Maritime and Air Transport Management | Maritime Transport track
Start date
- 06.09.2027
Duration
- 1 year
Location
- Antwerp
Degree
- Master in Maritime and Air Transport Management: Maritime Transport Management
Language
- English
Learn from industry leaders and experts
Discover how shipping companies, ports and logistics networks work together. Learn how to analyze markets, costs and business models while exploring the impact of geopolitics, technology and sustainability on global trade. Benefit from the combined expertise of Antwerp Management School, the University of Antwerp's Centre for Maritime and Air Transport Management ( C-MAT).
At the heart of trade
Study in Antwerp, home to Europe's second-largest port. Meet maritime professionals, visit companies and experience the industry firsthand. A six-day immersion in London introduces you to another major maritime hub, while our extensive industry network connects you with professionals and potential employers
Gain real industry experience
Run a shipping business in a team simulation and tackle a real maritime challenge in your eight-week Master Project. Combine academic insights with hands-on experience, company visits and guidance from industry experts. Graduate with practical skills and valuable connections for your future career.
Could this be your next step?
Curious about the world behind the ships, ports and trade routes that connect us?
The Master in Maritime Transport Management helps you turn that curiosity into specialist knowledge and practical skills. Explore shipping markets, port operations and global supply chains, and discover how technology, sustainability and political change are reshaping the industry.
Whether you are continuing your studies or already have work experience, this one-year program gives you space to find your direction. Learn alongside classmates from different countries and backgrounds, meet people working in the sector and apply your knowledge through business cases, a shipping simulation and your Master Project.
What can this Master do for you?
Your career prospects
logistics and consulting. You could work on fleet operations, cargo flows, market analysis or port development. Explore different roles and discover where your interests and strengths can take you.
Our alumni work at organizations including MSC, OOCL, PSA International, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, DEME Group, Kuehne + Nagel and Deloitte. Company visits, a maritime business game and your Master Project help you build sector knowledge and practical experience to discuss with future employers.
90% of AMS graduates find a job within three months of graduation. And your connections do not end with your degree: stay part of an international alumni community and keep building on the relationships you make during your year.
Connected to the maritime industry
What happens when a shipping route is disrupted? How does a port prepare for new fuels or changing cargo flows? Explore questions like these with academics and industry professionals who bring current maritime challenges into your learning.
Study in Antwerp, where international trade is part of daily life. Company visits and guest speakers connect you to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges ecosystem, helping you understand how decisions across the maritime chain affect one another.
The program brings together AMS and the University of Antwerp’s C-MAT expertise in transport economics, maritime strategy and innovation. Apply what you learn through business cases, a shipping simulation and research on a maritime question in your Master Project.
Small classes make room for questions, discussion and teamwork. Learn from international classmates, meet professionals at sector events and specialization courses, and expand your network during the London immersion. These connections can stay with you long after graduation.
What your year will look like
Discover how the maritime industry works, learn to analyze the decisions behind it and put your knowledge into practice.
Your year connects four stages: understanding the maritime ecosystem, analyzing markets and economics, managing change and applying what you learn. Start with shipping, ports and supply chains, then explore market trends, costs, hinterland networks and the technologies changing transport.
Company visits, a maritime business game and a six-day London immersion bring your courses to life. Your Master Project develops throughout the year, with eight weeks of full-time focus after Easter. Within the 60 ECTS curriculum, choose between Research Methodology and Global Leadership to develop the skills that fit your goals.
The program
Curriculum
1. Understand the ecosystem
Get to know shipping, ports, hinterland transport and the supply chains they support.
- Fundamentals of the Maritime Transport Industry
- Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management
2. Analyze markets and economics
Understand maritime markets, assess price signals and compare costs across the transport chain.
- Maritime Economics and Business
- Maritime Transport Market Analysis
- Maritime Chain Cost Analysis
3. Manage and transform
Explore port strategies, hinterland connections and the technologies reshaping transport.
- Maritime Supply Chains and Hinterland
- Port Economics and Business
- Technology, Digital Innovation and Business Modeling in Transport
4. Integrate and apply
Bring your learning together through a shipping simulation, applied research and your choice of development track.
- Maritime Business Game
- Electives
- Master Project: your Master Project starts early in the year. Work individually or with one classmate to define a research question and develop your approach with an academic coach. After Easter, spend eight weeks working on your research full time, often for or within a maritime organization. The project is part of the 60 ECTS curriculum.
Stay connected to what is happening in the sector: Specialization courses, maritime congresses and industry events introduce you to current challenges and new research. Meet people working on these questions and explore where the industry is heading.
Note: This curriculum is subject to change.
Find the full curriculum in the brochureElectives
Within the elective component, choose one of two tracks: Research Methodology or Global Leadership.
Research Methodology:
Develop quantitative and qualitative research skills. Learn to turn a question into a structured research approach and build an analytical framework for your own topic.
Global Leadership:
Get to know your strengths, learn to work across cultures and develop your approach to leadership. Through reflection, feedback and practical exercises, explore how you want to work with others and the impact you want to make.
Read more about our Global Leadership TrackLearning objectives
After completing this program, you can:
- understand how shipping, ports, terminals and hinterland networks connect and what drives their business models.
- analyze maritime markets, freight trends and cost structures to support business decisions.
- assess how geopolitics, regulation, decarbonization and digital innovation affect the maritime industry.
- use analytical and management tools to tackle operational and strategic maritime challenges.
- communicate and collaborate across cultures in an international industry.
- investigate a maritime research question and explain your findings through an applied Master Project.
- adapt your management approach to changes in shipping, ports and global trade.
Your immersion trip to London
Spend six days in London exploring one of the world’s key centers for maritime transport, insurance, regulation and trade. Visit maritime organizations and companies, meet industry professionals and see how the topics you study shape decisions across the sector.
Previous visits have included the International Maritime Organization, The Baltic Exchange, Lloyd’s Register, the Port of London Authority and London Gateway. Discover different sides of the industry, ask questions and build connections beyond Antwerp.
Bring those insights back to your coursework and exchange perspectives with your classmates. London is the destination for 2027–2028. The exact visits may vary.
Faculty
Learn from academics and maritime professionals who connect their expertise with the decisions companies face. From shipping markets and port strategy to supply chains and digital innovation, they help you understand what is changing and how to respond.
Your lecturers bring experience from the University of Antwerp, maritime research and organizations such as the International Association of Ports and Harbors. Small classes give you the chance to ask questions, discuss ideas and learn from their work in the sector.
AMS belongs to the 1% of business schools worldwide with a Triple Crown-accreditation: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. The EQUIS accreditation is held through the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Antwerp.
Wouter Dewulf
Dean of Antwerp Management School, Academic director Master in Maritime and Air Transport Management
Thierry Vanelslander
Port Economics & Business
Christa Sys
Maritime Economics & Business, Maritime Supply Chains & Hinterland
Edwin van Hassel
Maritime Chain Cost Analysis, Coordinator Master Projects
Roel Gevaers
Associate Dean Education, Academic director Global Supply Chain Management, Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management, Managing Global Supply Chains
Ans De Vos
Chairholder SD Worx Next Generation Work: Creating Sustainable Careers, Development coach, Talent Management
Turn your ambition into action
Start exploring your next career step while you study. Career Services helps you discover roles and employers, prepare your resume and interviews, and build a job search strategy that fits your ambitions. Meet recruiters and alumni through company events and get support through individual career coaching.
Choose the Global Leadership track as an elective to get to know your strengths, learn to work across cultures and develop your approach to leadership.
Testimonials
Alumnus
Chukwuemeka Okorie, Nigeria
The MMATM program at AMS was transformative. It deepened my knowledge of maritime logistics, sustainability, regulatory compliance, and global trade. Through group projects, expert-led sessions, and company visits in Belgium and the UK (London), I gained practical insights, strategic skills, and valuable industry exposure. The supportive learning environment, top-tier faculty, and global leadership focus prepared me to thrive.
Leveraging these experiences and the visibility gained through the program, I secured a full-time Data Analyst (Procurement) role at a key maritime company in Antwerp before graduation. This program shaped me into a purpose-driven professional, ready to drive sustainable impact in the maritime sector. Its industry-aligned design equips graduates to contribute meaningfully in various capacities.
Alumna
Nahyeon Park, South-Korea
Studying at AMS has been an incredible experience. The combination of theory, practical projects, and field visits gave me profound insights into the maritime industry. Learning from professors with strong industry connections and collaborating with international classmates made the program truly inspiring. This year has thoroughly prepared me for a career in maritime management and broadened my global perspective.
Alumna
Na'im Dewaele, Belgium
Maritime Transport Management has been an incredibly valuable experience. The networking opportunities were outstanding: our class represented over 20 nationalities, allowing you to connect with people from all over the world. This program offers the most company visits and networking opportunities of all AMS masters, giving you access to impressive companies both in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and inland. The professors are highly approachable, making it easy to ask questions and build strong connections. If you are interested in port activities and want to expand your network, this master is the perfect choice.
Alumna
Natali Alhweitti, Palestine
Joining the Advanced MSc in Maritime Transport Management was one of the best decisions I made for my career. I loved how the programme combined theory with real experiences, from visiting ports to meeting professionals from the maritime industry. More importantly, the programme helped me discover how much I enjoy the operational side of maritime transport. The experiences, projects and people I met made the year incredibly meaningful. I also grew a lot in confidence and as a professional. I came looking for a challenge and that is what the course offered me. I would definitely recommend the programme to anyone who wants to understand the maritime industry beyond the classroom.
Practical information
When does the course start?
The Master in Maritime Transport Management runs from September 6, 2027 to August 31, 2028.
Graduation takes place at the end of June. If you do not pass your master’s thesis, you can make a second attempt by August. In that case, you cannot take part in the June graduation ceremony.
How much does the Master in Maritime Transport Management cost?
The total cost of this master's program for the 2027–2028 academic year is €20,600 (exempt from VAT).
This price includes:
- An AMS welcome pack
- Access to all student facilities at Antwerp Management School and the University of Antwerp
- Transportation to site/company visits
- Accommodation during the international study trip to London, including all breakfasts and some other meals
- Global Leadership workbook
The tuition fee does not include other teaching materials, visa costs, transport to and from the international study trip destination, living expenses (including student housing, food and drinks), leisure activities and travel to campus.
*The price of accommodation during the international trips is based on twin or triple rooms.
Am I eligible for the Maritime Transport Management program?
Candidates studying at a Flemish higher education institution in Belgium need a master’s degree or equivalent. Other candidates may apply with a master’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution.
Not sure whether you qualify? Upload your CV and transcripts to our admissions team. You can also apply while completing your current studies. Check the admissions page for the English language requirements and possible exemptions.
Read all about the eligibility criteria and the application processHow do I apply for the Master in Maritime Transport Management?
Ready to take the next step? Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and places are limited. We recommend applying as early as possible.
Complete the online application and pay the €50 application fee. Next, take a general ability assessment and join an online interview about your motivation, ambitions and English proficiency. We aim to share the outcome within one week.
Start your application through our online application portal.How do I ginance my studies?
Looking for financial support or a loan?
Antwerp Management School offers a limited number of partial scholarships for talented students and/or students facing financial constraints. Depending on your profile, these scholarships cover 25% to 50% of the tuition fee. You can indicate your interest in a scholarship during the application process.
You can also explore student loan options through banks in your home country or international student loan providers.
Belgian students
Explore student loan options with Belgian banks such as KBC, BNP Paribas Fortis or Argenta. Compare interest rates and repayment conditions to find an option that suits your needs.
International students
Check whether banks in your home country offer loans for studying abroad. You can also explore international financing options through Prodigy Finance, Brain Capital, WeMakeScholars or Deutsche Bildung, depending on your eligibility.
Which degree will I earn?
Complete the program successfully and earn an official, internationally accredited Master of Science (MSc) awarded jointly by the University of Antwerp and the Antwerp Management School: Master in Maritime and Air Transport Management – Maritime Transport.
Support for international students
Make yourself at home in Antwerp, with support along the way. Get guidance on housing, registration and daily life, and explore Dutch classes on campus at a reduced fee through Linguapolis. If you are thinking about working in Belgium after graduation, Career Services offers guidance on post-study visa options and events where you can meet employers and international alumni.
Start the application procedure
Every year we only accept a select amount of candidates. We advise you to start the noncommittal application process as soon as possible.
A question about this program?
Ask us all your questions!
