What aspects does the programme cover?
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.
Does the programme have a particular focus?
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.
Within a university teaching and research are combined. At the master level you will be brought into closer contact with this research. Ultimately, you will have to conduct scholarly research yourself (in your master's thesis). Both for research and in legal practice, certain academic and practical skills are indispensable.
Erasmus Student Network Opens external (ESN) is a non-profit international student organization. Their mission is to represent international students, thus provide opportunities for cultural understanding and self-development under the principle of Students Helping Students.
Their main focus is placed on current exchange students. They offer help in the academic, social and practical integration process. This is mainly done through activities in the local sections, which include cultural and social events such as trips to various places within the country, film nights, language projects, international food festivals and last, but not least, parties. In addition to that, many sections have introduced mentor systems, which help the international students mainly in academic and practical integration.
The Trade & Transport Law Association (TTLA) aims to involve internationally oriented students interested in the field of trade and transport. By visiting a broad spectrum of firms and companies engaged in this field they introduce students and practitioners to each other. Additionally, they offer a broad variety of social events in order to get acquainted with others that share your passion for this field of law!