About this course
The port city of Southampton is home to the world-renowned Institute of Maritime Law, making it the natural location to gain a qualifying law degree with a maritime focus. When you graduate, you'll be uniquely prepared for a career in international maritime law, commerce or related industries.
This is one of the few specialist maritime law undergraduate degrees in the UK. It combines the subjects required for a qualifying law degree with the opportunity to specialise in maritime law.
Core modules in years 1 and 2 cover the qualifying law degree subjects. In year 2 you can choose modules on relevant topics such as commercial and maritime law, commercial arbitration law, and public international law.
Optional modules in year 3 give you the chance to study the aspects of maritime law that most interest you in greater depth. You'll also complete a dissertation on a maritime-related topic of your choice.
As part of your degree you can:
apply for our marshalling scheme to spend a week with judges, gaining a unique behind-the-scenes view of the workings of the higher courts
gain work experience alongside legal professionals by advising students at the Law Clinic
engage with our academic research groups including the Institute of Maritime Law
study modules outside of law to broaden your knowledge and boost your CV
During your degree you can join weekly seminars run by the Institute of Maritime Law. Speakers include shipbrokers, representatives from the classification societies, and other legal and maritime professionals.
You can take part in a range of competitions to enhance your skills, including the Clyde & Co Team Building Challenge and regional, national and international mooting and negotiation competitions.
You can forge even stronger links within our friendly community by joining a student-run society. These include our Law Society, Inns of Court Society, Mooting Society, Lawyers without Borders and the Canadian Law Society.
You can download the course details, including modules, in the programme specificationPDF opens in a new window (PDF, 298.39 KB).
Location and awarding body
The course location is Highfield campus in Southampton. The awarding body is University of Southampton.
Entry requirements
A-levels
AAA
A-levels additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies, Art, Art & Design, Dance, Moving Images, Photography, Physical Education, Practical Art, Practical Music, Sharia Law, Sports Studies, Textiles and Travel & Tourism
Restricted subjects are Critical Thinking, Community & Culture, Design & Technology, Drama, Divinity, Film Studies, Health & Social Care, Media Studies, Performing Arts, Theatre Studies, and World Development. This means we can only accept these subjects as one of your three total A levels.
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass, with 36 points overall with 18 points at Higher Level
International Baccalaureate Diploma additional information
Applications where Higher Level subjects have been studied without the full Diploma, will also be considered on a case by case basis.
BTEC
D in the Law or Applied Law BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AA from two A levels
DD in the Law or Applied Law BTEC National Diploma plus A from one A-level
DDD in the Law or Applied Law BTEC National Extended Diploma
BTEC additional information
There are no additional requirements
Other qualifications
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A-level offer:
AAB and grade A in the EPQ
A-levels contextual offer
Students who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows:
AAB
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) offer
Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) StatementPDF opens in a new window (PDF, 62.17 KB) for further information.
Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
BTEC (RQF) (reformed)
D in the Law or Applied Law BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AA from two A levels
DD in the Law or Applied Law BTEC Diploma plus A grade from one A-level
DDD in the Law or Applied Law BTEC Extended Diploma
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, all of which must be at Distinction
Access to HE Diploma additional information
We welcome applications from returners to learning who are over 23 years of age at the start of your proposed degree programme. You will be required to undertake a test and interview to determine your academic suitability to pursue the programme.
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016)
A1, A1, A1, A1, A1, A1
Irish Leaving Certificate additional information
There are no additional requirements
Scottish Qualification offers
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF, 111.01 KB) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3 D3 D3 in three Principal subject
Cambridge Pre-U additional information
Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A Levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer
Welsh Baccalaureate
AAA from 3 A levels
or
AA from two A levels and A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
Welsh Baccalaureate additional information
There are no additional requirements
European Baccalaureate
82-84% overall
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
English language requirements
All applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency. Applicants requiring a visa to study in the UK who do not offer GCSE English language (or GCSE English) at the required level will need to meet the following English language proficiency requirement. Find out more about the University’s English Language requirements.
Band E IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in all components
IELTS score requirements
- reading
- 6.5
- writing
- 6.5
- speaking
- 6.5
- listening
- 6.5
We also accept other English language tests.
Non-academic entry requirements
There are no additional requirements
International qualifications
Find a list of accepted international qualifications listed by country.
This is a list of the international qualifications that are recognised by the University of Southampton. If you are not sure that your qualifications meet the requirements of this course please contact our Admissions Teams.
International Foundation Year for Law, Arts, Humanities, Business and Social Sciences
If you're an international student and don’t have the right qualifications for direct entry into this course, you may still be able to enrol by taking our International Foundation Year. This intensive, one-year course will give you the background skills and knowledge to enter into this undergraduate degree.
Contact us if you have a question about what qualifications you have or might need.
Other ways to qualify
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
our Access to Southampton scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Course structure
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 programmes 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
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
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
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.
Modules
Modules year 1
Core modules
You must study and pass these core modules in year 1:
Compulsory modules
You must take the following compulsory modules in year 1:
Optional modules
You can choose from the following optional modules in year 1:
Modules year 2
Core modules
You must study and pass these core modules in year 2:
- Equity and Trusts
- Land Law
- Public Law 2: Administrative Justice
- Remedies in Contract & Torts
- The Law of Torts
Optional modules
You can choose from the following optional modules in year 2:
Modules year 3
Compulsory modules
You must take the following compulsory modules in year 3:
Optional modules
You can choose from the following optional modules in year 3:
- Admiralty Law
- Admiralty Law 2 (Enforcement and Limitation of Liability)
- Advanced Public Law
- Business Skills for Employability
- Carriage of Goods by Sea
- Carriage of Goods by Sea 2 (Bills of Lading)
- Commercial Conflict of Laws and International Litigation
- Constitutional Law of Canada
- Crime in Law, Literature and Culture
- Family Law: State Regulation of Adults' Relationship Formation and Breakdown
- Global Health
- Globalisation and Law
- Health Care Law
- International Commercial Sales
- International Criminal Law
- International Trade Finance
- Law and the Human Body
- Penal Policy
- Renting Homes: Law and Policy
- The Management of Risk and Uncertainty
- Theories of Law and Justice
- Transitional Justice: Law, War and Crime
- Understanding Modern China
- Women and Gender in the Arab and Muslim World
- Youth Justice
Learning and assessment
The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- coursework
- individual and group projects
- independent learning (studying on your own)
Support for your studies
You'll have your own personal academic tutor assigned to you. They will offer one-to-one support and advice throughout your studies.
How you’ll spend your study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study, year by year:
Year 1
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 19%
- Independent study
- 81%
- Placement
- 0%
Year 2
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 20%
- Independent study
- 80%
- Placement
- 0%
Year 3
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 10%
- Independent study
- 90%
- Placement
- 0%
Course leader
Mark Telford is the course leader.
How we’ll assess you
We’ll assess you using:
- essays
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
- self-assessment
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown, year by year:
Year 1
- Written exam
- 57%
- Practical exam
- 0%
- Coursework
- 43%
Year 2
- Written exam
- 85%
- Practical exam
- 0%
- Coursework
- 15%
Year 3
- Written exam
- 57%
- Practical exam
- 0%
- Coursework
- 43%
Careers
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.
Fees, costs and funding
UK/EU fees
You'll pay £9,250 in tuition fees for the academic year 2020 to 2021. This fee might change for further years of your course.
International student fees
You’ll pay £17,560 each year. This fee will stay the same throughout your studies.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.
Find out how to:
Extra costs you might have to pay
- Recording Equipment
- Printing and Photocopying Costs
- Textbooks
- Stationery
See the full list of extra items and costs in the programme specificationPDF opens in a new window 2020 to 2021 (PDF, 298.39 KB).
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:
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.
University life
The University offers a friendly, diverse and welcoming home for you while you study. You'll work, live and socialise with students from more than 130 countries.
Clubs, societies and facilities
Our campuses have:
cafes and restaurants
bars
health centres
banks
a post office
student shops
a hairdresser
Our sports facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, a gym with 140 fitness stations, squash courts, a bouldering wall, outdoor pitches and much more. There are over 80 sports clubs you could join, and activity classes including yoga and spin.
We have an internationally known theatre, concert hall, art gallery and cinema showing everything from mainstream blockbusters to international arthouse classics. You could perform at a gig, concert or show, take part in an exhibition or join a writers’ workshop. Find out more about arts and culture at Southampton.
Whatever your passion or community, you can find like-minded people at one of the Students’ Union clubs and societies. There are more than 200 to join, and social activities in every hall of residence.
Support while you study
We aim to help you deal with any problems you might come across, so you can make the most of your time at university. We offer support with:
mental health, learning difficulties and disability
money and accommodation
childcare
computers and IT
How to apply
When you apply use:
UCAS Course Code: M1M2
UCAS Institution Code: S27
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.
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.