Type of course

The course is part of the Master of Laws (LL.M) in Law of the Sea programme, cf. Programme description for Master of Laws (LL.M) in Law of the Sea.

Students at the five year integrated master´s degree programme in law (Master i rettsvitenskap) may choose this course as a partial fulfilment of the requirements for the elective part of the programme's fifth year, cf. Studieplan for graden Master i rettsvitenskap ved UiT med tilhørende fagbeskrivelse for 5. avdeling.

Followed by necessary application and admission process, other students on master level may also choose this course.

Admission requirements

Other applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree of at least 180 ECTS credits, comprising or in combination with at least 80 ECTS credits in either law or in a relevant social science subject (for example, in Political Science (e.g., international relations or peace and conflict studies)) or Maritime Studies (e.g., maritime policy, marine management, maritime history, maritime security, ship and port management, or nautical studies).

Admitted students should have basic knowledge of public international law.

Course content

The course covers the following topics:

• Historical development, key institutions, and instruments of the law of the sea
• Maritime areas under coastal State jurisdiction (internal waters, the territorial sea, archipelagic waters, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the continental shelf, and the extended continental shelf)
• Maritime areas beyond coastal state jurisdiction (the high seas and the Area)
• The rights and duties of the coastal, flag, and port State in the different maritime zones
• Maritime delimitation and the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles
• The role of dispute settlement in the law of the sea

Objectives of the course

Knowledge: Having passed the exam, the student shall have acquired:

• Advanced knowledge of the various maritime zones and their legal status;
• Advanced knowledge of the rights and duties of the coastal, flag and port State in the different maritime zones;
• Knowledge of principles for the delimitation of maritime zones and delineation of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles;
• Knowledge of international dispute settlement and the dispute settlement procedures under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.

Skills: Having passed the exam, the student will be able to:

• Analyse jurisdictional conflicts that can occur in the different maritime zones as well as potential problems deriving from overlapping maritime zones;
• Critically evaluate State practice vis-à-vis rules and obligations of the law of the sea;
• Identify and interpret the relevant sources of the law of the sea, using the rules on treaty interpretation;
• Apply legal methodology in analysing law of the sea questions;
• Apply theoretical and practical reasoning to formulate appropriate responses to different law of the sea problems (e.g., jurisdictional conflicts, overlapping maritime zones).

General competence: Having passed the exam, the student will be able to:

• Identify and analyse law of the sea questions of a theoretical and practical character;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing about law of the sea questions and with proper use of relevant legal methodology and terminology;
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently as well as the ability to cooperate and effectively work as part of a team.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Information to incoming exchange students

Followed by necessary application and admission process, exchange students may also choose this course.

Exchange students must be on master level and have basic knowledge of international law.

Do you have questions about this module? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: https://en.uit.no/education/art?p_document_id=510412