College of Law

LLM Maritime Law and the Law of the Sea

Key information

Duration
1 year (full time) or 2 years (part time)
Start of programme
September 2027
Attendance mode
Full time or part time
Location
On campus
Fees

Home: £17,020
International: £28,950

Course code
PSO-LLMMAR1FD
Entry requirements

A 2:1 degree in a relevant undergraduate degree.  

If you have a lower degree classification, your application may be considered if you can present a strong case, either through relevant work experience, other legal qualifications, or a strong supporting statement. References are not required, but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:1 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications. 

See international entry requirements and English language requirements.

Course overview

The LLM in Maritime Law and the Law of the Sea offers an interdisciplinary and distinctive specialisation that brings together the private and public dimensions of maritime regulation. 

Situated at the intersection of law, commerce, politics, human rights, and the environment, the pathway engages with some of the most pressing contemporary questions concerning ships, people and the oceans. 

At SOAS, we approach maritime law as a broad and interconnected field, encompassing commercial and institutional frameworks, state and non-state actors, and the human and environmental dimensions of maritime activity. Combining specialised teaching in maritime law and the law of the sea, the pathway also explores key contemporary developments at the intersections of insurance and conflict, maritime security and human rights, and environmental protection and development. 

Drawing on SOAS’s distinctive global and comparative perspectives, students are encouraged to critically examine the international and transnational dimensions of maritime regulation, including the relationships between the Global North and South, the distribution of power and resources, and the challenges of governing an increasingly contested and interconnected maritime world.

By bringing maritime law and the law of the sea together, this pathway offers students the opportunity to develop a comprehensive understanding of the maritime world, from its commercial and regulatory frameworks to its geopolitical, environmental and human dimensions. This combination provides both a strong foundation for professional engagement with the maritime sector and an intellectually stimulating opportunity to explore the complex legal and political questions shaping the future of our oceans.

Why you?

This programme is ideal for LLB or other graduates from a related discipline as well as legal or other professionals with an interest in the theory and practice of international law, particularly as it relates to the global south. You will join an international alumni of graduates from the LLM at SOAS many of whom are now working at the UN, in NGOs, in government, in private practice, in policy work or in academia. 

Please note that the LLM is open to applicants from different disciplines and is not restricted to applicants who hold an UK law degree or international equivalent.  

Global Partnerships

This programme can be offered as part of a dual LLM degree with a number of our partnering universities. For further information about our LLM Dual degree partnerships, please visit Global Partnerships.

Study Tours

All postgraduate students can take part in our Study Tours and explore the world. Destinations include New Delhi, Lahore, Seoul, Luang Prabang, Almaty, Bishkek, Kigali, Johannesburg, and Doha. For more information, see our Study Tours page.

Structure

Full module structure TBC.

Students must take modules to a total value of 180 credits, consisting of a dissertation (60 credits) and 120 credits of taught modules. Taught modules are worth either 15 or 30 credits. Students who wish to graduate with a specialised LLM are required to take at least 60 credits associated with their specialised LLM, and the dissertation topic will be undertaken within the LLM specialisation.

Please note that not all modules listed will be available every year. 

Module availability

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes. 

However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Teaching and learning

Study hours and workload

All Masters programmes consist of 180 credits, made up of taught modules of 30 or 15 credits, taught over 10 or 20 weeks, and a dissertation of 60 credits. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework, revising for examinations and so on. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

We recommend that part-time students have between two-and-a-half and three days a week free to pursue their course of study. 

Knowledge and understanding

Students will acquire specialist knowledge of maritime law. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, knowledge and understanding of the following:

  • the theoretical and practical underpinnings of maritime law
  • the context in which law is made, interpreted, adjudicated, and amended
  • the role played by law, particularly maritime law in different areas
  • the role and function of legal institutions in managing maritime law
  • the weight and significance of different sources and methodologies

Students will also develop knowledge of how to locate relevant materials and assess their relevance and/or importance.

Intellectual (thinking) skills

Students should develop: 

  • rigour in analysis and assessment of legal arguments
  • the ability to understand, summarise and critically assess differing perspectives on theoretical debates
  • independence of thought and the confidence to challenge the accepted wisdom
  • the ability to identify issues and formulate questions for further research through independent work
  • the ability bring to bear their own previous experience and knowledge in addressing legal issues in an interdisciplinary manner

Subject-based practical skills

The programme will help students develop the ability to:

  • write clear research essays and dissertations
  • research in a variety of specialised research libraries and institutes and online, and retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources
  • present seminar papers and defend the arguments therein
  • discuss ideas introduced during seminars
  • develop essay and dissertation research questions
  • read legal source materials rapidly and critically
  • present legal arguments in moots and debates

Transferable skills

The programme will enable students to:

  • communicate effectively in writing
  • structure and communicate ideas and arguments effectively both orally and in writing
  • read and comprehend significant quantities of reading rapidly and effectively and develop critical faculties
  • find and use a variety of written and digital materials, especially legal materials, in libraries and research institutes
  • present (non-assessed) material orally
  • develop teamwork skills

SOAS Library

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Employment

SOAS Law graduates leave SOAS as civic minded and critically engaged individuals who can effectively contribute to their communities and societies. With a thorough understanding of the legal dimensions underlying many of our global challenges today, our Law students are valued by employers due to their analytical skills, specialist knowledge, and global perspective.

SOAS Law graduates have found the LLM a vital boost to their work as legal professionals and that this Law masters provides an excellent base for further study towards a research degree such as a PhD leading to an academic career. 

Recent College of Law graduates have been hired by:

  • PwC LLP
  • BLM Law
  • BloombergNEF
  • British Medical Association
  • Clifford Chance
  • DAC Beachcroft LLP
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • EY
  • HM Treasury
  • Latham & Watkins
  • Legal Cheek
  • Simpson Millar Solicitors
  • The Economist
  • Travers Smith
  • Vodafone
  • World Cancer Research Fund

Find out about our Careers Service.

Key staff

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