Overview This distance-learning MSc blends maritime industry practice with academic theory, letting you combine study with ongoing professional commitments. The programme is designed as a cooperative work-and-study model: you decide how many modules to take each semester and can pause your studies if work or personal obligations require it. Most students follow a part-time path and complete the programme over five semesters.
How it is delivered Courses are primarily delivered via distance learning, so you can study from anywhere — including while serving on board a ship. The bulk of assessment is carried out through home assignments; on-campus attendance is minimal and limited to a voluntary one-day session held in Elsfleth that can be scheduled flexibly. Learning materials are provided as didactically prepared course texts that you work through independently.
Learning approach and relevance The programme uses a learner-centred method that encourages you to link your existing professional experience with new academic knowledge. Real-life projects and case studies drawn from your own work form a central part of the curriculum, so theoretical concepts are applied directly to practical problems. You will also exchange ideas with peers in online forums and receive guidance and feedback from lecturers throughout the course.
Key study features / requirements
This distance‑education MSc is structured around a set of taught modules and a substantial master's thesis. The sequence and semester placement shown in the programme is only a recommendation and can be adapted to suit your pace and schedule, which makes the course well suited to working professionals and students studying remotely. Altogether the modules add up to 90 credit points, with the thesis representing the largest single component and serving as the programme’s independent research capstone.
Core learning outcomes focus on combining management, operational and regulatory knowledge for the maritime sector. You will gain academic research skills and the ability to design and carry out independent investigations; develop familiarity with information systems used in enterprises; understand environmental and human factors that affect maritime operations; and acquire practical competencies in project leadership, logistics and the business aspects of maritime transport. A module on international maritime law provides the legal context for decision‑making in global shipping and related industries.
For full details on assessment, contact hours and module content consult the module handbook available on the programme website.
Program requirements (modules and credits)
This distance-learning MSc requires a combination of academic qualification and relevant professional experience, with a clear link to the maritime or logistics sector. Applicants must also meet the program’s English-language requirements. Formal eligibility and admission are governed by the program’s regulations, so review those rules and contact admissions if you have questions about your individual situation.
If you studied or worked outside the country where the university is located, you should be prepared to have your qualification recognized and to provide verifiable documentation (transcripts, employment records). If your documents are not in the institution’s working language, certified translations and proof of equivalence may be requested—confirm specifics with the admissions office.
Admission requirements (bullet points)
Winter Semester (International)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates are prepared for managerial, specialist and project roles within the maritime and logistics industries, including positions in shipping companies, port and terminal operations, maritime consultancy, and regulatory/compliance functions. The programme’s mix of logistics, environmental management, law and leadership supports careers that require both operational understanding and strategic decision‑making.
The emphasis on real‑life projects, information management and project leadership also suits professionals aiming to move into roles such as operations manager, fleet manager, sustainability officer, maritime logistics coordinator or project manager in maritime engineering and service providers.
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