Business

Bachelor of Maritime Logistics and Freight Management

The Bachelor of Maritime Logistics and Freight Management is a four-year programme that prepares students for maritime logistics, freight forwarding and cargo management. Students study maritime logistics, freight management, cargo handling, multimodal transport and supply chain management. The programme combines logistics knowledge with maritime industry skills for cargo and freight operations.

Students develop competencies in freight management, cargo handling, maritime logistics, customs procedures, transport planning, warehousing and supply chain management. They learn to manage freight operations, coordinate cargo movement, handle customs documentation and optimise logistics chains. The programme covers freight, maritime logistics, cargo, customs, transport and supply chain management.

In Kenya, maritime logistics and freight management is important for port efficiency and regional trade. Kenya's port of Mombasa, Northern Corridor and logistics sector create opportunities. Technical University of Mombasa and Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) offer related programmes. Graduates find roles in freight forwarding companies, shipping lines, logistics firms, port authorities, customs agencies and transport companies.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, practical exercises, field visits, industrial attachment and research projects. Students study freight documentation, cargo handling, logistics software and undertake industrial attachment at logistics companies. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as freight managers, logistics managers, customs brokers, cargo managers and transport coordinators. Some work for freight forwarding companies. Others join shipping lines, logistics firms, port authorities or customs agencies.

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

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 Logistics and Freight Principles
Freight Forwarding and Cargo Management
Customs and International Trade
Multimodal Transport Systems
Port and Terminal Operations
Warehouse and Inventory Management
Supply Chain Management
Maritime Law and Carriage of Goods
Transport Economics and Planning
Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Maritime Logistics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Maritime Logistics: Maritime logistics, freight concepts, logistics systems and trade Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Freight Forwarding Principles
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Freight Forwarding Principles: Freight forwarding, modes of transport, freight documentation and incoterms Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Cargo Management and Handling
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Cargo Management and Handling: Cargo types, handling, stowage, dangerous goods and cargo security Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Customs and International Trade
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Customs and International Trade: Customs procedures, international trade, tariffs and KRA regulations Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Multimodal Transport Systems
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Multimodal Transport Systems: Multimodal transport, sea, road, rail, air and integration of transport modes Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Port and Terminal Operations
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Port and Terminal Operations: Port operations, terminal management, cargo handling equipment and efficiency Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Warehouse and Inventory Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Warehouse and Inventory Management: Warehousing, inventory control, distribution and warehouse operations Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Maritime Law and Carriage of Goods
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Maritime Law and Carriage of Goods: Maritime law, carriage of goods, bills of lading and maritime contracts Examines statutory frameworks, case law, and regulatory compliance in the Kenyan context.
Supply Chain Management
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Supply Chain Management: Supply chain management, integration, coordination and logistics strategy Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Transport Economics and Planning
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Transport economics, planning, cost analysis and policy. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests...
Strategic Logistics Management
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Strategic Logistics Management: Strategic logistics management, network design, outsourcing and performance Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final Year Research Project: Independent research on maritime logistics and freight management Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.

Specialisations

Cargo Management
Specialization in Cargo 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.
Warehouse Management
Specialization in Warehouse 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.
Supply Chain Management
Specialization in Supply Chain Management, preparing graduates for careers such as logistics-manager.
Customs and Trade
Specialization in Customs and Trade, 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.
Freight Forwarding
Specialization in Freight Forwarding, 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 Transport
Specialization in Maritime Transport, 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 logistics or freight with afternoon practical exercises or field visits. Students may study freight documentation, analyse cargo cases, use logistics software or visit port and freight facilities.

The trade offs

In its favour

Relevant to Kenya's port and regional trade
Diverse career paths in logistics and freight
Combines logistics with maritime industry knowledge
Growing demand for logistics professionals

Against it

Freight operations may require working irregular hours
Some roles are concentrated around port and border areas
Industry can be affected by global trade fluctuations
May require professional certifications for customs or freight forwarding

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 (similar programmes). No private confirmed. KUCCPS.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some logistics and freight companies offer internship stipends.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

4 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) Training Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Students in geospatial sciences, GIS and remote sensing

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

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Practical Exercises and Case Studies
Coursework30% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% 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

Transport Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Coordinates transport and logistics movements
Customs Broker
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Facilitates customs clearance and documentation
Logistics Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages logistics and supply chain operations
Cargo Manager
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages cargo operations and handling
Freight Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Manages freight forwarding operations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as freight managers, logistics managers, customs brokers, cargo managers and transport coordinators in freight forwarding companies, shipping lines, logistics firms, port authorities, customs agencies and transport companies.

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 logistics is just about moving containers
Maritime logistics covers freight management, customs, multimodal transport, warehousing and supply chain optimisation.
There are limited jobs in freight management
Kenya's port and regional trade create diverse freight and logistics opportunities.
Freight management does not require a degree
Professional freight management requires knowledge of logistics, customs, law and international trade.
Maritime logistics is only for coastal areas
Freight management supports inland logistics, border points and regional transport corridors.