Facts and figures
The programme at a glancePart of School
Programme structure
A view of the study programmeIn a rapidly evolving maritime industry, this programme gives you the knowledge, analytical strength and industry connection to stay ahead.
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Master the full maritime system
You will acquire knowledge of shipping and transport in the different domains: shipping management, economics and finances, supply chain management and transportation laws & policies. -
Lead in times of transition
You gain knowledge and insight into transition processes, system changes and research methods. -
Think beyond one perspective
You are challenged to approach maritime and transport-related issues from different perspectives and the views of different stakeholders - Develop the professional profile employers value
You develop personal and professional competencies throughout the programme. Your work is evaluated by maritime professionals and researchers, ensuring strong alignment with industry standards.
The Master Shipping and Transport is the only professional master’s programme in this field offered by a university of applied sciences in the Netherlands.
Research-driven & practice-oriented
Learning is both research-driven and practice-oriented. You combine academic rigour with hands-on application, ensuring you not only understand maritime challenges but know how to solve them.
Throughout the programme, you:
- Work on real industry cases
- Apply empirical research methods
- Engage in problem-based learning
- Develop strong analytical, advisory and decision-making skills
This approach guarantees depth of understanding while preparing you to operate confidently in complex professional maritime environments.
What this means for you
- A strong practical focus
- Intensive collaboration with industry partners
- Real-life cases and applied research
- A broad, international perspective
If you are looking for a master’s degree that blends academic excellence with hands-on relevance and positions you for a strategic career in the global maritime sector, this programme is designed for you.
Strong alignment with industry practice
The programme is built around the realities of today’s maritime and transport sector. You work on current operational, tactical and strategic challenges faced by shipping companies, port authorities and regulators.
This close collaboration with industry ensures that what you learn is immediately relevant and directly applicable in professional practice.
You develop competencies that employers actively seek, including:
- Risk analysis
- Strategic decision-making
- Stakeholder management
- Data-driven advisory skills
By the time you graduate, you are prepared to contribute with confidence in complex maritime environments.
The part-time variant of the programme lasts 2 years and you can follow it in addition to your work in the shipping industry. The contact moments are organized once every three weeks so that you can be away from home for longer periods. Each block focuses on a different sub-area, and the last block is devoted to the thesis assignment.
Block 1: Supply Chain Management
Which routes do goods take around the world? How are container terminals set up for the most efficient handling? What connections are there to ensure a transport arrives at the right place? As you examine these processes, important questions naturally arise: what about costs? What is the factor of the environment? In this block, you will be trained to take all aspects into account in transport decisions.
Block 2: The shipping company
In this block, you dive into the world of the shipping company. Do you have your ships or do you charter them? How do you arrange maintenance? Where does the crew come from? And most importantly, why? In lectures and projects, you will work with these kinds of questions. In this block, you also lay the first foundation for your graduation research.
Block 3: The manager
In this block, you will work on your management skills. Everything is covered, from personnel policy to finance and from legislation and regulations to marketing. Which strategies help your company and customers move forward? You also reflect on what you think is important in the maritime world and how you can contribute to it. In the meantime, you continue working on your graduation assignment.
Block 4: Graduation
In the fourth and final block of the master's degree, you will complete your graduation assignment. This is an actual business case in an area that interests you. You conduct practical research and work on recommendations for your client. If you complete this block, you will have your master's degree in your pocket! You can then work as a manager in the maritime sector, or obtain a doctorate and a professional doctorate.
The Master programme equips you with the knowledge, analytical skills, and professional competencies to navigate and lead in the maritime industry.
You build a strong foundation in transition theory, systems thinking, and the root causes of unsustainability. You learn to analyse complex challenges from multiple stakeholder and disciplinary perspectives.
This course provides specialised knowledge of shipping management, covering the roles of ship managers, company departments, and the dynamics of the maritime market. You will conduct quantitative research on shipping company economics under current and upcoming maritime regulations and apply this knowledge to real-world decision-making. By the end of the course, you will be able to analyse organisational structures, propose investment and tactical decisions, plan crew and fleet operations, evaluate contracts and claims, and design actions for docking or retrofitting ships all supported by qualitative and quantitative evidence.
This interdisciplinary course combines strategic management theory with practical applications in the maritime industry, focusing on decision-making in shipping and port management. Through Problem Based Learning (PBL) sessions, you will analyse real-world corporate strategy challenges, develop well-reasoned recommendations, and learn to manage resources, projects, and teams effectively. By the end of the course, you will be able to evaluate multiple stakeholder perspectives, integrate research and societal considerations into strategic decisions, and influence stakeholders through compelling, evidence-based advisory solutions.
The thesis is the capstone of your Master’s in Shipping and Transport. You will independently investigate a topic of interest within the shipping and transport domain, or collaborate with a company in the field. Throughout the full research cycle, from problem identification to data collection, analysis, and generating new knowledge—you will develop practical recommendations under the guidance of expert lecturers. By the end of the course, you will be able to conduct applied research to academic standards, process empirical data, draw reliable conclusions, provide actionable recommendations, manage your personal development, and effectively engage and influence key stakeholders. Successful completion of this thesis marks the achievement of your Master’s degree.
The year is split into two semesters, within each semester there are 2 blocks, so 4 blocks within the year. Each block consists of 7 weeks of classes followed by an exam period of one week and two weeks for projects and excursions.
During the year you will have class, during the day, once every 3 weeks, on a Friday. Meaning, approximately 8 hours of class and 12 hours of self-study per week.
After your study programme
Different possibilitiesCongratulations! You just finished your Master in Shipping and Transport and will receive the title Master of Science (MSc).
With your degree, you will receive a supplement, a DS-label. With this English document, you can show the value of your degree abroad when applying for other study programmes, when applying for a job or looking for the next step within a company or organisation.
As a graduate of the Master’s in Shipping and Transport, you will be well positioned for an international career in the global maritime and transport sector. The programme prepares you to operate in complex, cross-border environments where strategic insight, analytical expertise, and cultural awareness are essential.
Our graduates pursue opportunities in shipping, logistics, port management, marine engineering, and petrochemical industries worldwide. They work for international shipping companies, global logistics providers, port authorities, engineering firms, and energy-related organisations across the globe
With strong research, advisory, and stakeholder management skills, you will be equipped to take on roles in management, operations, strategy, consultancy, and business development, contributing to decision-making in an industry that connects global trade and economies.
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