Program Overview

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Maritime Law (LLM)

About this course

Gain a maritime law qualification with our LLM Maritime Law master’s degree at the University of Southampton. We'll teach you the skills and practical knowledge to work in your chosen path on this flexible degree.

You’ll get to specialise in a choice of areas including marine insurance, admiralty law and arbitration law. Through our expert teachers and access to industry contacts, you’ll have a great opportunity to further your career in maritime law.

Shipping plays a central role in global trade, meaning that maritime law can offer a wide range of career opportunities.

With a global reputation for maritime research and world-leading academics, Southampton Law School is one of the best places in the UK to study for a master’s in maritime law. This degree combines the practical skills and theoretical knowledge you’ll need for a range of specialisms.

During your studies, you'll develop your knowledge through a grounding in areas like contract law, insurance and dispute resolution, amongst many others.

Southampton Law School is home to a vibrant port city and maritime institutions including:

• The Institute of Maritime Law
• The National Oceanography Centre Southampton
• The Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute
• The research division of Lloyd’s Register

Flexible study

If you prefer, you can apply to study this course as:

• a part-time master's - study the same course content over 2 or more years

You can also take a single module as part of continuing professional development (CPD). Explore modules that are available as CPD

Your modules and fees may vary if you choose a different study option.

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Course lead

Your course leader is Dr Stephanie Law. She has research interests in European Union Law, Consumer Protection and Private International Law and European Civil Procedure.

You can visit her profile to learn more about her work.

LLM Maritime Law taster lecture

Watch a taster lecture on 'COVID-19 - Place of refuge and ships in distress', delivered by Dr Alexandros Ntovas.

Learn more about this subject area

Law

The law affects us in multiple ways, whether it's protecting civil liberties or keeping order. You'll gain the critical thinking and communication skills to study and challenge its development and adv...

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Entry requirements

You’ll need a 2:1 degree in Law or a subject with at least 4 law modules.

Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.

English language requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

IELTS score requirements

• overall score: 7.0
• reading: 6.5
• writing: 6.5
• speaking: 6.5
• listening: 6.5

If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.

If you don’t meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Pre-masters

If you don’t meet the academic requirements, you can complete a pre-master's programme through our partnership with OnCampus. Learn more about the programmes available.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Course structure

This is a full-time master’s course. You’ll study for 12 months, from September to the following September.

In the first 8 months (semesters 1 and 2) you'll study the taught part of your course.

This is made up of modules that everyone on the course takes, and modules we’ll ask you to choose from a list of options.

You’ll begin preparing for your dissertation during semester 1, and continue this work in semester 2.

For the last 4 months, over the summer, you’ll work independently on a research project and write your dissertation. You’ll have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor during this time to discuss your progress.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Modules

The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

We don't have module information for this course yet. Please check again later.

Learning and assessment

Learning

You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars and guided independent study. During your studies, we'll encourage you to explore and debate a range of topics with other students, deliver presentations and even argue for a case in trial court proceedings, known as a moot.

You will enhance your legal knowledge and develop important skills in areas such as:

• teamwork
• communication
• critical appraisal
• logical reasoning

Some lectures and seminars will be run by legal and maritime professionals, including judges, ship brokers and representatives from classification societies.

You’ll take part in the LLM challenge, where you’ll work in a team to debate a current topic and compete for a small prize. This is a chance to exercise your intellect and develop your talents for collaboration and leadership.

Assessment

Depending on the modules that you take, you'll be assessed through a mixture of:

• exams
• coursework assignments
• your compulsory dissertation

Dissertation

This is an opportunity to carry out independent legal research on an issue that interests you. You’ll use the knowledge and skills you have learned to write a 15,000-word dissertation over 16 weeks at the end of the programme.

Academic Support

A personal academic tutor will advise you throughout your course, and you can talk to your module tutors about any subject-specific questions.

Careers and employability

Employability skills

This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.

The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:

• Research
• Critical thinking
• Self-management
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Problem solving

The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.

Download skills overview

Career pathways

Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:

• ABP (Association British Ports),
• Armed Forces legal services,
• Administration,
• Banking,
• BIFA (British International Freight Association),
• Business,
• CILT (The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport),
• Civil service,
• Community and voluntary,
• Crown Prosecution Service (CPS),
• Education,
• Finance,
• GSA (The Global Shippers' Alliance),
• High street solicitors' practices,
• Health and safety,
• HMRC,
• IMO (International Maritime Organization),
• International Association of Maritime Economist (IAME),
• Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers,
• Large organisations with in-house legal teams,
• local and national government,
• Ministry of Justice,
• Protection and Indemnity Clubs,
• Self-employment,
• The Institute of Export and International Trade,
• The Nautical Institute.

Careers directly related to this course:

• Barrister
• Chartered legal executive (England and Wales)
• Company secretary
• Logistics and distribution manager
• Maritime consultant
• Maritime lawyer
• Port manager
• Project manager
• Shipbroker
• Solicitor

See more

Wider career opportunities:

• Commercial and marketing manager
• Logistics manager
• Marine insurance executive
• Purchasing officer
• Relationship manager
• Shipping agency operator
• Shipping executive
• Ship sales and purchase executive
• Trainee voyage manager

See more

Example job titles of Southampton LLM Maritime Law graduates*:

• Solicitor
• Paralegal
• Claims handler
• Legal assistant
• Legal counsel
• Teacher
• Tribunal judge
• Police officer

See more

Job prospects for LLM Maritime Law graduates

• £32k: Average professional salary
• 86%: In a skilled profession or further study
• 93%: Graduate employment rate

Source

*Example graduate job titles and job prospect statistics taken from The Graduate Outcomes Survey, which gathers information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after finishing their course.

Work experience opportunities

Choosing to do work experience is a great way to enhance your employability, build valuable networks, and evidence your potential. Learn about the different work and industry experience options at Southampton.

Read more

Careers services and support

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:

• work experience schemes
• CV and interview skills and workshops
• networking events
• careers fairs attended by top employers
• a wealth of volunteering opportunities
• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.

More about careers support

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £9,250.
• EU and international students pay £25,400.

Check fees for other versions of this course.

Deposit

If you're an international student on a full-time course, we'll ask you to pay £2,000 of your tuition fees in advance, as a deposit.

Your offer letter will tell you when this should be paid and provide full terms and conditions.

Find out about exemptions, refunds and how to pay your deposit on our tuition fees for overseas students page.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams. The fee you pay will remain the same each year from when you start studying this course. This includes if you suspend and return.

Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges and expenses regulations

10% alumni discount

If you’re a graduate of the University of Southampton, you could be eligible for a 10% discount on your postgraduate tuition fees.

Postgraduate Master’s Loans (UK nationals only)

This can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master's course. Find out if you're eligible.

Southampton Law Postgraduate International Scholarship

A scholarship of £3,000 is available to international students studying for a postgraduate master’s in Law.

Find out more about the Southampton Law Postgraduate International Scholarship, including eligibility and conditions.

Other postgraduate funding options

A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

How to apply

1. Use the blue 'apply for this course' button on this page to take you to our postgraduate admissions system.
2. Create an account which gives you access to your own application portal. .
3. Search for the course you want to apply for.
4. Complete the application form and upload any supporting documents.
5. Pay the £50 application assessment fee, (there are some exemptions, check terms and conditions).
6. Submit your application.

For further details of our admission process, read our step by step guide to postgraduate taught applications.

Application deadlines

UK students

The deadline to apply for this course is Tuesday 9 September 2025, midday UK time.

We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.

International students

The deadline to apply for this course is Tuesday 26 August 2025, midday UK time.

We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.

Application assessment fee

We’ll ask you to pay a £50 application assessment fee if you’re applying for a postgraduate taught course.

This is an extra one-off charge which is separate to your tuition fees and is payable per application. It covers the work and time it takes us to assess your application. You’ll be prompted to pay when you submit your application which won’t progress until you've paid.

If you're a current or former University of Southampton student, or if you’re applying for certain scholarships, you will not need to pay the fee. PGCE applications through GOV.UK and Master of Research (MRes) degree applications are also exempt. Find out if you’re exempt on our terms and conditions page.

Supporting information

When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.

You’ll need to include information about:

• your knowledge of the subject area
• why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
• how you intend to use your qualification

References are not required for this programme.

Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.

What happens after you apply

You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.

We will aim to send you a decision 6 weeks after you have submitted your application.

If we offer you a place, you will need to accept the offer within 30 working days. If you do not meet this deadline, we will offer your place to another applicant.

Unfortunately, due to number of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Related courses

Maritime Law (LLM) is a course in the Law subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:

• LLM International Commercial and Corporate Law
• LLM International Law and Human Rights
• LLM Laws