Maritime Law (LLB)

Your specialist maritime law degree includes the core modules required to earn a qualifying law degree, ready for progression to professional training. 

In years 2 and 3 you can choose from a range of optional modules to develop your knowledge of maritime law. 

In your final year, you'll choose a research topic and complete a 10,000 word dissertation with support from your academic supervisor.

Our flexible maritime law courses make it easy to study non-law subjects alongside your degree. Whether you have an interest in another subject or would simply like to extend your skills by learning a language, there are a wide range of options available.

Year 1 overview

You'll study the following core modules:

• Criminal Law

• Foundations of Contract Law

• Legal Skills

• Legal System and Reasoning

• Public Law: Foundations

You'll also choose 1 of these optional modules:

• Historical Development of the Common Law

• Philosophical Perspectives on the Common Law

These modules are designed to give you a deeper understanding of the contested nature of law and legal principle, develop your critical thinking skills, and help you to construct and communicate a persuasive argument.

Year 2 overview

Your 5 core modules are:

• Equity and Trusts

• Land Law

• Public Law: Administrative Justice

• Remedies in Contract and Tort

• The Law of Torts

You'll choose 2 modules from this broad list of options:

• Criminal Justice

• Employment Law

• Family Law: Children, Parents and the State

• Foundations in Criminal Evidence Law

• Health Care Law and Bioethics

• Introduction to Commercial and Maritime Law

• Introduction to Public International Law

• Principles of Commercial Arbitration Law

Year 3 overview

You'll complete a supervised dissertation on an approved maritime subject as part of your final-year Legal Research and Writing module. 

You'll choose 2 maritime law module options from this list: 

• Admiralty Law

• Carriage of Goods by Sea

• Commercial Conflict of Laws and International Litigation

• International Commercial Sales

Additional optional modules include: 

• Company Law

• Intellectual Property Law

• Insurance Contract Law

• Globalisation and Law

• Public International Law

You can also choose to study a module from outside of law, including Global Health, Business Skills for Employability, or a language. 

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

The learning activities for this course include the following:

• lectures
• classes and tutorials
• coursework
• individual and group projects
• independent learning (studying on your own)

How you'll spend your course time:

Academic support

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.

Course leader

Mark Telford is the course leader.

As a graduate with in-depth legal knowledge and the ability to think independently, you'll find a wide range of career and further study options waiting for you. 

This LLB programme is accredited by the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council of England and Wales as a qualifying law degree, so you'll be ready to train to become a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales and your qualifications may be recognised in other countries including India, Australia, Canada and Malaysia.  

You will also have specialist expertise to offer global maritime law firms and industry employers; including shipping companies, commodity houses, and marine or maritime-related government agencies. 

Our graduates have gone on to careers in:

• law (including as solicitors and barristers)

• politics

• business

• accountancy

• banking

• the civil service

• national and international organisations

• media

• entertainment

Alternatively, you could choose to continue your studies at postgraduate level, perhaps by joining the Law School's prestigious LLM Maritime Law programme. 

In addition to our strong links to the legal profession, we have a dedicated careers and employability coordinator focused on your graduate opportunities. We organise:

• an annual careers fair attended by over 50 law firms, including the top 5 law firms known as the 'Magic Circle' firms

• a one-week Employability Skills Programme 

• prizes awarded to our top-performing students by leading law firms, barristers' chambers, legal publishers, companies and individuals

• presentations and workshops from leading law firms and alumni

• writing skills support

• visits to law firms, courts, and tribunals

• talks on postgraduate study opportunities 

Careers services at Southampton

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. 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.

Work in industry

You can take a Year in Employment, a fantastic opportunity to complete a paid work placement between your second and third year. Your placement year is assessed, and will be included on your degree transcript when you graduate. 

Outside of your studies, you'll find many opportunities to gain skills and give back to your fellow students and wider community. You can shadow and volunteer alongside legal experts, inform college students about their rights and responsibilities, or network at one of our many industry events. Our students recently worked with national campaign JENGbA (Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association), leading to a landmark Supreme Court ruling. The Supreme Court acknowledged that the law on joint enterprise (relating to crimes where more than one person takes part) had been misinterpreted by the courts for over 30 years.

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK/EU students pay £9,250.
• International students pay £17,560.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

Find out how to:

• pay your tuition fees

• calculate your student finances

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:

• accommodation costs

• living costs

• budgeting advice

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for international students

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

When you apply use:

• UCAS course code: M1M2
• UCAS institution code: S27

Apply for 2020 entry now

What happens after you apply?

We will assess your application on the strength of your:

• predicted grades
• academic achievements
• personal statement
• academic reference

We aim to respond to you within 2 to 6 weeks with a decision about your application.

Equality and diversity

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

Got a question?

If you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course please contact our enquiries team; we're very happy to help.