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Studies & Degrees in Shipping

Shipping is the transport of goods and passengers by sea, and the business that surrounds it: operating and managing ships, chartering, ports, marine insurance and maritime law. As a field of study it has two sides. The nautical side trains the officers who navigate ships and run their engines. The commercial side trains the people ashore who manage fleets, cargo, finance and logistics.

It is an international industry with international rules. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialised agency of the United Nations, sets the global standards for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its STCW Convention of 1978 was the first to establish basic requirements on training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers at international level, so the content of officer training is similar from one country to another.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree for deck officers. Students learn navigation, ship handling, stability, cargo operations, safety, maritime law and English. In Spain the Universidad de Cantabria teaches the Grado en Ingeniería Náutica y Transporte Marítimo at its Escuela Técnica Superior de Náutica in Santander. It has 240 ECTS credits, including 18 credits of work placement, and is taught on campus. The university presents it as training for the mates and masters of merchant ships and yachts, and for jobs ashore in maritime rescue, administration, the shipping business and inspection.
  • Master's degree for masters. The Máster Universitario en Ingeniería Náutica y Gestión Marítima of the Universidad de Cantabria has 60 ECTS credits in a blended format. According to the university, its main purpose is obtaining the professional title of master (capitán) of the merchant navy, and it centres on ship management.
  • Master's degree in maritime management. For shore-based careers. The MSc in Maritime Management at Chalmers in Gothenburg has 120 credits, lasts two years full time and is taught in English. It requires a bachelor's degree in marine engineering, maritime technology or logistics, and covers subjects such as project management, sustainable shipping, quality, risk and safety management.
  • Business school programmes. Some business schools teach shipping together with trade and finance at master's level.

An academic degree is not the same as a seafarer's certificate. Professional certificates are issued by national maritime authorities, normally after a period of service at sea and further requirements, so ask each school which professional certificate its programme leads to and what sea time is needed.

Where to study shipping

SpainExchange lists five active schools for shipping: two in Spain and one each in Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The two Spanish schools are public universities in port cities: the Universidad de Cantabria in Santander and the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Teaching at the Universidad de Cantabria is in Spanish. In Sweden, Chalmers teaches its maritime management master's in English. In the United Kingdom the list has Cass Business School of City University London; check its current name and programmes on the university's website.

The US entry, the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, is a different kind of institution: it is the undergraduate college of the US naval service and prepares officers for the Navy and Marine Corps, not for the merchant fleet.

Careers

At sea, graduates work as deck officers (mate, chief mate, master) or engineer officers. Ashore, Chalmers lists logistics, ship management, freight planning, safety management and ship broking as career areas, with employers such as shipping companies, terminal operators, insurance companies, port authorities, the coast guard and flag state administrations.

Official employment figures are available for the United States. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics counted about 85,900 water transportation workers in 2025, of whom 41,300 were captains, mates and pilots of water vessels and 8,800 were ship engineers. It projects overall employment to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 8,600 openings each year. Most of these jobs require a Merchant Mariner Credential from the US Coast Guard. The figures apply to the United States only.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study shipping in Spain?

The bachelor's degree at the Universidad de Cantabria has 240 ECTS credits, which is four academic years. The master's degree that follows has 60 ECTS credits.

Does a nautical degree make me a ship's officer?

Not by itself. The degree gives the academic training, but professional certificates are issued by the national maritime authority under the international STCW rules. Ask the school what sea service and exams are required.

Can I study shipping in English?

Yes. The MSc in Maritime Management at Chalmers in Sweden is taught in English and lasts two years.

Can I work in shipping without going to sea?

Yes. Shore-based work includes ship management, freight planning, ship broking, marine insurance and port administration, and maritime management master's degrees are designed for these roles.