Master in Maritime Operations

Master in Maritime Operations is one of 3 English-taught Maritime Management programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 2 institutions. 3 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

This is a joint master's degree between Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) and Hochschule Emden/Leer in Germany. You spend your first semester in Haugesund, Norway, and your second in Leer, Germany. From the third semester you pick one of two profiles, which also decides where you study in your second year. The degree is 120 ECTS and taught entirely in English.

What you study

The programme covers four sides of maritime operations: technical, organisational, operational and managerial. On the technical side you look at ship stability and ship design. The organisational part deals with the complex relationship between organisational, human and technical factors. Operational topics include subsea and other demanding maritime operations. Managerial content covers quality and safety management.

In the second year you choose a profile. Maritime Technology and Management (campus Haugesund) covers subsea and marine systems and operations, ship operation and maintenance strategies, how environmental conditions affect operation and equipment, different surface vessels, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), diving systems and subsea production equipment, plus methods for predicting weather windows and risk and reliability analysis. Simulator demonstrations and excursions to a relevant company or operation site may be part of this profile.

Sustainable Maritime Operations (campus Leer) looks at three aspects. The technical aspect focuses on forces of load and buoyancy, wind, waves and hydrodynamics affecting the vessel, vessel design, and operational and managerial aspects. The operational aspect covers the chain of computational maritime modelling and simulation techniques. The managerial aspect deals with organisation and leadership of projects, and methods and techniques for analysis and management.

How the programme is organised

Teaching happens in intensive sessions, three to five weeks each semester, and some sessions are mandatory. In the first semester you must attend at least one of three lecture sessions in Haugesund, and that attendance is compulsory for all three courses. In the second semester in Leer there is compulsory attendance for one week of laboratory exercises, normally in May. You are expected to structure your own study time independently.

Teaching methods vary: lectures, group exercises and problem-based learning are the most common. Group work is encouraged alongside individual work. A bridging course in ship stability is offered for admitted students who lack that background or want to brush up. Your master's thesis is based on the profile you choose, and some students write it in cooperation with the industry.

Who it suits

You should already hold a relevant bachelor's degree, for example in nautical science, mechanical engineering or maritime studies, with at least 80 credits in technical and/or nautical courses. The programme suits people who want advanced competence in maritime operations with ship technology and management as the supporting framework, and who are ready to study in two countries and work independently between sessions.

Admission, language and next steps

The general admission requirement is a relevant bachelor's degree with 80 credits of specialisation in technical and/or nautical courses, or equivalent professional education. Specific accepted backgrounds are a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Nautical Science or Maritime Studies, each with relevant courses and 180 credits or equivalent. Applicants from outside the Nordic countries and Germany must document English proficiency. The Selection Committee ranks applicants on relevant academic results; if candidates are similar, the statement of purpose or motivation letter is considered. All documents must be uploaded within the deadline. Check the programme page for the application form, documentation requirements and deadlines, which are set by the institution.

Maritime Operations is exempt from the tuition fee. You still pay a semester fee, and only to the institution where you are enrolled. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at state institutions; other degree students normally pay a fee the institution sets. The semester fee does not cover textbooks or other equipment. Because the programme is session-based, there may be limited opportunities for support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen). A completed master's with a good result qualifies for admission to the PhD programme in nautic operations.

Master’s applications go straight to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme. The institution lists its deadline as: Non EU: December 1st 2022 EU/EEA: April 15th 2023. The register shows 1 December 2026 as a deadline date for this programme. Deadlines are set by each institution for each programme, so confirm yours. Entry requirements and language tests are also set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, study permits and housing.