The World Maritime University (WMU) was established by the UN’s International Maritime Organization in 1983 and is IMO’s apex institution for postgraduate education and research in the maritime field. This means WMU is uniquely placed to offer insight and understanding of IMO’s conventions, operations and policies, as well as personal contact with its international experts.

The WMU MSc offers both an overview of the complex, inter-related maritime field, as well as the opportunity to specialise in one of six areas: Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration; Shipping Management; Port Management; Marine Environmental & Ocean Management; Maritime Law & Policy; or Maritime Education & Training. The MSc in Maritime Affairs programme is designed to respond directly to the real needs of the maritime industry, both today and in planning for the future. The programme is both academically challenging and professionally oriented, and is designed for ambitious, mid-career maritime professionals. It provides a particularly strong foundation for applicants who intend to move into an international career.

The WMU PhD programme offers the opportunity to carry out research across the maritime field, but with an emphasis on issues related to the IMO mission of maritime safety, security and environmental protection. Our doctoral programme offers unrivalled access to international maritime experts both inside and outside academia, and to organizations working at the forefront of research and development. Doctoral students have come to WMU from industry, academia and the government sector, and have completed their dissertations in a wide range of subject areas, from investigating oil-spill mitigation to an analysis of organisational learning in shipping companies.

By the end of 2013, almost 4,000 students from 164 countries will have graduated from WMU’s postgraduate programmes. They form a vibrant professional network that crosses the globe and spans different.