Business

Bachelor of Maritime and Shipping Management

The Bachelor of Maritime and Shipping Management is a four-year programme that prepares students for maritime operations, shipping management and port administration. Students study maritime management, shipping operations, port management, maritime law, maritime logistics and marine insurance. The programme combines maritime industry knowledge with management skills for the shipping and port sector.

Students develop competencies in maritime management, shipping operations, port management, maritime law, logistics, maritime safety and marine insurance. They learn to manage shipping operations, coordinate port activities, handle maritime documentation and ensure compliance with maritime regulations. The programme covers shipping, port management, maritime law, logistics and safety.

In Kenya, maritime and shipping management is critical for the port of Mombasa, which is a major gateway for East Africa. Kenya's maritime sector, port expansion and regional trade create opportunities. The Technical University of Mombasa and Moi University offer related maritime management programmes. Graduates find roles in shipping companies, port authorities, logistics firms, maritime agencies, freight forwarding companies and government maritime departments.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, practical maritime simulations, field visits, industrial attachment and research projects. Students study shipping operations, port logistics, maritime documentation and undertake industrial attachment at ports or shipping companies. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as shipping managers, port managers, maritime logistics managers, freight managers and ship agents. Some work for shipping companies or port authorities. Others join logistics firms, maritime agencies or freight forwarding companies.

This programme is ideal for individuals with interest in maritime industry, logistics and international trade.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Maritime Management Principles
Shipping Operations and Management
Port Management and Operations
Maritime Law and Regulations
Maritime Logistics and Supply Chain
Marine Insurance and Risk Management
Maritime Safety and Security
Shipbroking and Chartering
International Trade and Transport
Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Maritime Industry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Maritime Industry: Maritime industry overview, shipping, ports and seaborne trade Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Maritime Management Principles
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Maritime Management Principles: Maritime management theory, maritime organisations and governance Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Shipping Operations and Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Shipping Operations and Management: Shipping operations, vessel types, shipping markets and fleet management Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Port Management and Operations
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Port Management and Operations: Port management, port operations, cargo handling and terminal operations Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Maritime Law and Regulations
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Maritime Law and Regulations: Maritime law, admiralty, carriage of goods by sea and IMO conventions Examines statutory frameworks, case law, and regulatory compliance in the Kenyan context.
Maritime Logistics and Supply Chain
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Maritime Logistics and Supply Chain: Maritime logistics, multimodal transport, supply chain and hinterland transport Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant sk...
Marine Insurance and Risk Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Marine Insurance and Risk Management: Marine insurance, hull and cargo insurance, risk management and claims Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Shipbroking and Chartering
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Shipbroking, chartering, voyage and time charter contracts. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Maritime Safety and Security
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Maritime Safety and Security: Maritime safety, ISPS, security, safety management and SOLAS Covers safety regulations, risk assessment, and workplace hazard management.
International Trade and Transport
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
International Trade and Transport: International trade, transport law, incoterms and trade facilitation Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Strategic Maritime Management
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Strategic Maritime Management: Strategic management in maritime sector, competitiveness and policy Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research on maritime and shipping management. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment test...

Specialisations

Marine Insurance
Specialization in Marine Insurance, preparing graduates for careers such as logistics-manager. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Shipping Management
Specialization in Shipping Management, preparing graduates for careers such as logistics-manager. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Shipbroking
Specialization in Shipbroking, preparing graduates for careers such as logistics-manager. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Port Management
Specialization in Port Management, preparing graduates for careers such as logistics-manager. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Maritime Safety
Specialization in Maritime Safety, preparing graduates for careers such as logistics-manager. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Maritime Logistics
Specialization in Maritime Logistics, preparing graduates for careers such as logistics-manager. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on maritime management or shipping with afternoon practical simulations or field visits. Students may study port operations, analyse shipping cases, use maritime documentation or visit port facilities.

The trade offs

In its favour

Relevant to Kenya's strategic port of Mombasa
Diverse career paths in shipping, ports and logistics
International career opportunities in maritime
Combines maritime knowledge with business management

Against it

Maritime jobs may be concentrated in coastal areas
Industry can be affected by global trade fluctuations
Some roles may require travel or sea time
May require professional maritime certifications for advancement

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public102k to 245k

102k at Technical University of Mombasa245k at Pwani University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Pub: TUM 102,000 to Pwani 244,800/yr. No private university confirmed. KUCCPS.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some maritime companies and port authorities offer internship opportunities.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C
English
C
Commerce or Business Studies or Economics or Accounting
C
Any Group II, III, IV or V subject
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Practical Simulations and Case Studies
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework10% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Freight Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Manages freight forwarding and cargo operations
Maritime Logistics Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages maritime logistics and supply chain
Port Manager
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages port operations and terminals
Ship Agent
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Coordinates vessel operations in port
Shipping Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages shipping operations and fleet

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as shipping managers, port managers, maritime logistics managers, freight managers and ship agents in shipping companies, port authorities, logistics firms, maritime agencies, freight forwarding companies and government maritime departments.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
Data analysisPrimary
Transport scheduling, route planning, fuel cost analysis, and fleet maintenance tracking.
SAP Transportation Management
Erp software
Enterprise transportation management module for logistics planning, freight management, and fleet operations.
Route Planning Software
SoftwarePrimary
Software for optimising delivery routes, scheduling dispatches, and calculating transport costs.
GPS Tracking Systems
Technology
Vehicle tracking systems for real-time fleet monitoring, location tracking, and route compliance.
Fleet Management Software
SoftwarePrimary
Digital platforms for tracking vehicles, scheduling maintenance, monitoring fuel consumption, and managing driver performance.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Maritime management is only for sailors
Maritime management covers shipping, port operations, logistics, law and business management.
There are limited jobs in maritime management
Kenya's port of Mombasa and regional trade create diverse maritime opportunities.
Maritime management is not academic
Maritime management requires knowledge of law, logistics, economics, operations and safety.
Maritime jobs are only at the coast
Maritime management supports inland logistics, shipping agencies and freight forwarding nationwide.