– The LL.M. in Law of the Sea has definitely given me more academic tools to use in the future and a much better understanding of public international law, [...]
Andrea Krokan
Les intervjuetLaw of the Sea - master
Application deadline
- Nordic applicants: 15 April
- EU/EEA + Swiss applicants: 1 March
- Non-EU/EEA applicants: 15 November
Foto: David Jensen / JensenMedia AS
About the study
The oceans and seas constitute two-thirds of the entire planet and are of fundamental importance to sustaining life, human activity, providing commerce and navigational routes, and contain a substantial proportion of our natural resources (e.g., fish and hydrocarbons). They are also the world's greatest reservoir of biodiversity, including marine mammals, fish, and countless other species.
Students taking the Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Law of the Sea will gain a specialist and in-depth understanding of the law of the sea, opening up a wide range of career opportunities. The programme is taught by experts (both UiT/Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea (NCLOS) academic staff and other invited distinguished scholars and practitioners) with high level academic and practical experience in the law of the sea.
What will you learn?
During the LL.M-programme, students will acquire knowledge, skills, general competence, and experience that prepare and enable them to develop into international lawyers with specialist and in-depth understanding of the law of the sea and the international law relating to the protection and preservation of the marine environment.
To achieve these objectives the students on the LL.M programme are to acquire and develop the following qualifications:
Knowledge
After completing the Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Law of the Sea, the LL.M candidate in law of the sea shall have obtained:
- advanced knowledge on the central themes of the law of the sea
- advanced knowledge on other specialized topics of the law of the sea
- knowledge of scientific research methods
Skills
After completing the Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Law of the Sea, the LL.M candidate in law of the sea shall be able to:
- identify and analyse questions of a theoretical and practical character by using an appropriate methodological and ethical approach
- identify and critically interpret different sources of the law of the sea
- identify the limitations of the existing law of the sea, suggest changes, thereby contributing towards legal development
- independently undertake a limited research project on a law of the sea topic in accordance with the ethics of research
- comprehend, systemize, and apply complex information
- communicate in English in a clear and precise manner, both orally and in writing
- stay up to date on legal developments within the law of the sea to further develop their knowledge
General Competence
After completing the Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Law of the Sea, the graduate is able to:
- apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the field of the law of the sea individually and in cooperation with others
- communicate on law of the sea issues in a clear and precise manner to the academic community and the public, both orally and in writing
- apply knowledge and skills acquired within the field of the law of the sea to other fields of international law
- identify and reflect on ethical dilemmas that may arise within the law of the sea and deal with these in a responsible manner
- apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the field of the law of the sea to carry out tasks within given timeframes
Student life
What can you become?
The LL.M programme qualifies and prepares students for legal careers both at the national and international level, especially those that require extensive knowledge of the law of the sea. Examples include the United Nations and its specialized agencies or other international organizations (e.g., the International Maritime Organization (IMO), national diplomatic services or ministries dealing with law of the sea issues, international courts and tribunals, non-governmental organizations, public administration, the maritime industry, universities, and international law firms.
Further, over the years several students on the LL.M programme have completed internships at leading international institutions, such as the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
Students may also wish to pursue a Ph.D. within the law of the sea or related fields. However, the LL.M programme does not provide, on its own, admission to the PhD programmes in Law and Political Science at UiT.
Programme structure
How is the teaching organized?
The starting point
Students on the LL.M programme are taught by legal experts from within the Faculty of Law, especially the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea (NCLOS), and from outside the Faculty, including by members of intergovernmental organizations and international courts and tribunals, academics from other universities, and legal practitioners.
The teaching is delivered through lectures, seminars, writing courses, a moot-court, and excursions to relevant institutions. Students are required to actively participate in all these activities.
On the LL.M programme, there is active interaction between the faculty/teaching staff and the students. The students are to acquire knowledge through their own activities and in interaction with fellow students and faculty staff. The students are expected to be active during classes and to undertake both voluntary as well as mandatory assignments.
The LL.M programme is linked to the requirements and expectations of society for ethical and professional conduct of members of the legal profession.
The teaching, assignments and exams are designed in a way to reflect the different types of tasks and requirements the graduates of the LL.M programme will face in their future professional careers. This objective is to be achieved through the active participation of students in the different courses; their own studies; by having discussions with both fellow students and teaching staff; and by independently writing (research) papers and a master’s thesis.
The lectures will introduce different themes of law of the sea. They will also cover the prescribed literature and prepare students for the seminars. In seminars, which is one of the major forms of teaching, students and teaching staff will identify and discuss in-depth legal questions. Students also need to hand in (research) papers during the courses to develop their knowledge on law of the sea issues and enhance their analytical and writing skills.
Student activity
Students have an important responsibility for their own learning. They are required (both individually and in groups with fellow students) to:
- actively collect, acquire, and process the learning materials
- prepare for and to be active during classes and to undertake the necessary supplementary work outside of the classes
- keep themselves updated on current developments (e.g., new international legislation and case law)
Learning environment
The teaching staff and the students cooperate in creating a social and academic environment of the highest possible quality. On the LL.M. programme, there is close contact between the students and the teaching staff.
Students play an active role to play in the quality assurance of the LL.M programme and will be able to interact with the teaching staff in this regard. Students on the LL.M programme have access to the facilities of the University library and its resources, including the open study halls.
Teaching
The teaching is designed in a way to facilitate the achievement of the objectives of the LL.M programme, as described above. It also prepares students for their future careers. The teaching is meant to supplement and inspire the self-learning of students. It is research-based and allows for dialogue between student and teaching staff. The teaching methods used in the programme are varied. This is necessary in light of the different ways of learning and the distinctive character of the topics covered on the LL.M programme, the expertise and availability of teaching staff, and the prescribed literature. Students will also be instructed on how to use online legal databases.
The LL.M programme utilizes different means of instruction and engagement. Most of the teaching is delivered through seminars and lectures; comparatively, students will have more hours of seminars than lectures. Lectures will provide an in-depth coverage of the main themes that are covered in the readings and further discussed in the seminars that will be subsequently held. The seminars are led by the teaching staff and are problem-oriented and practical in nature. Students are expected to actively participate (individually and in groups) through making oral presentations, writing essays and other written pieces of work, having discussions in class, and through related activities. In addition,guest lectures are also part of the curriculum for the benefit of student learning.
Exams and assessments
The students are assessed both during and at the end of the LL.M programme. The forms of assessment include work requirements, six hour written school exams, a home exam followed by an oral exam, and at the end of the LL.M programme each student must write a master’s thesis followed by an oral exam.
A more detailed description of content, teaching, assignments, and exams is provided in the course description.
This study programme requires compulsory attendance to the introductory meeting. See this web page for more information.
Language of instruction
English
Programme structure
See the subjects you can take in this study programStudy plan
Studiesteder du kan utveksle til
Admission requirements
Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) with at least 80 ECTS credits specialization in law; or at least 80 ECTS credits specialization in a relevant social science subject for example, in Political Science (e.g., international relations or peace and conflict studies) or Maritime Studies (e.g., maritime policy, marine management, Maritime History, Maritime Security, Ship and Port Management, or Nautical Studies).
Applicants having completed the three first years (180 ECTS) in an integrated master’s programme in law are qualified for admission.
Applicants must have a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (2,5) in the ECTS scale.
Applicants with education from non-Nordic countries must document English language proficiency.
Admission capasity
22 places
Applicants from non EU/EEA countries:
- You will find more information about international admission here.
- Non-EU students must be prepared to pay tuition fees
Applicants from EU/EEA + Switzerland:
Applicants from Norway or Nordic countries:
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