University of Ghana

What you'll study

This programme combines core modules in admiralty and shipping law with specialist subjects addressing international maritime regulation and commercial practice. Teaching typically covers the legal framework for shipping and ports, private and public law aspects of maritime activity, and methods of dispute resolution relevant to the sector.

• Foundations of Maritime Law – principles of admiralty jurisdiction, ship registration, status of ships and persons on board.
• Carriage of Goods by Sea – contractual and tortious liabilities, bills of lading, multimodal transport and relevant international conventions.
• Marine Insurance and Limitation of Liability – insurance contracts, claims handling, general average and limitation regimes.
• Law of the Sea and Coastal State Jurisdiction – UNCLOS principles, maritime zones, coastal state regulatory powers and resource jurisdiction.
• Maritime Safety, Pollution and Environmental Regulation – international instruments on marine pollution, enforcement and compliance at national level.
• Admiralty Practice and Procedure – ship arrest, enforcement of maritime claims, salvage and collisions.
• Shipping Finance and Security – ship mortgages, finance structures, maritime liens and insolvency issues.
• Maritime Arbitration and Dispute Resolution – arbitration clauses, procedural rules, and comparative approaches to resolving shipping disputes.
• Research Project / Dissertation – an extended piece of supervised research on a maritime law topic, developing specialised expertise and independent analytical skills.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised law degree (LLB or equivalent) with a good academic record. Candidates who hold a professional law qualification (such as the Ghana School of Law Barrister-at-Law) or an undergraduate degree in a related discipline with significant legal experience may also be considered.

• Academic transcripts demonstrating an appropriate standard in prior study.
• References (usually one academic and one professional where applicable).
• A personal statement outlining reasons for study, proposed areas of research and career aims.
• Evidence of English language proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English, where required by the University.
• Relevant professional experience in shipping, maritime administration, insurance or related fields is an advantage but not always essential.

Career prospects

Graduates develop specialist knowledge applicable across private practice, public service and industry. Typical career paths include:

• Legal practice in firms specialising in admiralty, shipping and transport law.
• In-house counsel roles with shipping companies, shipowners, freight forwarders and port operators.
• Positions with P&I clubs, marine insurers and claims-handling organisations.
• Employment with port authorities, maritime regulatory agencies and national administrations responsible for maritime safety and compliance.
• Work as arbitrators, tribunal counsel or litigation specialists handling maritime disputes.
• Research, policy and advisory roles with international organisations, NGOs and academia focusing on maritime governance and the law of the sea.

Why study at University of Ghana

The University of Ghana School of Law offers postgraduate legal training grounded in both Ghanaian and international practice. Located in Accra, the programme benefits from proximity to major regional shipping activity and Ghana’s principal port, providing access to industry practitioners, regulators and real-world issues. Teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners with expertise in admiralty, international maritime regulation and commercial law, and students have opportunities to undertake applied research, clinic work or placements that connect theory with practice in the West African maritime context.