Course specification and structure
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PMMRTMLW - LLM Maritime Law (Top-Up) (Distance Learning)

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Master of Laws Level Masters
Possible interim awards
Total credits for course 60
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University, Informa
School Guildhall School of Business and Law
Subject Area Law
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Part-time Distance Learning 1 YEARS  
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

Apart from two optional seminars, the course will be taught through a dedicated VLE and via one-to-one electronic supervision.

As this is a Distance Learning programme, students will be heavily reliant on web-based resources.

They will be able to access the major legal internet primary sources through the university library intranet, including:

1. Westlaw database online

2. Lexis Library online

3. iLaw online

4. Hein Online

5. OSCOLA (Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities) www.law.ac.uk/oscola

6. The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Legal Research edited by Peter Cane & Herbert M Kritzer, Oxford University Press 2010

Course aims

The aims of this course are:

  • To develop to an advanced level students’ skills of investigation and independent research
  • To allow students to develop an advanced understanding of an aspect of Maritime Law through independent research
  • To develop students’ facility of critical thinking through independent research
  • To offer the course in a mode of study that accommodates students’ other commitments and career development.

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will have:

  • An expertise in an area of Maritime Law, achieved by preparing for and writing the dissertation.

By researching and presenting the Research Proposal, students will develop the ability to:

  • Identify an area/topic for the dissertation
  • Identify and analyse the available literature in the field
  • Identify and analyse the relevant primary and secondary sources
  • Justify the title in terms of its relevance, topicality and originality
  • Compose appropriate research questions and supporting evidenced material and examples

suitable to address critical academic and professional issues in the area of Maritime Law.

In writing the dissertation, students will:

  • Develop a capacity for independent evaluated research at postgraduate level
  • Become able to develop a methodologically sound critical discussion which is presented as a critically discursive analysis of the dissertation topic achieved by supervised dissertation writing.
  • Have adopted an appropriate research strategy and techniques to support a sustained academic and professional argument on critical issues within the area of Maritime Law.
  • Appropriately constructed academic and professional argument, including supported contextual and critical material suitable for inclusion and completion of a piece of sustained academic research of between 10,000 to 15,000 words on a subject related to the area of Maritime Law.

Assessment strategy

There will be formative assessment on the Research Proposal and Literature Review which will precede the substantive research for the dissertation. Further formative feedback will be continual throughout the sessions between supervisor and supervisee.

The summative assessment will be entirely by way of the dissertation.

Modules required for interim awards

LL7P04 Dissertation

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

Reflective learning and personal development are embedded in this course, where the research, analysis and time-management are all entirely student led and focused.

Students will be encouraged to engage positively with all feedback opportunities and to reflect and learn, resulting in the developing of further learning strategies.

Arrangements on the course for careers education, information and guidance

Employability and workplace skills are developed in a number of ways throughout the course. Using the subject benchmarks as guidance, technical, generic and cognitive skills are taught, developed, practised and assessed by the course.

Development of skills for the workplace is integral to the course. These include time management, research, analysis, presentation and self-assessment/reflection. The importance of ethical behaviour and conduct is emphasised and written communication skills are specifically developed and assessed.

Career management is encouraged through reference – where requested - to the relevant professional bodies, work experience and careers advice. The course places emphasis on the need for professional development in the modern workplace.

Although many law students embark upon the course with a firm personal career plan in place, extensive careers advice is available to them throughout their time at London Metropolitan University.

Career Development Service

The University offers a service to enhance career management skills and employability and to help students with a range of issues related to planning their future. They can come in for a careers guidance interview, a drop-in service, or can book a longer appointment with a careers adviser. A service is also offered to students after graduation.

A comprehensive careers information library is available and a range of workshops is offered, covering topics such as self-assessment, writing effective CVs, attending interviews and doing creative job search. As part of the programme there is an opportunity to sit psychometric tests and receive feedback.

Prospects Planner, a computer aided Careers Guidance programme, enables students to find careers matching their preference on different work aspects and to look at individual careers in detail.

These are helpful if students are looking for ideas or trying to evaluate a particular option. Prospects Planner is networked across the University.

Employment Service

The Employment Service helps students to find work while they are studying as well as when they have graduated. An on-line vacancy system called Prospects Net provides information on opportunities for part-time, full-time, vacation and voluntary work.

The system also advertises opportunities for students wishing to work within the university. The university also arranges a Careers Fair and a part-time Jobs Fair each year.

Other external links providing expertise and experience

Students will be allocated a supervisor with relevant knowledge and expertise in the general area of their research. The supervisor may either be an internal or an external appointment.

Career opportunities

Your newly acquired knowledge and research skills will allow you to apply for legal practioner and other related roles in the maritime sector's legal sphere.

Because the course encourages focus on one special area of research, our graduates have also been able to move into highly specialised positions within international trade and the maritime industry.

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

  • passed the Maritime Law Postgraduate Diploma at one of the following institutions: London Metropolitan University, Lloyd’s Maritime Academy or World Maritime University.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2014/15 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 02 Sep 2010 Last validation date 02 Sep 2010  
Sources of funding FUNDED ENTIRELY BY STUDENT TUITION FEES
JACS codes M200 (Law by Topic): 100%
Route code MRTMLW

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 07 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
LL7P04 LLM in Maritime Law Top-Up Dissertation Core 60        

Stage 1 Level 07 January start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
LL7P04 LLM in Maritime Law Top-Up Dissertation Core 60