Lisbon, Portugal
DURATION
4 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 6,200 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* 1st phase of applications: 3rd to 28th February
** 10.000€: total tuition fee for non-EU candidates
Key Summary
Introduction
Sea Governance is an interdisciplinary, unique, and innovative program dedicated to the study of all issues related to ocean governance.
Internationally distinguished as one of the best master’s programs at a global level, it will hereafter be lectured in English, reinforcing its international scope, conscious that on the oceans we meet the main challenges and opportunities for sustainable global development.
NOVA School of Law is the sole Portuguese institution forming part of the UN and Nippon Foundation of Japan, with a program of study devoted to the Law of the Sea. It is engaged in supporting students for both public and private entities, as well as in research at some of the most important international institutions on maritime issues.
Gallery
Ideal Students
Academic qualifications are accepted from a wide range of disciplines. In the last few years, Law and Economics of the Sea students have come from Law, Economics, Management, Finance, Social and Political Sciences, International Relations, Geography, Marine Biology, and Engineering backgrounds. Our syllabus is designed to enhance new holistic approaches to maritime studies and thus offer new tools attuned to its better governance.
Program Outcome
The Master’s offers specialized training paths on the sea via a multidisciplinary and integrated approach committed to sustainable development. It offers a Post-Graduate Certificate (1st phase) while simultaneously generating the conditions to continue studies towards the completion of our Master’s degree in Law and Economy of the Sea (2nd phase).
Curriculum
The taught component corresponds to 60 ECTS and is composed of 8 mandatory courses (38 ECTS). Students must also complete 22 ECTS in restricted option subjects listed above.
1st Year - Taught Component
1st semester
Mandatory
- International Law of the Sea and International Courts
- Maritime Law and Civil Liability
- Maritime Security
- Natural Marine Resources and the Ocean Economy
- Ocean Policies
Optional (Law)
- Energy Law
- Financial Instruments Law
- Insurance Law
- International Humanitarian Law
2nd semester
Mandatory
- Economic Models for Sustainable Ocean Economy
- Financing Sustainable Blue Economy and Integration of Policies and Development
- Environmental Law
Optional (Social Sciences)
- The Sea and Maritime Identity**
- Ocean Governance**
- Course offered by the NOVA FCSH Jean Monnet Chair in EU Integrated Maritime Policy and Blue Growth (to be confirmed)
- Optional (Law)
- International Commercial Law
- Data Protection and Management Law*
- EU Asylum and Migration Law
- Port’s Law and Shipping Management
- European Law of the Sea
- Emerging Technologies: Governance and Regulation
- Business, Human Rights and Sustainability
*Data Protection and Management Law is a course offered by NOVA School of Law’s Jean Monnet Module on European Union Data Protection Law in Portugal (DataporEU)
** In each year, only that curricular unit which students have expressed the most interest will be taught.
2nd Year - Research Component
1st semester / 2nd semester
Mandatory
- Dissertation, internship at a national or international institution, or project work.
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
Merit Awards
Merit Awards are awarded to:
- Candidates whose final average admission to a 2nd study cycle at NOVA School of Law, according to assessment and ranking by the appropriate jury, is equal to or higher than 17 points (on a scale of 0/20) and who enroll and attend the same course, benefit from an award in cash corresponding to 50% of the tuition fee for the taught component of the Master’s degree.
- Candidates whose final average admission to a 2nd study cycle at NOVA School of Law, according to assessment and ranking by the appropriate jury, is equal to or higher than 16 points (on a scale of 0/20) and who enroll and attend the same course, benefit from an award in cash corresponding to 30% of the tuition fee for the taught component of the Master’s degree.
In the non-taught phase, three prizes for academic merit are awarded (by master’s degree or area of specialization, in the case of the Master’s Degree in Law). These awards assume the completion of the taught component within the stipulated time.
- The best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the non-taught phase benefits from an award in cash corresponding to 100% of the tuition fee for the non-taught phase of the Master’s degree;
- The second-best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the non-taught phase, benefits from an award in cash corresponding to 60% of the tuition fee, corresponding to the non-taught phase of the Master’s degree;
- The third-best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the non-taught phase of the Master’s degree.