Become a competent leader, both onboard ships and in onshore organisations in a master's programme that will prepare you to guide your industry into a new era.
Maritime management master's programme at Chalmers
There is a growing need for competent and educated leaders, both onboard ships and in onshore organisations. With the master’s programme in Maritime management both students without industry experience as well as officers and shore-based personnel will get the opportunity to further train themselves to get an important role as future leaders. Leaders who can guide the shipping industry into a new era faced with demands for effective logistics solution and strict quality demands.
The students also get the possibility to participate in research education and research projects.
The master's programme gives the students a theoretical and practical knowledge in Project Management, Quality, Risk and Safety Management with a well proven Chalmers standard at Master level. The programme also gives Master’s level standard’s skills within the areas Leadership and Communication, Marine Environmental Protection and Energy Management. Finally the programme also puts emphasis on business acumen with courses as Business Development and Business Strategy Management.
The ideal candidate for the programme is a maritime professional preferably with some years’ experience within the shipping industry after received a BSc degree in major nautical, marine engineering, shipping and logistics or equivalent education and with a
genuine passion for quality and sustainability.
The master's programme in Maritime management offers an opportunity for officers and shore-based personnel in the shipping cluster to enhance their knowledge in maritime management and acquire a degree of Master of Science at Chalmers University of Technology and take part of shaping the future shipping industry as leaders and researchers.
Topics covered
The subjects of project management, leadership and shipping industry are fundamental areas in the Maritime management master’s programme. The courses included in the programme plan handle topics such as onshore organizations, quality management, maritime law and project management.
Master's programme structure
The master's programme runs for a duration of two years, leading to a Master of Science (MSc) degree. During each year, students can earn 60 credits (ECTS) and complete the programme by accumulating a total of 120 credits. Credits are earned by completing courses where each course is usually 7.5 credits. The programme consists of Compulsory courses, Compulsory elective courses and Elective courses.
Compulsory courses year 1
During the first year the programme starts with six compulsory courses that form a common foundation in Maritime management. Each course is usually 7.5 credits.
- Project management
- Management accounting
- Research methods
- Organization and leadership
- Quality management
- Risk management and security
Compulsory courses year 2
In the second year you must complete a master's thesis in order to graduate. The thesis may be worth 30 credits or 60 credits depending on your choice.
- Towards sustainable shipping
- Master’s thesis
You will also be able to select courses outside of your programme plan. These are called elective courses. You can choose from a wide range of elective courses, including the following:
- Business development
- Circular economy
- Global and intercultural competence
- Industrial energy systems
- Logistics and supply chain management
- Maritime risk and insurance
- Maritime environmental law
- Maritime insurance and transport law
- Shipbroker
- Strategy creation and change
- Technical change and the environment
Career
Graduates from the program can apply for higher management positions at companies in the shipping industry within the fields of ship management and strategic management with the natural possibility for promotion. Graduates also have sufficient knowledge and formal qualification to apply for research studies in these areas.
Many of our alumni start their career in the HSEQ-field (Health, Safety, Environment and Quality) or different type of project managers within the maritime industry (R&D manager, Operations Manager, New building manager etc.) Others pursue careers within the Marine insurance domain. (Underwriters, claims adjustors, surveyors etc.) Another line of business that employs many of our previous students is flag state administrations.
Research within Maritime management
Chalmers has a strong position in maritime research and education, with research both within the department of Mechanics and maritime studies and Lighthouse (Swedish maritime competency centre). We work together locally with RISE (Research Institute of Sweden) and SSPA. We also have substantial networks with other research bodies on an international level and are active partners in a lot of projects funded by the European Union.
Since Chalmers is all about making an impact for a sustainable future most of our projects are related to a safer and more sustainable shipping industry. Some projects worth mentioning is SAFEMODE which focuses on human factors to develop more safe and efficient shipping, AUTOBarge, a project on autonomous barges for smart inland shipping and EXIT which focuses on policy instruments and cost-effective solutions to achieve more sustainable shipping.
Three units in the division of Maritime studies conduct research connected to Maritime Management.
- Nautical Studies aims to perform research within areas such as navigation, safety and user-centred design to support the transition to “Smart shipping”. The increase in digitalization within the shipping industry demands research, not only within the complex socio-technical system but also within areas of education and training of future operators, managing Big Data, development of decision support systems, providing input to the development of regulatory support together with safe and efficient operational procedures.
- Maritime Environmental Sciences works with different aspects of environmental impact from shipping. The result from this research often serves as decision support for maritime stakeholders. The research is interdisciplinary within areas such as future marine fuels, energy efficiency, emissions to air and water focusing on impact assessment and abatement of emissions from marine scrubbers, antifouling systems and oil spills from shipwrecks.
- Technical and Maritime Management focuses on teaching and research in maritime sciences, including cargo management, mechanical engineering, law and logistics.
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Admissions academic year 2023/24
Application
General entry requirements
An applicant must either have a Bachelor's degree in Science/Engineering/Technology/Architecture or be enrolled in his/her last year of studies leading to such a degree.
Specific entry requirements
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with the main field of study in: Nautical Science, Marine Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Port Engineering, Port Management, Shipping and Logistics or the equivalent
Prerequisites: For applicants without a main field of study in Nautical Science or Marine Engineering, there is an additional prerequisite of studies in Maritime Law or Maritime Transport Economics or the equivalent
Preferable course experience: Professional experience relevant to the Maritime industry
English language requirement
Chalmers Bachelor’s degree
Are you enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree programme at Chalmers now or do you already have a Bachelor’s degree from Chalmers? If so, different application dates and application instructions apply.
Important links
Sustainable development
The programme is highly interlinked with the achievement of the
UN Sustainable Development goals (SDGs). The table below provides an overview of the sustainable development goals and the associated targets within the programme.
Goal 13: Climate action
Students and teachers in this programme are strongly involved in activities aiming to improve the energy efficiency of the maritime industry and to identify new sustainable propulsion of ships, but also creating more efficient logistics and information sharing systems for improved efficiency and sustainability
Goal 14: Life below water
Students, teachers and researchers in this programme work together in activities that aim to increase knowledge about the use of natural resources and ecosystem services. Emphasis is put on the relation between shipping and the natural environment. The basic understanding of the environmental problems related to maritime activities, such as emissions to the sea and air, and other sustainability issues related to transport activities. Special focus is put on how environmental impacts from shipping can be reduced.
Student interview
“This programme was the exact fit for my goals”
Ashitosh, India, Maritime management
Why did you choose this programme?– As I have previously worked onboard ships, I was eager to pursue a management degree in the maritime sector. The best option for me was Chalmers, as this programme was the exact fit for my goals. It would allow me to learn management courses combined with maritime studies, which drew me to this programme.
What have you been working on?
– I have been working on a project where we planned to transport a large number of vaccines by sea. Right from the manufacturing lab to the end customer. It was so interesting to combine our shipping knowledge with management courses and a bit of pharmaceutical and supply chain study to make this happen in a project.
What do you like the most about your programme?
– That it offers versatile courses like management, accounting and maritime-based courses that gave me the knowledge and exposure to an overall view of the various industries, which helped me connect practically to the corporate world. I also like that the projects in this programme are based on a practical understanding of the courses.
What do you want to do in the future?
– I see myself working in a shipping company in Sweden where I could use my previous operational experience along with this management education, working towards a better future in sustainable shipping.