Course specification and structure
Undergraduate Course Structures Postgraduate Course Structures

PDMTLDDL - PG Diploma Maritime Law

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Postgraduate Diploma Level Masters
Possible interim awards Postgraduate Certificate
Total credits for course 120
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School Guildhall School of Business and Law
Subject Area Law
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Part-time Distance Learning 2 YEARS  
Full-time Distance Learning 1 YEARS  
Course leader  

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

RATIONALE FOR THE COURSE

This distance learning programme has been designed for professionals working in the maritime and international trade sectors, who would benefit from legal and practical knowledge of such matters as how international sales contracts are made and enforced, and how to advise on the merits of claims. By taking a practice-focused approach throughout, study of these modules will give a professional edge to anyone seeking employment or advancement in this highly competitive field, giving them the confidence and knowledge to transform their lives.

LEARNING TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

Overview

Students will be taught by a combination of online lectures, interactive online seminars, one-to-one supervision, and self-study of a comprehensive module, with students encouraged to read from specified case law and legal journals. Students will be given the opportunity to discuss theoretical issues as well as practical problem solving. Students will be supported in undertaking on-line research using electronic law databases and encouraged to use on line legal resources on a regular basis. There is a virtual learning environment (VLE) containing handbooks, lecture notes, weblinks, discussion groups, study skills materials and assessment criteria.

The programme promotes the use of a range of teaching, learning and assessment methods, which develop the students’ intellectual abilities, self-confidence and ability to study independently.

Experiential Learning

Students will be encouraged to respond to realistic case-studies relating to the sector, giving written legal opinions to clients in the style of a professional legal advisor. Students will also be able to participate in the extracurricular experiential learning offered within the Law School, including the Pro Bono Clinic and the Mooting Club.

Study Support

Students will have regular access to module tutors by email and by one-to-one video conferences to support their studies. They will also engage with one formative assessment for each module, which will be marked promptly with opportunities for feedback either by email or individual online discussion.

LEARNING RESOURCES

Each of the modules will have a bespoke manual, written exclusively for London Met by an expert in the field. Students will also have 24/7 access to the extensive online law library, including the professional primary and secondary source data-bases of Westlaw, Lexis Library and iLaw. Blended learning pervades the delivery of the module and is actively encouraged as students will engage with digital materials, use on-line discussion groups (blogs) and achieve a competent standard of digital literacy during their studies.

MARKET DEMAND AND EMPLOYABILITY FOCUS

The modules have been designed to be totally relevant to professionals who work in, or wish to embark on careers within the international trade and maritime law sector. The distance learning nature of the course is designed so that it can be accessed conveniently and realistically by busy professionals, providing full support to enable them to pursue the course to completion.

We expect that all the modules offered will be in demand, but if there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the School reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the School cancels a module it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative.

Students will gain confidence to act independently in relevant areas of legal practice, including the enhanced ability to articulate and communicate their opinions and advice with persuasive eloquence, both orally and in writing. They will also be able to devise creative solutions to complex problems. This in turn will enhance their employability and promotional prospects in a competitive sector where substantive knowledge and effective advocacy is always at the fore.

Course aims

This course meets both the needs of legal practitioners, academics and people working within the shipping industry. It delivers knowledge of the legal frameworks at the heart of shipping claims, disputes and commercial relationships.

Exploring how marine disputes and liabilities are investigated and managed, students will develop a deep understanding of the context and characteristics of international sale contracts concluded on shipment terms. Students will learn about the importance of English law in international trade. They will also be able to distinguish between the physical and documentary duties of the trade protagonists under a sale contract, understand the cardinal role of the bill of lading in shipping and commerce and the importance of the proper drafting of the sale and carriage contracts respectively.

The aim of this course is to enable students to identify, decipher and debate relevant legal issues arising from international commercial law disputes. They will be able to scrutinise sale contracts on shipment terms; to advise the buyer and seller on the merits of claims; and will develop the professional grounding to apply that knowledge in the practical industry.

The course has been devised with reference to the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Law. The subject specific knowledge and skills, cognitive abilities and non-subject specific skills outlined in the benchmark statement are referenced in the relevant sections of this document.

Course learning outcomes

The course will equip students with the skills and attributes that will enable them to compete with success in the complex and challenging Maritime Law sector and employment market.

The course has been devised with reference to the QAA subject benchmark statement for Law. The subject specific knowledge and skills, cognitive abilities and non-subject specific skills outlined in the benchmark statement are referenced below.

On completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

LEARNING OUTCOME 1

To demonstrate extensive knowledge and understanding of the broad range of areas of Maritime Law (QAA i, iii, iv and v)

LEARNING OUTCOME 2

To evaluate the commercial and government policy implications of Maritime Law and appreciate its economic and social balance. (QAA iii, iv, viii and xii)

LEARNING OUTCOME 3

To synthesise relevant case and statute law in order to present conflicting arguments.

(QAA i, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x and xi)

LEARNING OUTCOME 4

To apply the law to problem scenarios relevant to aspects of Maritime Law.

(QAA i, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x and xi)

LEARNING OUTCOME 5

To demonstrate the ability to apply creative thinking to practical problems.

(QAA i, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x and xi)

LEARNING OUTCOME 6

To have the confidence needed to take leadership decisions in challenging situations.

(QAA i, ii, vi, vii, viii and xi)

LEARNING OUTCOME 7 (ULO)

To demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and to act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible professionals in their discipline. (QAA i, ii, vi, vii, viii and xi) (ULO)

LEARNING OUTCOME 8

To be critically cognisant of the social and environmental effects of their decisions and to remain active citizens of the places they live and work. (QAA iii and iv)

LEARNING OUTCOME 9

To adopt an appropriate research strategy and techniques to support a sustained academic and professional argument on critical issues within the area of Maritime Law. (QAA i, v and vi)

APPENDIX

QAA: Subject Benchmark Statement for Law: November 2019

A law student's skills and qualities of mind

i intellectual independence, including the ability to ask and answer cogent questions about law and legal systems, identify gaps in their own knowledge and acquire new knowledge, and engage in critical analysis and evaluation

ii self-management, including an ability to reflect on their own learning, make effective use of feedback, a willingness to acknowledge and correct errors and an ability to work collaboratively

iii awareness of principles and values of law and justice, and of ethics

iv knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, values, principles and rules of public and private laws within an institutional, social, national and global context

v study in depth and context of substantive areas of law

vi ability to conduct self-directed research, including accurate identification of issue(s) which require researching, retrieval and evaluation of accurate, current and relevant information from a range of appropriate sources, including primary legal sources

vii ability to work with a range of data, including textual, numerical and statistical

viii ability to recognise ambiguity and deal with uncertainty in law

ix ability to produce a synthesis of relevant doctrinal and policy issues, presentation of a reasoned choice between alternative solutions and critical judgement of the merits of particular arguments

x ability to apply knowledge and understanding to offer evidenced conclusions, addressing complex actual or hypothetical problems

xi ability to communicate both orally and in writing, in relation to legal matters, including an ability to listen and respond to written and oral stimuli, including questions and instructions

xii engagement with their own personal and professional development, and academic integrity.

Principle QAA benchmark statements

Law

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

n/a

Course specific regulations

The course may be taken either full-time (one year) or part-time (two to three years). Part-time students may choose how many modules to do in each year, subject to a minimum of 40 credits in the first year.

Courses shall conform to both framework and University Academic Regulations.

Modules required for interim awards

Postgraduate Certificate: Any 3 of the 20 credit modules

Postgraduate Diploma: Any 6 of the 20 credit modules

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

Every module on this course has embedded within it reflective learning components and personal development planning relevant to the year of study. It will be encouraged in module handbooks and self-study questions and through assessment methods. Students will be directed to reflect on knowledge specific learning, personal and employability skills development. Students will be encouraged to engage positively with all feedback opportunities and to reflect and learn, resulting in the developing of further learning strategies.

Other external links providing expertise and experience

n/a

Career, employability and opportunities for continuing professional development

London maintains a solid position as one of the world’s leading centres of law and is unrivalled in European terms. Although there have been some major challenges in the sector over the past two years, legal services in London remains a strong service provider and a strong recruiter. Students graduating from this course are likely to be legal or maritime professionals looking for a specialisation in their sector or a step up the career ladder. Some students may be undertaking this course as a specialisation without being a registered practitioner and looking for work within the wider legal profession or legal supply chain, and may go on to take professional qualifications later.

Career opportunities

TBC

Entry requirements

TBC

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2021/22 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 29 Jul 2021 Last validation date 29 Jul 2021  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes
Route code MTLDDL

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 07 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
LL7162 Carriage of Goods by Sea I: Charterparties Option 20        
LL7163 International Commercial Arbitration Option 20        
LL7164 International Sale of Goods Option 20        
LL7165 Oil Pollution from Shipping Option 20        
LL7166 Carriage of Goods by Sea II: Charterparties Option 20        
LL7167 Financing of International Sales Option 20        
LL7181 Research Methods for Lawyers Option 20        
LL7182 The English Legal System and Commercial Law Option 20        

Stage 1 Level 07 January start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
LL7162 Carriage of Goods by Sea I: Charterparties Option 20        
LL7163 International Commercial Arbitration Option 20        
LL7164 International Sale of Goods Option 20        
LL7165 Oil Pollution from Shipping Option 20        
LL7166 Carriage of Goods by Sea II: Charterparties Option 20        
LL7167 Financing of International Sales Option 20        
LL7181 Research Methods for Lawyers Option 20        
LL7182 The English Legal System and Commercial Law Option 20