LLM Maritime Law

Applicants can be admitted to the course as long as they possess:

• a 2nd class honours degree from a UK University, or
• a Ptychion of 6.0 and above from  an AEI University or
• a Ptychion of 7.0 and above from a TEI University, or
• a Bachelor from an American University with GPA 2.75 and above in shipping, business, economics, legal or quantitative disciplines.
• Master Mariners/ Engineers with Class A Certificate or equivalent qualification.

• IELTS: a minimum score of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 6.0 in each component of the test)
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): Pass at C1 level
• Cambridge Advanced Certificate  in English (CAE): Grade C and above
• Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE): Grade b and above.
• Examination for the Certificate Proficiency in English (ECPE): P (Pass) and above.
• Pearson Academic (PTE): 53 (with a minimum score of 51 in each component of the test)
• BCA IELTS Placement Test : a minimum score of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 6.0 in each component of the test

• For prospective students who do not meet the standard English Language requirements, we offer intensive English sessions.

The overriding aim of the course is to provide a general business legal education with particular emphasis on legal issues that affect modern shipping, maritime, and marine businesses on their day-to-day activities.

The course is designed for students and professionals, who wish to become familiar with legal aspects of the shipping, maritime and marine sector, exploit possible implications of United Kingdom, European Union or international law in trade and, further examine and analyse the interrelationships and correlations of the shipping, maritime and marine functions and areas to those of general business law.

Moreover, the course is designed to equip shipping, marine and maritime professionals with the necessary skills to foresee and identify the possibility of the rise of a legal issue, to prevent it becoming, whenever possible, a legal problem and, for law practitioners, to handle in and out of courts claims related to shipping, marine insurance, carriage of goods, shipping finance and, in general, international trade and transport.

Finally, the programme focuses on the students’ ability to undertake legal research and work on their own while producing a major dissertation to a specified deadline.

While most students will aim to achieve the full Masters qualification, all Masters courses offer the subsidiary awards of Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma (both available with Merit or with Distinction) for students unable to complete their full programme of study.

The full list of awards and their requirements is as follows:

Τhe Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), is the world’s largest international shipping association, with more than 100 years of operation, and over 2,300 members residing in 130 countries. BIMCO’s core objective is to facilitate the commercial operations of its members by developing standard contracts and clauses, and providing quality information, advice and education. It further promotes fair business practices, free trade and open access to markets, as it is a strong advocate for the harmonisation and standardisation of all shipping related activities.
Given BCA’s “Associate Member” status, BCA’S student body and academic staff enjoy privileges such as access to BIMCO’s immense databases, news bulletins, market advisory, alerts, statistics, and benefits including discounts on books and publications.
Students and academic staff also enjoy privileges such as exclusive invitations to conferences, roundtable discussions and others.

INTERTANKO, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners, was established in 1970, and is comprised of 204 members from 40 countries, which control more than 3,077 tanker vessels. INTERTANKO has been the “voice” of independent tanker owners worldwide, and is actively involved in a wide range of topics, including commercial, technical, legal, operational and educational matters, in an effort to promote the safe and efficient transportation of oil and oil products.
BCA is an “Associate Member” of INTERTANKO, a membership which is accompanied with benefits for its student body and academic staff, including free access to a range of the associations’ web-based services, its information database, weekly bulletins, advisory, market and industry alerts as well as other specialised publications, exclusive invitations to seminars, industry functions and events.

The main role of INTERCARGO (International Dry Cargo Ship-owners Association), is to work with its members, regulators and other shipping associations to ensure and promote safe, efficient, environmental friendly and profitable shipping operations. To achieve this goal, it cooperates among others with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in formulating global legislation and regulations.
BCA is a “Reciprocal Member ", of INTERCARGO, a membership which gives its student body and academic staff benefits including access to data, market and industry bulletins and alerts, exclusive invitations to industry conferences, seminars, discounts on publications and others.
A benefit of special interest is that BCA students and academic staff are able to utilise INTERCARGO’s extensive network of contacts for study & research, and to access other organisations such as Baltic Exchange and IMO among others.
It should be noted that BCA is the first educational Institution worldwide to enjoy “Reciprocal Member” status.

The Maritime Industry Foundation is the result of a joint effort by BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and IMO, to promote Shipping Education and Shipping in general. It is comprised of 130 members, among which are many specialised Colleges, Government Bodies, Shipping Companies and Organisations. Through BCA’s membership with MIF, both its the student body and academic staff are privileged with unlimited access to the foundation’s data and research material, as well as excellent networking opportunities.
It should be noted that MIF operates a platform, which members can utilise to obtain knowledge and understanding of the vital role of commercial shipping and the economic, social, political and cultural aspects of the maritime industry. Additionally the platform gives its members- “Educators” -the opportunity to contribute academic work and research, thus expanding knowledge and education in this vibrant industry.

The International Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus, is part of an international business network established in 1922, with a presence in 33 cities around the world. The International Propeller Club is dedicated to the promotion of the maritime industry, commerce and global trade, through many of its programs and through establishing collaborations with organisations with shared values.
BCA is a member of the International Propeller Club, a membership which gives BCA students and academic staff the privilege of participating in exclusive functions during which they can meet and exchange ideas with executives of the maritime and business industries, and actively participate in the bolstering of business, education and social relationships among members, both at a local and at an international level.

Stavros Sfyris holds an LL.M. in Maritime Law, from the University of Southampton, (1991) and an LL.B. from the Law Faculty of the University of Athens (1988). He also enrolled the course of the European M.B.A. in Finance of Ecole Superiere de Commerce et Management and successfully attended accounting and financing modules in New York College in Athens (1999).

Mr. Sfyris is a member of the Piraeus Bar Association since 1989. He initially worked in a law firm based in Piraeus, mainly dealing with corporate and maritime law issues and ships’ sale, purchase and finance cases. Since 1994 he is operating his private law office in Piraeus, practicing business and shipping law. In 2000 he joined an Insurance Company in Athens as Training Manager, undertaking and conducting lectures on technical issues of life and general insurance products, as well as seminars on risk management and sales promotion, addressed to insurance agents and brokers. In 2005 he was employed by an Insurance Broker’s firm in Athens and from 2009 and up-to-date he is working as legal consultant of an Insurance Company in Nea Smyrni, mainly dealing with civil, commercial and insurance law cases.

Mr. Sfyris worked as business law lecturer at New York College in Athens and at IEK Peroulas in Kifissia and as marine insurance law lecturer in the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers in Piraeus. From 1995 he is lecturing maritime law, marine insurance and ship’s sale and purchase modules in undergraduate and postgraduate levels at the Shipping and Transport Department of Business College of Athens in Glyfada.