Ocean Leadership is a part-time executive master’s program for professionals in marine or maritime sectors. The transdisciplinary program provides an understanding of the complex landscape of ocean challenges and builds the knowledge, skills, and capacity necessary for leading the development and implementation of integrative sustainability solutions for the ocean.
This study programme requires compulsory attendance to the introductory meeting. See this web page for more information.The Executive Master's program in Ocean Leadership is for people in leadership positions in government agencies, industry and/or civil society engaged in marine or maritime affairs.
Admission to the program requires:
- A completed bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), or an equivalent qualification.
- A minimum of 3 years of work experience, including at least 1 year leadership experience (at any level). Work and leadership experience must be documented with a dated and signed certificate of service from the employer. The certificate must contain the type and size of the position, as well as the start and end date.
- A minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (2,5) in the ECTS scale. The average grade is calculated from the entire bachelor's degree.
- English language proficiency.
Admission capacity:
20 students.
Application deadlines:
- Nordic applicants: March 1st - Her finner du all informasjon knyttet til søking og opptak
- EU/EEA and Swiss applicants: March 1st You will find more information about admission here
- Non-EU/EEA applicants: No admission
You can apply as a Nordic applicant if you have upper secondary school (Higher Education Entrance Qualification) from a Nordic country (Norway, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Sweden or Denmark). People from non-Nordic countries can also apply in the Nordic admission as long as they meet the Norwegian and English laguage requiements for higher education.
Admissions every other year:
Next 2026, 2028, etc.
- Nordic applicants: 6015
- EU/EAA and Swiss applicants: 7126
Program description
The Ocean Leadership program aims to strengthen strategic competences in leading the development and implementation of integrative sustainability solutions for the ocean.
As a transdisciplinary executive master that is targeting multiple sectors, the program will bring together a novel network of established and emerging ocean leaders. Through problem- and solution-based learning, participants will build knowledge, skills and capacities that are directly relevant to their current work environment, ensuring impact and a return on investment for the employer.
Learning outcomes
Participants will develop relevant knowledge, skills and general competence across the domains of leadership and sustainability, ocean law and governance, digitalisation and innovation. Emphasis will be placed on developing collaborative, adaptive and transformational styles of leadership; understanding important global sustainability challenges; facilitating creativity and responsibility in blue/green innovation; participating in governance of the sea at local, regional, and international levels; and engaging with digitalisation in ethical and impactful ways.
The learning outcomes are defined and described in detail in the study plan.
Job prospectives
The job opportunities are many and varied and you may work locally, nationally and internationally. With the transdisciplinary skills and knowledge obtained in the program, you are better equipped to lead sustainability transformations in your current job or elsewhere. The network you obtain by studying together with emerging and experienced leaders equips you with the abilities needed to take on roles with more responsibility.
Degree Name
Master’s degree in Ocean Leadership
Access to further studies
The Ocean Leadership Executive Master does not alone provide sufficient study credits to pursue a PhD program in Norway.
If you wish to persue a PhD, you can read about the admission requirements at the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics: PhD at UiT The Arctic University of Norway | UiT
Study plan
Language of instruction
English
Teaching and assessment
The program runs part-time for three years. The first two years are focused on course work. The third year is dedicated to the development of a master’s project on a topic of relevance to the participants’ work environment.
For the coursework component, each semester will involve two mandatory face-to-face intensive sessions - one at the start and one towards the end of the semester. Each of these intensive sessions will run for 4.5 days and will be held in Tromsø (one session may be held in another European location of significance for ocean science, industry, or governance).
In addition, each course includes online modules and assignments that participants complete independently. The materials in these modules contain a mix of readings, videos (e.g., short lectures, instructional films, interviews, or inspirational talks), websites, podcasts, activities and/or quizzes. Short digital seminars are held to discuss course materials, and/or provide feedback on assignments in development. It is mandatory to attend at least one of these digital seminars each semester.
The master's project is carried out independently under the guidance of a skilled supervisory team. It also includes a small number of online discussion seminars to provide additional contact and discussion between the program participants.
Each course description specifies how learning objectives will be assessed. The work requirements and exams include group projects, individual assignments and presentations in various formats.
Destinations for studies abroad
Ingvill Holmen Tangen
Rådgiver
Kåre Nolde Nielsen
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