Maritime and Transport Law
This LL.M. programme provides you with thorough, in-depth knowledge of the dynamic world of maritime and transport law.
Application deadline
non-EEA
1 July 2025
Application deadline
EEA
1 August 2025
Application deadline
Dutch students
20 August 2025
Starting date
1 September 2025
Why choose Maritime and Transport Law?
A choice for Maritime and Transport Law at Erasmus University in Rotterdam is a choice for our unique programme and excellent teaching staff. Practice-oriented education and the environment. Below you can read the main reasons why other Maritime and Transport Law students preceded you.
Offers you an encompassing view on international trade and commerce.
You are educated by excellent teaching staff
Study a stone’s throw away from the largest port of Europe!
The master in numbers
Visit our Master Open Day
Get to know Erasmus University Rotterdam during our (fully hybrid) Master Open Day on Saturday 22 November 2025 from 10:00 to 16:00 (local time) and realise your ambitions!
Programme overview
Students acquire the research, writing and presentation skills essential to a successful career as a legal practitioner or an in-house counsel in the maritime- or transport-related business world. By focussing on current developments and practical problems from a comparative law perspective, students develop an international outlook on the many legal aspects of shipping and the transportation of goods.
Based in the port of Rotterdam, this programme educates legal professionals that are well prepared to meet the many challenges that arise from this field.
Throughout the master programme, aspects of maritime and transport law are considered from a comparative law perspective. Particular attention is paid to differences in approach and outcome between civil law jurisdictions and common law jurisdictions and by reference to the relevant standards in the international maritime and transport industry.
Depending on the subject-matter, such international standards may be found in uniform private law instruments such as the Hague-Visby Rules and the York-Antwerp Rules, or in widely used standard contract forms, such as the various BIMCO standard agreements for charter parties and bills of lading.
As a student of this master programme you will learn to adopt the transnational perspective of a legal practitioner who in his daily work is often confronted with legal problems or disputes not necessarily governed by his own national laws. As a professional in this field, you will need to co-operate and communicate with lawyers in other countries in tackling these problems.
- Block 1
Research and Writing Skills (Maritime and Transport Law) - Block 2
Law of the sea
Transport Law - Block 3
Maritime Casualties - Block 4
Charter Parties & Bills of Lading
Free Elective - Block 5
Marine Insurance
Extra elective: Capita Selecta: Trademark Law
Master Thesis Maritime and Transport Law
For more information, please visit the general education website of Maritime and Transport Law
Studying in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a city full of surprises. Without tips from a Rotterdam native, it is hard to find the best places. We will help you on your way. Read more about student city Rotterdam, see tips for finding the nicest study places on campus and which student associations there are to enrich your student life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer some recurring questions. Is your question not listed here? Then please contact us!
- For questions about the program, please contact the master’s coordinator at mastercl@law.eur.nl
- For all admission related questions, please contact Andre van der Schee at informationdesk.llm@law.eur.nl
As a graduate of the LL.M. programme Maritime and Transport Law you are able to pursue career opportunities in the legal profession as an attorney active in litigation, arbitration and contract-drafting, as an in-house counsel in the legal department of banks and businesses in the maritime and transport industry, as a claims handler, broker or underwriter in the insurance industry, in advisory positions to government agencies and port authorities and in academia.
Positions of our graduates:
- Business lawyer at world leading organisations;
- Lawyer or attorney in the legal practise;
- Academic teacher and researcher.
You will find the correct information regarding the admission requirements for your specific situation our admission page!
The exact tuition fees that apply to your situation can be found on the facts and figures page.
This LL.M. programme is a specialisation of the LL.M. in Commercial Law. As a result, you select Commercial Law in the application process. You will find all the relevant information on how that works on the application page.
- Voor studenten die de Bachelor Rechtsgeleerdheid bij ESL hebben afgerond geldt dat ze met deze master Civiel Effect behalen.
- Heb je Bachelor Rechtsgeleerdheid gevolgd bij een ander faculteit in Nederland, dan raden we je aan om contact op te nemen met de studieadviseur. Het is afhankelijk van de vakken die je in de bachelor hebt gevolgd of je Civiel Effect kan behalen.