Overview This one-year Master of Arts (60 ECTS) programme provides specialised training in the law of the sea and international environmental law, delivered entirely in English. It is designed for law graduates who want to work in national or international organisations, pursue careers in practice, or continue in academia. The course runs over two semesters and blends doctrinal study with practical insight into current international legal challenges affecting oceans and the global environment.
Curriculum and teaching The curriculum combines general international law modules with focused courses on the international law of the sea and international environmental law, alongside comparative-law offerings and units addressing regional actors. Teaching is practice-oriented: students learn from international law scholars, judges from international tribunals, and practitioners, creating close links between theoretical foundations and real-world application.
International opportunities and outcomes Graduates leave with a solid academic and practice-oriented foundation for demanding legal roles worldwide. The programme is expected to be offered additionally as a double degree in cooperation with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, giving participants the chance to complete part of their studies in the USA and to benefit from broader transatlantic networks and perspectives.
Admission requirements (concise)
The one-year, full-time Master's runs from October to the following September and is worth 60 ECTS. It combines a short winter-semester orientation on research methodology, academic writing, and different legal traditions with six compulsory teaching modules and a research-based Master’s thesis. The curriculum is designed to build from a foundational understanding of public international law to specialised legal expertise in both the law of the sea and international environmental law.
Core teaching begins with a foundational module in Public International Law that underpins the rest of the course. The programme then devotes substantial study to the two major 15‑ECTS modules—International Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law—ensuring in-depth coverage of maritime legal frameworks, resource governance, environmental protection norms, and the legal dimensions of marine conservation. Learning outcomes include the ability to interpret and apply international legal instruments, critically assess state and institutional practice, and understand how environmental and maritime law interact in areas such as pollution control and resource management.
In the summer semester students take two focused 5‑ECTS modules: Regional Actors and Interrelations and Differences (a comparative unit). These explore the roles of regional entities—especially the European Union and regional fisheries management organisations—and examine how environmental law and the law of the sea intersect, notably in the context of climate change. The degree culminates in a 15‑ECTS Master’s thesis written during the second semester, with a four‑month submission period; this develops research, legal argumentation, and academic writing skills transferable to careers in international organisations, regulatory bodies, NGOs, or further academic study.
Key modules (highlights)
Programme requirements (concise)
Applicants must hold a qualifying first degree in law worth 240 credit points (LP) and demonstrate proficiency in English. Selection is competitive and based on academic performance as well as evidence of focused prior engagement with either the international law of the sea or international environmental law. A clear, written "Letter of Motivation" explaining why you want to join the programme and how it fits your career plans is also required.
Evaluation focuses primarily on the result of your first professional law degree (240 LP). Where appropriate, the degree grade may be considered together with additional above‑average achievements related to the programme’s subject area. Prior exposure to the programme fields—through specialisations during studies, internships, or relevant scientific publications—strengthens an application. Note that admission is limited to a maximum of 25 students each year, so meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place.
If your degree was completed in a system other than LP/ECTS, check whether it is considered equivalent to 240 credit points by the admissions office. For English language proof, consult the programme’s admissions information for accepted tests and required minimum scores.
Required documents / criteria (bullet points)
Winter Semester (International)
15 March 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 March 2026
Graduates are prepared for demanding legal roles in national and international organisations, intergovernmental bodies, regional fisheries management organisations, environmental agencies, NGOs, and specialised law firms dealing with maritime and environmental cases. The programme’s combination of specialised coursework, comparative perspectives and practice-oriented teaching equips alumni for policy, advisory, regulatory and litigation roles related to the law of the sea and international environmental law.
The degree also provides a solid foundation for academic careers or doctoral studies in international law. Small cohort sizes and contacts with international practitioners and visiting judges facilitate networking and entry into careers in diplomacy, international tribunals, compliance and treaty negotiation, as well as consultancy on marine resource management and climate-related legal issues.
University of Mannheim — Mannheim
Goethe University Frankfurt — Frankfurt am Main
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin — Berlin
Dresden University of Technology — Dresden