Becoming a global maritime success

A seafarer’s love for the sea knows no bounds. If you feel at home aboard a vessel, scouring choppy seas, or are fascinated by worldwide shipping, it’s likely you have a maritime profession. 

This occupation is loved by and crucial for many. In 2019, it contributed over 116 billion pounds to the UK economy while supporting over one million jobs with a projected growth rate of 3.5% per annum.

Whether new to the industry or looking to propel your career forward, the right qualification can set you apart from the rest. And the right university will impart key leadership skills, industry networking opportunities, cutting-edge research and an international mindset.

Warsash Maritime School

Warsash Maritime School, part of Solent University, Southampton, beckons aspiring postgraduate students with a passion for maritime studies. Within an extensive maritime portfolio, the School offers MSc International Shipping and Logistics, MSc International Maritime Business and MSc Shipping Operations. Joining any of these programmes grants you membership to an expansive maritime graduate community, including professionals from over 70 nations. Studying in Southampton, a thriving port city on the south coast of England, also offers you a chance to deepen your knowledge and develop a professional mindset.

In fact, Warsash Maritime School has a proud history of delivering training to seafarers for over 70 years. Informed by its rich history and cutting-edge practice-led research, this institution stays current with the latest developments to address today’s maritime challenges. For example, the Environment and Engineering research at the university includes a range of projects for safer, sustainable seas. The programmes also address digitalisation, autonomy and decarbonisation.

A master’s degree from Warsash Maritime School transcends mere qualification. Through a unique blend of education, real-world insights, and extensive networking opportunities, these programmes are meticulously designed to propel you into the maritime industry. Graduates of the MSc International Shipping and Logistics have gone on to work for leading maritime organisations including Maersk, ONE, Mitsui, BP, Shell, Dow, DHL, Khune & Nagel, MSC, Grimaldi Group, IKEA, Cargill, Rio Tinto, Carnival, Royal Caribbean International, and Transport Media amongst others.

Meanwhile, the MSc Shipping Operations is part-time and online, specially designed for maritime professionals at sea seeking to move into shore-based management positions. And the MSc International Maritime Business prepares you for roles at leading maritime organisations including Maersk, ONE, Mitsui, BP, Shell, Dow, MSC, Cargill, Rio Tinto, Clarksons, SSY, BRS, Norden, MOL, Wallenius, Vessels value, Oldendorf, CMA CGM, and Maran Tankers, amongst others.

At the University of Plymouth, students are trained with a fleet of research vessels equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation. Source: University of Plymouth

University of Plymouth

At the University of Plymouth, graduates become leaders in technical and scientific fields — facilitated by the mastery of the foundations of knowledge through theoretical and experimental training.

Here, students are trained with a fleet of research vessels equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation. Students can take their pick from undergraduate courses in Ocean Exploration and Surveying; Ocean Science and Marine Conservation, Oceanography and Coastal Processes; and Ocean Sciences with Foundation Year.

Through these programmes, students develop an expert understanding of how to protect and manage marine resources and learn to investigate alternative and innovative ways to establish and maintain sustainable fishing and aquaculture industries. Those who want to develop a specialisation can progress to master’s programmes in Applied Marine Science; Marine Conservation; Hydrography; and Offshore Renewable Energy.

The MSc Offshore Renewable Energy programme, for example, focuses on key emergent marine sectors: offshore wind, wave power and tidal power (both tidal barrages and tidal stream). It includes expertise from engineering, marine science, economics, law and policy. From a state-of-the-art wave and current test basin to a dedicated ocean-going research vessel to a wealth of computer laboratories and software, students will also benefit from a range of facilities and resources to help their learning and development.

The BSc (Hons) Maritime Science with Cadetship programme is the ultimate foundation and optimum training platform to launch a rewarding career. Source: University of Gibraltar

University of Gibraltar

University of Gibraltar’s  (UniGib) School of Maritime Science offers a BSc (Hons) Maritime Science with Cadetship programme that serves as the ultimate foundation and optimum training platform to launch a rewarding career in the maritime industry — both ashore or at sea. Its academic and technical aspects, plus the opportunity to choose between a Nautical or Engineering pathway, open more doors than others like it. 

Regardless of the route they choose, both groups of students work together through the programme’s joint modules, such as maritime management, ship design and architecture; before moving on to modules specific to their chosen pathway, such as bridge management; ship handling and voyage planning; engineering; as well as mechanics and propulsion. 

“This BSc (Hons) at UniGib equips graduates with the skills required now and in the future,” says Captain Sukhjit Singh, Head of the School of Maritime Science. “It is an academically challenging and professionally oriented programme providing students with knowledge of maritime operations. MCA-approved and MNTB-aligned, it is designed to facilitate learning via a hands-on approach. This enables graduates to operate in an international and multicultural environment effectively.”

Over at the University of Gibraltar Maritime Academy, short courses on Proficiency in Maritime Security Awareness, Personal Survival Techniques, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety and Social Responsibility, and more are offered. The academy is a partner of Maritime Skills Academy (MSA), a division of UK-based Viking Maritime, in delivering world-class maritime technical training courses. “This partnership with Viking allows the university to add to its well-established portfolio of world-class Maritime education and training, further supporting Gibraltar’s status as a Maritime Centre of Excellence,” says Aaron Lopez, Maritime Academy Manager.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International