LLM in Maritime Law

Overview

The LLM in Maritime Law programme is designed to keep students at the forefront of this ever-evolving field. This course covers all major recent developments, ranging from significant maritime cases through to revised forms of maritime contracts; as well as emerging maritime technologies and their possible legal implications.

English maritime law has a long history, and is one of the oldest and most developed branches of commercial law. Much of contract and tort law in England is developed out of judicial decisions on maritime disputes. This fascinating but complex area of law also cuts across the traditional boundaries of public law and private law, enabling students to navigate complex cross-disciplinary challenges with confidence and skill.

Please note that this programme is confirmed for 2025/26 entry.

Highlights

Complete your LLM degree in just 10 months when studying full-time, giving you a head start in industry.
Our location in the heart of legal London provides you with a unique opportunity to draw on the resources of the centre of the UK’s government, legal and financial communities.
Gain practical skills with pro-bono opportunities offered at the Centre for Access to Justice, allowing you to provide legal advice and give back to the local community.
Develop your skills and legal knowledge by taking part in mooting and debating competitions.
Access specialist careers support from our in-house Careers Consultant.
Be a part of our global student community and take advantage of our unrivalled UCL Law Society which delivers an outstanding programme of activities and events each term.

Why choose this programme?

Maritime law has a long history, yet remains relevant in today's times. It is a truly dynamic field, making it an exciting topic of study which reflects the ebb and flow of the global economy. When economic activity is high, vessels carry more cargo across oceans, creating a range of legal considerations. When the market slows, maritime disputes tend to rise, sparking legal debates with real-world impact.

The programme also offers explores maritime policy-making, a fascinating and complex area that is transforming the future of the industry at both national and international levels. The specialism therefore equips students for impactful careers in regulatory bodies and governance.

Despite its global application, most maritime disputes are governed by English law, and London is still the place for dispute resolution - making UCL Laws the ideal place to dive into this challenging and rewarding field.

Who should apply?

Maritime law appeals to students from diverse backgrounds and interests. For those aiming to practice maritime law within the legal profession or the shipping industry, whether in the City or internationally, this specialism is invaluable. But it’s not only future maritime lawyers who are drawn to this field; students looking to sharpen their legal reasoning and analytical skills also find maritime law a thought-provoking and cross-disciplinary subject. Please visit our LLM applying and entry requirements page to find out the exact requirements for this programme.

Applying and entry requirements | Fees, funding and scholarships | Frequently asked questions | Information for offer holders

Programme structure

The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures and tutorials. Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions, particularly for seminars and tutorials.

Assessment in taught modules is often by examination, an assessed coursework essay, or through a combination of both. There may be other forms of assessments such as oral presentations, output for audience or group projects.

During the programme, you will research and write a 9000 word Research Essay which counts towards your final grade.

Full-time students

Terms one and two

During the first week of term one, you will attend the LLM Induction Programme, which includes a series of events to welcome you to UCL Laws and to UCL as a whole, and to complete your formal registration onto the LLM programme.

In the second week of term, you will begin your first classes.

There are ten weeks of classes per term, with a break for reading week after week five. Throughout the term, you will be able to take advantage of the wide range of events held within the Faculty and across UCL, including special lectures, mooting, debating and activities organised by the Graduate Law Society.

Term three

Your assessments, including any coursework essays are normally submitted in the first week of term three. All examinations take place during term three and can be scheduled at any time during this term. The examination schedule is published at the end of term two.

During the entire year from September to June you will work on your Research Essay (RE) which will be submitted at the end of term three.

Part-time students

You will follow the same programme as full-time students above, except for the following:

Your degree will be completed over two academic years In your first year, you will take 90 credits of taught modules In your second year, you will take the remaining 45 credits of taught modules and the 45 credit Research Essay.
You will be invited to attend induction at the start of your first year with the full-time students.
Please note that you will be attending classes with full-time and flexi LLM students. Module teaching can be scheduled between 9am-8pm on weekdays. You will be able to reference the timetable when making your module selections each year.
You will therefore complete module selection twice: once at the start of your programme and again in the summer before you return to your second and final year.

Modular/ flexible students

You will follow the same programme as full-time students above, except for the following:

You will have up to 5 academic years to complete your degree. You can plan how you would like to complete your 135 taught module credits over that 5 year period based on your personal circumstances (or earlier if you plan to complete the degree in fewer than 5 years).

Please note that you will be attending classes with full-time and part-time LLM students. Module teaching can be scheduled between 9am-8pm on weekdays. You will be able to reference the timetable when making your module selections each year.

We will prompt you to select modules each year. You may wish to have a year or more where you do not take any modules; this is possible. It is recommended that you only complete your Research Essay at the end of your degree, in the same year that you are due to complete all of your taught module credits. You will be invited to attend induction at the start of your first year with the full-time students.

Modules

Students will need to obtain a total of 180 credits consisting of taught modules and a research essay to successfully complete the programme. Students choosing a LLM specialist degree are required to select a minimum of 60 credits from the qualifying modules listed below. Students are required to write their Research Essay in the area of the specialism.

Students are advised to plan their modules choices and research essay carefully and in advance. You will select your modules at pre-enrolment, before arrival.

Below is an example of the suite of modules you can expect to chose from. The taught modules offered on the LLM programme vary from year to year. Please note that modules are subject to cancellation and change, including changes in module convenors and type of assessment and the modules listed below are to be confirmed for the 2025/26 session. Applicants and offer-holders are therefore advised to check this site regularly for further updates and changes prior to the start of the programme in September. Module places may be limited and will be subject to availability where there is a high demand and exceeds resources.

Modules for LLM Maritime Law: Carriage of Goods by Sea
International Trade Law
Marine Insurance Law
Modules across LLM Law: Access to Justice: Theory & Practice
Advanced Foundations of Environmental Law
Advanced Foundations of International Law of Foreign Investment
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Aspects of National Security
Commercial Remedies
Competition Law (EU & UK)
Constitutional Theory
Corporate Finance
Corporations, Finance and the Environment
Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions
Decolonizing Law
Environmental Lawyering
Foreign Relations Law
Foundations and Principles of International Law
Human Rights at Work
International and Commercial Trusts Law
International and European Refugee Law
International and Global Environmental Law
International Arbitration
International Commercial Litigation
International Criminal Law
International Human Rights Law
Jeremy Bentham and the Utilitarian Tradition
Jeremy Bentham and the Utilitarian Tradition A
Jurisprudence & Legal Theory
Jurisprudence & Legal Theory A
Law and Policy of Climate Change
Law and Policy of International Trade and the Environment
Law of Patents
Law, Economics and Society: The Foundations of Capitalism
Legal Aspects of International Finance
Liquidation and its Consequences
Principles of Civil Justice
Privacy, Data and Surveillance Law
Regulation of Financial Markets
The Law and Regulation of Banks and FinTech Services
The Rule of Law in the European Union

Career prospects

Graduates of the Maritime Law specialism may pursue careers:

As maritime or commercial lawyers
In the shipping industry (for example in Protection & Indemnity Clubs)
In maritime governance and policy-making.