Testimonials

My name is Filippos Batsoulis and I am 26 years old. I have studied my Bachelor of Laws in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and during my bachelor years, I had already decided to specialize in Maritime Law. When I was searching for a relative LLM program, I decided to come to Rotterdam, because it is the biggest port in Europe. The city itself was magnificent as well, with a very nice environment.

This LL.M. program is unique for Erasmus School of Law, because it offers a good opportunity for the students to understand the basics regarding maritime issues in general. The courses are more than interesting and after finishing the master great opportunities are emerging for everybody who wants to work in this industry. While studying I was fascinated by the different courses that were provided, especially the course “Transport Law”, in which the student has the opportunity to learn about the different transportation methods and not merely focus and the sea voyages.

Overall the experience was very nice. The program was competitive, and the courses were taught and examined in several Blocks with two months duration. Except for the final exams, there were also some assignments during each block that were contributing to the final grade. Although the schedule may be overburdened because of the many due dates that must be followed, I believe this is a helpful experience promoting a vibrant and unique way of teaching.

In general, I would suggest to everybody that aspires to study this LLM to study a few hours every day, so that the overall experience ends up in a smooth way. The university will provide you with general guidelines but after that a student should be proactive and try to acquire knowledge through personal and active research. Also, I would suggest to check out the Dutch Courses, because they are very cool, if you are interested to further stay in Rotterdam for work.

My name is Mauricio Gómez-Rodríguez. I am a 27-year-old lawyer, born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. Before coming to Rotterdam, I was doing an internship at my country's embassy in Rome. After that, I went to live in Madrid for two years to do a postgraduate degree in Air and Space Law.

Which master programme did you pursue?

Maritime & Transport Law at Erasmus School of Law.

Why did you decide to choose this programme?

When the time to choose a master's degree had finally arrived for me, it was not an easy decision to make, mainly because I was sure my choice would define the course of my career. My main doubt was in deciding whether it was worth doing a master's in a country other than my own. There is always the idea that you cannot study law in a foreign country because laws and societies are different. That was why I knew the Master of Laws (LL.M.) I would choose must have a solid international focus and a link with commercial law, which I like. And that's how I found the LL.M. in Maritime & Transport Law at Erasmus School of Law.

What do you remember most about the programme?

Despite being passionate about air law, discovering maritime law's world was fascinating. The best thing about the master programme is that behind every business, there is a whole legal framework that is one of a kind. Insurance, contracts, casualties, multiple jurisdictions, and different forms of transportation are some topics that each of the classes in this programme addresses.

However, I must say that it is not an easy master. There are certainly times when you have to focus on studying seriously, plus having a background in law is essential. Some of my classmates had to work hard because they lacked the experience. The classes could be intellectually challenging, as the academic demand is high. That is a reason why this master's is so internationally recognized. However, I must also say that it is worth the effort, and there are many other fun moments. During the academic year we visited companies and law firms. We had debates and working groups, making all the students relate to each other quickly since most of us were foreigners. Besides, Rotterdam is a charming city, full of young people and with a unique vibe.

What would you say to Erasmus School of Law students who are now choosing their master programme?

I can confidently say that the Maritime & Transport Law master programme opened the world's doors to me. It is a complete master's full of exciting topics in an industry with many opportunities to grow. My advice is not to be overwhelmed by how difficult it can be to find a house in Rotterdam or how long the rainy days can be. Most of your classmates will be experiencing the same things you are, and Rotterdam is a city where there is always something new to do or learn.

My name is Leon Goh, and I am from Singapore. After spending the first three years of my bachelors at the National University of Singapore, I was given the opportunity to pursue a masters in Maritime and Transport Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam  as part of the Exchange plus programme between the two universities. The choice of maritime law was an easy one as the international nature of shipping has always appealed to me.   

One noteworthy advantage of the exchange plus programme is the fact that the two institutions are in two different legal systems. This affords students the opportunity to consider any given area of law from two different perspectives. In my case, I was able to immerse myself in shipping law and experience it from both the common law and civil law perspective. In addition, as a bonus, both Singapore and Rotterdam are important port cities. Furthermore, owing to the international nature of the classroom which is made up of people hailing from a multitude of jurisdictions, every student brings something new to the discussion.     

Another reason why I decided to pursue not only a masters at Erasmus University Rotterdam, but a maritime law masters, is undoubtably its location. As the largest port in Europe, there is an entire maritime ecosystem here. The curriculum at Erasmus University Rotterdam leverages this major boon and this adds a practical dimension to our studies. As students, we get to experience a wide range of activities from company visits to interactions with real-life practitioners from companies like Van Traa and Boskalis.  

However, the life of a master student is more than just the classroom. Aside from academics, life in Rotterdam certainly did not disappoint. Rotterdam is such an eclectic and international city, there truly is something for everyone. Whether it is experiencing new cultures, meeting other people from around the globe or taking in the new sights and sounds, life in Rotterdam is rarely a dull moment.

My name is Ana Carolina Gossain and I am working as a Legal Analyst for BG Freight Line BV, the headquarters being in Rotterdam.

BG Freight Line BV is a shipping line that provides a comprehensive range of logistics services to and from Ireland, the UK, and continental Europe. These services include door-to-door shipping, feedering, and quay-to-quay shipping for all types of containerised cargo.

My current work entails drafting Charter Parties, reviewing and providing legal advice regarding Bills of Lading, Terminal Contracts, and Transport Service Agreements. Additionally, I assist the Head of Claims. A working day as a Legal Analyst at BG Freight Line BV roughly looks like coming to work and checking emails first thing, evaluating and drafting several type of contracts, doing legal research, and maintain contact with different stakeholders in order to procure facts and evidence, that will enable us to handle claims properly.

The knowledge I have gained in the Maritime and Transport LL.M is reflected in my work on a daily basis. The courses on Charter Parties and Bills of Lading, Transport Law and Bills of Lading especially, have been crucial to the work I do as a Legal Analyst at BG Freight Line BV.

My name is Rubilita Hooff. I’m Dutch and I studied Maritime and Transport Law while being a mom and running a legal office. This is my introduction for saying that I that was an older student during the 2019-2020 master. This is also my introduction for telling everyone who works in the transport industry, and everyone who wants to make a career switch in the field of law, that this LL.M. programme is definitely worth giving up one year of your life.

After having finished my bachelor’s degree at the Open University, I decided to do this master programme for the following reasons. I have working experience in this sector. Once I stepped into this world of shipping, it instantly fascinated me. Furthermore, I have the ambition to practice law either at an insurance company or other related business where specialised people in the maritime and transport sector are highly appreciated and needed. Moreover, I have experienced from my job at the claims department of a shipping company, that there is a lack of qualified legal advisors in this area. So, combining all these reasons, it was only a logical step to sign up for this course. Also, knowing that I would meet people from all over the world was a big bonus.

My experience with this master programme can be best described as a marriage of ten months. You must be fully committed to make it work. The first eight weeks are very confronting, and I have experienced these weeks as very intense. However, this period prepares you for the rest of the programme. You have to do presentations, work with other students, debate, upload assignments continuously (throughout the whole year), perform in a moot court and submit your mini thesis. After that, the programme is divided into different courses which aim to fully master you in every aspect of maritime and transport law.

To those of you who are more mature, and who are seriously considering signing up for this master, I would like to leave you with some thoughts. Be convinced that you want to achieve your goal in the end. Know that you will encounter a very stressful year, and you will want to give up at least three times. However, bear in mind that this programme will reap the rewards for the rest of your life. In the end, it is worth it.

My name is Aaron Nagtegaal and I am 23 years old. I grew up near Rotterdam where I am currently still residing. In 2015 I started my bachelor of Law at Erasmus University. Therefore, it was only natural that I would choose a master programme at Erasmus University too. The master Commercial Law has four different specialisations: Commercial and Company Law, International Arbitration and Business Law, International Trade Law and Maritime and Transport Law. As hard as it was for me to choose which bachelor I wanted to study, as easy it was for me to choose my master. A minor on shipping, an exchange period in Athens and an internship at a law firm really paved the way for choosing the Maritime and Transport Law programme.

As one of only a few Dutch students in the programme it was quite new for me doing an international master even though I had already done a semester abroad. However, the master’s introductory course is structured in a way that really helps students to get used to the pace of the year or rather the pace of assignments and deadlines which you will get used to (eventually). I found the regular courses quite challenging but very doable if you put in the work. Even without mandatory attendance you are forced to familiarise yourself with the course substance in order to complete assignments that count towards your final grades. This encourages students to attend lectures anyway which I always enjoyed. Since our programme consisted of just under 30 students this created a very personal atmosphere as opposed to the lectures in the introductory course with all four specialisations consisting of maybe 150 students in total.

Besides that, there is also the master’s student association, the Trade and Transport Law Association (TTLA), helping students as much as possible. I even got a job through TTLA early in the year and eventually went on to become the association’s treasurer. This gave me a chance to help organise events such as company visits and social drinks together with my fellow board members.  Unfortunately, the current COVID-19 pandemic cut the year short and shattered plans for a career day which we had planned for all students in March. On the other hand, when concerns grew among students that graduation might get delayed, the university fortunately acted quickly and provided online lectures and online exams for all courses.

If you are interested in maritime and transport law, this programme is definitely worth it. Where possible, the faculty blends in company visits and moot courts that complement the courses that you are following at that time. Furthermore, monthly social drinks, karaoke nights and even online pub quizzes from the student association make sure you keep in touch with students from all four specialisations. For internationals, the university’s international office will be very helpful as it was also very helpful for me when I was in Athens for my exchange semester. Finally, do not let the COVID-19 pandemic keep you from pursuing this master’s degree as the university has implemented lots of digital tools to help students get through the year.