Admission and how to apply
Admission requirements
The general admission requirement is relevant bachelor's degree with 80 credits specialization in technical and/or nautical courses, or equivalent professional education. You must fulfil one of the following specific requirements:
- Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering, relevant courses, 180 credits or equivalent
- Bachelor degree in Nautical Science, relevant courses, 180 credits or equivalent
- Bachelor degree in Maritime Studies, relevant courses, 180 credits or equivalent
Applicants from outside the Nordic countries and Germany must provide evidence of their academic achievements and proficiency in English. See our page for how to document proficiency in English.
You must upload all required documents within the application deadline. More information about documentation can be found here
The Selection Committee will select the students on the basis of their relevant academic results (bachelor or equivalent). If two or more candidates are of similar ranking, the statement of Purpose/Motivation Letter will be taken into consideration upon selecting the candidates.
Admission to HVL
Why study Maritime Operations?
You acquire advanced competence within the different aspects related to maritime operations, with ship technology and management as supporting framework. The lectures are given in three to five intensive sessions each semester, which means that it may be possible to combine studies with work.
You will learn about:
- The technical aspect, such as ship stability and ship design
- The organizational aspect, such as the complex relationship between organizational, human and technical factors
- The operational aspect, such as subsea and other demanding maritime operations
- The managerial aspect, such as quality and safety management
The programme is a joint master between Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and University of Applied Sciences Hochschule Emden/Leer in Germany. The first semester is compulsory in Haugesund, Norway and the second semester compulsory in Leer, Germany. The two partner institutions provide each one profile that can be elected from the third semester: Maritime Technology and Management or Sustainable Maritime Operations. This determines the location of study the second study year.
Job opportunities
In combination with the knowledge you have acquired through previous studies, you will be attractive as an academic professional/consultant within shipping and the maritime supply industry, such as subsea- and shipbuilding companies. Some students may write their Master Thesis in cooperation with the industry, which will give them unique insight enabling them to become specialists within the field.
Profiles
The second year you choose one of the two profiles we offer. Your Master Thesis is based on the profile you choose.
Profile 1: Maritime Technology and Management, campus Haugesund
You will learn about:
- Subsea- and marine systems and -operations, ship operation and maintenance strategies/methods
- How environmental conditions may affect the operation and equipment
- Different surface vessels, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV’s), diving systems and subsea production equipment
- Methods for prediction of weather windows and risk- and reliability analysis
Simulator demonstrations and excursions to a relevant company /operation site may be executed to top the gained knowledge and experience from the lectures.
Profile 2: Sustainable Maritime Operations, campus Leer
You will learn about three different aspects of maritime operations:
- The technical aspect focuses on the forces of load and bouncy, wind, waves and hydrodynamics affecting the vessel, the design of the vessel and the operational and managerial aspects.
- The operational aspect focuses on the chain of computational maritime modelling and simulation techniques needed in maritime operations.
- The managerial aspect focuses on central themes concerning the organization and leadership of projects, as well as methods and techniques for analysis and management.
Teaching methods
The lectures are given in intensive sessions three to five weeks each semester. To complete the study program it is expected that you are able to independently structure your studies. All lectures are taught in English.
The teaching methods vary, with lectures, solving exercises in groups and problem-based learning being the most common. In addition to individual work, group work is encouraged throughout the programme.
Bridging course
We offer an eligible bridging course for qualified and admitted students who do not have the necessary academic background of ship stability or students who simply would like to brush up on their ship stability competence.
Teaching sessions
Autumn 2025:
- Week 35: 25th August – 29th August
- Week 40: 29th September – 3rd October
- Week 44: 27th October – 31st October
Maritime Operations is excempted from the tution fee. See more information in the link below.
Information regarding health insurance
Further studies
Completed master programme with a good result will qualify for admission to the PhD-programme in nautic operations.