- 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, international court systems and the Law of the Sea as a whole.

Could you share a bit about yourself and what your academic or professional background was before starting the LL.M. in Law of the Sea? 

I finished high school in the U.S. and went into the navy due to conscripted service. This is where I realized I enjoyed being at sea. After completing a 15-month service I started my bachelor’s degree at UiT. During those three years I acquired several part-time jobs at sea, both in Oslo and Tromsø. I also took on a few extra positions at UiT, such as working for the UiT Breakfast Seminar, serving as the head of the Political Science Union and of TSI Judo, among other jobs.  

What inspired you to pursue a LL.M. in Law of the Sea, and what drew you to this particular field of law? 

I wrote my bachelor’s thesis on the politicization of Arctic shipping with aspects of the Law of the Sea integrated into it. I got the idea from an article produced by Framsenteret (The Fram Center) where Maaike Knol-Kauffman was one of the co-authors. This article, “Arctic shipping trends during hazardous weather and sea-ice conditions and the Polar Code’s effectiveness” strengthened my interest in Arctic shipping. I mainly wanted to pursue studies in Law of the Sea because I found it very interesting and wanted to do a master’s degree in a maritime field, but without mathematics. The LL.M. in Law of the Sea was then perfect.  

What do you think of the courses and teaching style? What stood out to you? 

Our class of 2025 was quite small and consisted of only 16 students. The professors and lecturers were very engaging, and the classes were very humorous. It was easy to learn and pay attention. Some courses were less interesting than others, which is always a given in most programs. The professors managed to engage us through other means besides sitting and listening. They employed negotiation tactics, peer-teaching, colloquia and other interactive teaching formats. This made the less interesting topics more amusing to learn!

How do you see this degree shaping your future career? Are there specific roles or sectors you're aiming for? 

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, international court systems and the Law of the Sea as a whole. I also didn’t expect to enjoy studying law as much as I do now. I’ve not decided where I want to end up yet.  

How would you describe the learning environment at UiT both academically and socially? 

UiT is an amazing place to be a student. Socially it’s very open, it’s easy to blend in or stand out, it just depends on what you want. There are student hubs for everything, sports, hikes, board games, debate, quizzes and much more. All this makes UiT unique to attend since it creates a really good learning environment. Professors are close by and easy to reach if you need anything and classmates become your friends really quick.  

Have any courses or themes within the program surprised you, challenged your thinking, or shifted your perspective? 

I wasn’t surprised by much since I’d already attended UiT before, knew my way around campus and what UiT has to offer. However, I was positively surprised by the amount of out-of-class learning we would do. This included a trip to Svalbard and a visit to the Arctic Council Secretariat.  

What advice would you give prospective students who are considering applying to the Master of Laws in Law of the Sea at UiT? 

Don’t be afraid to engage or speak up if you think something can be done differently to improve your class. Our year communicated well with our lecturers, and our feedback was heard. Since the class is small and the program only a year long, it’s very simple to be seen and heard by the staff at UiT staff and your peers. Be active and use the opportunity to expand your network!