of international trade. You’ll also interpret domestic and international legislation relating to the international carriage of goods by sea.

View Carriage of Goods By Sea on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: OPTIONAL

(45 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 06: OPTIONAL

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 07: COMPULSORY

Foundation Essay

(0 CREDITS)

The Foundation Essay is a diagnostic essay intended to provide an early opportunity to engage in legal analysis and writing. It is designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn and demonstrate independent learning, legal writing, research, methodologies and analysis, necessary for postgraduate study. The Foundation Essay is also a formative exercise for modules in the LLM courses. The mark for the essay does not count towards the final assessment of the degree, but it is a compulsory piece of work.

View Foundation Essay on our Module Directory

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

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£10,500

International fee

£22,750

Masters fees and funding information

Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's next

We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.

You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.

We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.

For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.

You will need to provide a copy of your CV with your application.

A sunny day with banners flying on Colchester Campus Square 4.

Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

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If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tour allows you to explore the Colchester Campus from the comfort of your home. Check out our accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

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.

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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.