Guidelines

Admission

The Academy will annually provide some 30 participants from all over the world with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and skills in international law of the sea and maritime law.

The Summer Academy is designed for highly qualified graduates, diplomats, civil servants and advocates.  A rigorous selection procedure in close cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea applies.

In general, applicants should not be older than 40 years of age. The Selection Committe might grant exceptions subject to availability of places; it is, however, unlikely that financial aid is granted in such cases.

Requirements

As a rule, applicants are expected to be in possession of a Master's  degree (LL.M. or equivalent) and to have an advanced knowledge of public international law, Law of the Sea or maritime law.

Exceptions may be granted to Bachelors (LL.B.or equivalent) with either a Master course in progress or professional tasks related to the curriculum of the Summer Academy.

The Selection Committe might also grant very few exceptions - subject to availability of places- for undergraduates close to graduation with excellent results and academic focus on public International Law, Law of the Sea or maritime law. Undergraduates are, however, not eligible for financial aid.

Participants must have a good command of English (to be documented by a TOEFL Certificate or equivalent) and should also be conversant in French.

The Course

The Summer Academy will take place over a period of four weeks with two modules of two weeks, the first focussing on international law of the sea and the second on maritime law from an international perspective, interspersed by lectures from other scientific areas connected to the maritime environment.

Course materials

Abstracts, Readers, Presentations and other material will be made available online in a password protected area of this website; participants need to register online to access the material and join our Alumni network.

Certificate

Upon completion of the course, Participants will receive a certificate issued by the Foundation. There will be no formal exams. However, the award of a certificate requires full attendance of the program and either participation in the Moot Court Tournament or the formulation of the Resolution.

Course Fees

The course fees are determined on an annual basis and cover Tuition (lectures and course materials), half board accommodation in the vicinity of the Tribunal and a programme of extra-curricular activities.

Scholarships

Subject to availability of sponsors, the Foundation will award a limited number of scholarships, covering the Course Fees.

Travel Grants

The Foundation might also grant financial support for international travel to and from Hamburg. Such Travel Grants are very rare and strictly reserved for participants from developing countries, as defined in the OECD list. The Foundation will book such transport at its discretion from and to the participant's domicile at the time of application.

FAQ

More information is to be found here.