Master of Business Administration in Maritime Management

The Master of Business Administration in Maritime Management at the University of Tasmania is a two-year postgraduate degree for people who want to run shipping, ports, logistics and marine-related businesses. You study the core of an MBA, accounting, finance, marketing, organisational behaviour, strategy, data and decision-making, and apply that thinking to the maritime sector. That means units on port and terminal management, shipping operations and economics, maritime law and regulation, supply chain and freight logistics, risk and safety, and the commercial realities of vessels, crews, cargo and infrastructure. Tasmania's position as an island state with major port and aquaculture activity gives the course a practical, industry-facing flavour.

How the degree is structured

Australian master's degrees usually run over four semesters (two years full-time) or six trimesters, depending on the university's calendar. You complete units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need a total credit point value to graduate. The first year typically builds the business core; the second year moves into maritime specialisation and a capstone. That capstone might be a research project, a consultancy-style industry project, or a substantial business report where you tackle a real problem for a port, shipping line, freight forwarder or government agency. Some students choose a research pathway instead, which can lead to further study. Work-integrated learning appears in this field through placements, industry projects and internships with ports, shipping companies and logistics firms, and you should check the official course page for what is currently offered.

What you actually learn

You learn to read a balance sheet and a charter contract. You learn how port congestion, fuel costs, labour shortages and international regulation affect a shipping business. You learn to manage a supply chain that crosses borders, and to make decisions when weather, safety and cost pull in different directions. Group work, case studies and presentations are common, because maritime management is a people business. Assessment is usually a mix of exams, essays, reports and team projects, and the capstone is where you pull it all together.

Who it suits

This degree suits people already working in shipping, ports, defence, marine engineering, fisheries, freight or logistics who want to move into management. It also suits business graduates who want a sector specialisation, and career changers with some professional experience. The University of Tasmania is a research-intensive institution with strong links to the maritime and Antarctic sectors, and the MBA gives you the business language to sit alongside engineers, regulators and operators. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may let you stay and work after you finish, check the Department of Home Affairs for current rules. English entry is usually IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for coursework postgraduate degrees, with TOEFL, PTE and Cambridge C1 Advanced accepted as equivalents; the Student visa has its own separate English requirement. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 107273H. Confirm all details, including unit lists, placement options and intake dates, on the official University of Tasmania page.

• Port and terminal manager, running day-to-day operations at container, bulk or cruise terminals, working for port authorities and stevedoring companies.
• Shipping operations manager, coordinating vessel schedules, crewing, bunkering and cargo for shipping lines and ship management firms.
• Maritime logistics and supply chain analyst, planning freight movements for freight forwarders, importers, exporters and third-party logistics providers.
• Marine business consultant, advising on fleet strategy, port investment and maritime regulation for consultancies and government agencies.
• Fleet or chartering manager, negotiating charters and managing vessel performance for shipowners and operators.
• Maritime safety and compliance officer, working with regulators such as AMSA and with port state control on safety, security and environmental standards.
• Fisheries and aquaculture business manager, overseeing operations and commercial strategy in Tasmania's seafood sector.
• Defence and government maritime roles, logistics, procurement and policy work in agencies with marine responsibilities.
• General management in transport and infrastructure, roles in rail, road, aviation and intermodal businesses where maritime skills transfer.

Australian industries that hire these graduates include port authorities, shipping lines, stevedores, freight forwarders, logistics companies, aquaculture and fisheries businesses, marine insurance and law firms, engineering consultancies, and state and federal government agencies.