Maritime Studies
2022/2023

Information on the second-cycle master’s degree study programme of Maritime Studies

The Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport of the University of Ljubljana offers a second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Maritime Studies.
Duration: 2 years (4 semesters)

ETCS: 120

Upon graduation, the students will have acquired the theoretical and methodological knowledge, skills, and competences that will enable them to continue their studies in the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme.

The title conferred upon graduation is MSc in Maritime Studies (masculine form: magister inženir pomorstva; feminine form: magistrica inženirka pomorstva, abbreviated form: mag. inž. pom).

Study units of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme of Maritime Studies

The second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Maritime Studies consists of 21 courses:

• 8 obligatory courses of the study programme of Maritime Studies,
• 8 elective courses of the study programme of Maritime Studies (among these, 2 elective courses are selected by each student),
• 2 obligatory joint courses for students of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Maritime Studies and students of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Transport Studies,
• 2 elective courses for students of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Maritime Studies and students of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Transport Studies (between these two, 1 elective course is selected by each student),
• master’s thesis.

In order to graduate from the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Maritime Studies, study requirements from 14 study units must be completed:

• 8 obligatory courses of the study programme of Maritime Studies,

• 2 elective courses of the study programme of Maritime Studies (selected among 8 elective courses),

• 2 obligatory joint courses for students of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Maritime Studies and students of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Transport Studies,

• 1 elective course for students of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Maritime Studies and students of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Transport Studies (selected between 2 elective courses), and

• master’s thesis.

Main objectives of the study programme

The second-cycle master's degree programme in Maritime Studies is compliant with all legally defined objectives for second-cycle degree studies and their research and professional elements. This programme is based on the needs of the contemporary and sustainable maritime industry, and internationally recognised professional objectives in this field.

The main objectives of this study programme include the construction and development of:

- knowledge, skills, and competences in specific carefully selected professional and scientific areas,

- autonomous knowledge construction in the relevant scientific and professional fields,

- advanced research methods and approaches,

- responsibility in the management of advanced and complex systems that are related to the field of maritime studies,

- critical thinking and reflection skills related to contemporary problems in the field of maritime studies within the framework of the processes of globalisation and specialisation, contemporary trends in maritime technologies and processes, exploitation of maritime infrastructure, and safety of maritime transport, considering the protection of the marine and maritime environment,

- independent and teamwork skills and management.

In addition, the main objectives of this study programme address the responsibility to one's profession in the maritime industry. In other words, this entails the responsibility for maritime safety, exploitation of marine resources and maritime infrastructure, the environment, and sustainable development of the Republic of Slovenia as well as the preservation of our maritime heritage in the changing circumstances of today's multicultural Europe. 

Graduates from this study programme will be able to either continue their studies at the third-cycle doctoral degree level or seek employment opportunities in the fields of research and development, maritime transport services, transport, traffic, marine sciences and related activities, state administration, economic associations, etc. 

General competences

The general competences acquired through this study programme are related to the field of maritime studies. More specifically, graduates will be able to:

• use research methods, procedures, and processes in maritime studies,
• use critical skills to apply theoretical findings in practical real-life situations,
• use critical skills to evaluate the relevance of new research methods and their results,
• use skills of analysis and synthesis to provide solutions to problems,
• develop critical and self-critical skills,
• show coherence in the fundamental knowledge in maritime studies,
• have the ability to synthesise knowledge from different fields and use it in practical real-life situations,
• develop autonomy for research and professional work,
• upgrade and develop communication skills, in particular within the field of communication in the international maritime world,
• develop work ethics,
• develop collaboration and teamwork skills (in the local and international environment),
• integrate organisational knowledge to support efficient business decisions,
• analyse, evaluate, and document technical and technological solutions,
• plan, implement, and supervise technical and technological solutions.

Discipline-specific competences

At graduation, students will have acquired the theoretical and practical knowledge, skills, and competences that will enable them to successfully enter the labour market or continue their studies in the third-cycle doctoral degree study programme. The discipline-specific competences include the skills of analysis, critical evaluation, and autonomy that are necessary to provide solutions to problems related to the maritime world and integrate knowledge from different fields of maritime studies. As a result, graduates will be competent to undertake specific tasks in the maritime industry and related sectors, in compliance with legal and ethical requirements as expected from highly qualified human resources in the maritime industry.

Elective courses and mobility opportunities

Students can select three courses (with a total of 19 ECTS or 15.83% of the total number of ECTS) from the inventory of elective courses:

• 1 elective course (7 ECTS) for students of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Maritime Studies and students of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme in Transport Studies (selected between 2 elective courses), and

• 2 elective courses (with a total of 12 ECTS) in the winter semester of the second year of the study programme of Maritime Studies (selected among 8 elective courses).

Enrolment in the second-cycle master’s degree study programme of Maritime Studies is open to all candidates that completed:

1. At least a first-cycle degree study programme with at least 180 ECTS from the field of ‘transport services: road transport, rail transport, air transport, maritime transport, postal services’ or from the technical sciences: mechanical engineering or related study discipline compliant with current educational regulations in Slovenia or abroad.
2. At least a first-cycle degree study programme with at least 180 ECTS from other disciplines of study or a second-cycle degree study programme compliant with current educational regulations in Slovenia or abroad, if before enrolment they have completed the additional study requirements, as defined by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport (ranging from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 60 ECTS).

Selection criteria for candidates (if restricted enrolment is applied):

• For candidates under point 1 above: average grade in their first-cycle degree studies (average grade, and degree thesis grade). If the student has not completed their first-cycle degree study programme with a degree thesis, the average grade will be the only selection criterion applied,
• For candidates under point 2 above: average grade in the first-cycle degree study programme (75%), average grade in additional study requirements (25%). The points are calculated by rounding the average grade in the first-cycle degree study programme and additional study requirements to one decimal place and multiplying this value by 10 so that the maximum possible number of points is 100.

Procedure and Criteria on the Recognition of Knowledge before Enrolment

Students may apply for the recognition of knowledge acquired at different educational institutions if this is in content and scope compliant with the content and objectives of the second-cycle study programme of Maritime Studies. The body appointed for the implementation of the procedure to recognise the knowledge previously obtained is the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport. The recognition procedure starts on request by the candidate who submits an application, certificates and other documents that serve as evidence of the previously acquired knowledge.

Enrolment Application

Procedure and Criteria on the Recognition of Knowledge

Students may apply for the recognition of knowledge acquired at different educational institutions if this is in content and scope compliant with the content and objectives of the second-cycle master’s degree study programme of Maritime Studies. The body appointed for the implementation of the procedure to recognise the knowledge previously obtained is the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport. The recognition procedure starts on request by the candidate who submits an application, certificates and other documents that serve as evidence of the previously acquired knowledge.

The following criteria are applied by the Academic Affairs Committee in the recognition procedure before enrolment:

- eligibility for enrolment into different forms of education (required previous level of education),

- comparability of the scope of education (number of hours of previous education if compared against the number of hours of the relevant course),

- comparability of the content of previous education if compared against the relevant course. 

The previously acquired knowledge may be recognised as a completed study requirement if the enrolment criteria met include at least secondary school qualifications, if previous education covered a minimum of 75% of the relevant course, and if previous education covered at least 75% of the content of the relevant course. If these conditions are met, the previously acquired knowledge may be granted the number of ECTS awarded to the relevant course. 

Advancement into a higher year of study is open to all students that have earned at least 45 ECTS from completing their study requirements.

If approved by the Academic Affairs Committee exceptional advancement into the higher year of study may be granted if in accordance with the justified reasons acknowledged by the Statute of the University of Ljubljana:

• for advancement into the higher year of study, at least 40 ECTS earned from current year of study courses.

Faster progress may be granted to a student that displays excellent study results.

Repetition of a year of study is open to students that have not completed the required number of ECTS for advancement into the higher year of study if they have earned at least 30 ECTS from current year of study courses.

Full-time and part-time students may advance to the higher year of study if they have completed the study requirements (lectures, tutorials, papers, etc.), including exams, with the following number of ECTS:

Transferring between study programmes

Transfer between study programmes is possible under the following criteria:

• comparability of knowledge, skills, and competences and learning outcomes,
• based on the criteria for the recognition of knowledge, skills, and competences acquired before enrolment – if at least half of the ECTS earned in the first study programme can be recognised within the obligatory courses of the second study programme.

Other criteria for transfer include:

• eligibility for enrolment in the second-cycle master’s degree study programme of Maritime Studies,
• completion of study requirements in the first study programme for advancement into a higher year of study in the second study programme. In this case, the study requirements comparable in scope and content may be recognised as completed relevant courses of the new study programme by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport.

Full-time and part-time study. 

In order to graduate from this study programme, the student must complete all study requirements (120 ECTS) set by all obligatory and elective courses and defend their master's thesis. 

QUALIFICATION TITLE

MSc in Maritime Studies

(MAGISTER INŽENIR POMORSTVA/MAGISTRICA INŽENIRKA POMORSTVA)

Additional information is available here.

MSc in Maritime Studies

(MAGISTER INŽENIR POMORSTVA/MAGISTRICA INŽENIRKA POMORSTVA)