Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law (LoSIEL)

The most important facts at a glance

The Master’s program “Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law (LL.M.)” (LoSIEL) at the University of Hamburg offers a unique program in the field of international law of the sea and international environmental law. This exclusive program is aimed at legal graduates who intend to pursue a career in national and international organizations or an academic career.

The program spans one year and consists of two semesters in which students earn 60 credit points (ECTS). Instruction is conducted entirely in English. The curriculum includes modules on general international law as well as specialized units on international law of the sea and international environmental law, complemented by comparative law modules and those focusing on regional actors. A highlight of the program is the close connection between theory and practice. Students benefit from courses taught by international law experts, judges of international tribunals and practitioners. To apply, candidates must hold a first qualifying degree in law and provide proof of English language proficiency. The program is expected to be offered additionally as a Double Degree in cooperation with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, giving students the opportunity to complete part of their studies in the USA.

The Master’s Program provides a solid academic and practice-oriented foundation, preparing graduates for demanding legal roles worldwide.

Management of the program

Head: Prof. Dr. Alexander Proelß
Coordination: Grisenta Qosja/Malin Späth

Duration

2 Semesters, starting beginning of October each year

Degree

Master of Laws (LLM)

Contents

International Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law

Schedule

The program begins with the module “Public International Law”, which serves as the foundation for the subsequent modules. This is followed by the modules “International Law of the Sea” (15 ECTS) and “International Environmental Law” (15 ECTS), which cover the central topics of the program. Subsequently, two additional modules (each 5 ECTS) are to be taken, focusing on regional actors, particularly the European Union and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, as well as the interrelation between environmental law and international law of the sea, in particular regarding climate change. The Master’s program concludes with a Master’s thesis (15 ECTS), which is written in the second semester.

The language of instruction is English.

Tuition fees

Estimated program tuition fee: 11,200 euros (final confirmation pending), plus semester fee of the University of Hamburg (approx. 350 euros per semester)

The tuition fee is paid in three installments.

Application

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

a first qualifying degree from a higher education institution in the field of law amounting to 240 credit points (LP); and
proficiency in English, demonstrated by a TOEFL score of 90 or IELTS 6.5. Equivalent evidence may be accepted on a case-by-case basis with special justification. Applicants who speak English as their native language or have successfully completed a university degree offered in English are exempt from this requirement.

Selection is based on the following criteria:

Result of the first professional qualification degree with 240 credit points or the result of the first professional qualification degree along with additional above-average achievements in the field of the program;
Proven prior knowledge in the field of international law of the sea or international environmental law (e.g., through specializations during studies, practical internships, or relevant scientific publications);
"Letter of Motivation" (written explanation of the choice of study and career goals).

The number of participants in the master's program is limited to a maximum of 25 students per year.

Kontakt

Please address your enquiries to LoSIEL-master.rw"AT"uni-hamburg.de.

Application and admission

Admission takes place annually for the winter semester (October 1st). Applications for the 2026/27 academic year will be open from January 15th to March 15th, 2026. To apply for a place in the Master's program “Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law”, you must submit the following documents:

Copy of your passport
English CV
Copy of secondary school diploma with a German or English translation
Copy of the final certificate of the first legal degree and Transcript of Records with a German or English translation
Letter of Recommendation in German or English
Letter of Motivation in German or English
Proof of English language skills

Please upload all documents as a single PDF file at the end of the online application form. Original documents must be presented upon registration.

Conception of the study program

The Master’s program LoSIEL is a new program that will be offered at the University of Hamburg starting in the winter semester of 2026/27. This program will be a unique feature of the University of Hamburg within the German and EU educational market. The program is aimed at both German and international students interested in deepening their legal background with a focus on international law of the sea and international environmental law. The courses will be conducted in English. The faculty consists of lecturers from both Germany and abroad, including some of the leading scholars and practitioners (judges) in this field. The goal of the program is to train legal professionals specialized in international law of the sea and international environmental law. The program prepares students for national and international careers, for instance, at the United Nations, the European Union, the Hamburg Port Authority, or the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, to mention just a few particularly relevant examples from the international and national spheres. Furthermore, participation in the program provides a foundation for further academic engagement with international law of the sea and international environmental law in the context at a doctoral project conducted at the University of Hamburg or elsewhere.

Curriculum

The Master's program lasts 12 months from October to September of the following year consisting of 6 compulsory modules, as well as the Master's thesis, totaling 60 ECTS credits.

The semester begins in the winter semester with an orientation unit on methodology, academic work, and legal traditions (1 CP), followed by three compulsory modules:

Public International Law (4 CP)
International Law of the Sea (15 CP)
International Environmental Law (15 CP)

In the summer semester, the modules Comparative Unit: Interrelations and Differences (5 CP) and Regional Actors Unit (5 CP) are covered. Additionally, a Master’s thesis is written in the summer semester, for which a processing time of four months is allocated.

Academic degree

Upon successful completion of the individual modules and the writing of a Master’s thesis, the University of Hamburg awards the academic degree of “Master of Laws (LL.M.)”. A wide range of professional fields is open to graduates.