Course summary Master Maritime Innovations
Throughout the programme you will work on issues and dilemmas central to the field of work, using practice-based research and innovative design methods. The programme requires a close connection to practice. join the programme. Therefore, it is important that your organisation or employer supports your decision to study this Master's programme.
The programme for Maritime Innovations
A flexible, personalised learning path
Shape your own learning journey with a curriculum that combines a strong foundation with opportunities to specialise. The programme is designed to be flexible, allowing you to tailor your study path to your interests, professional background and career ambitions. Rather than choosing a single specialisation, you can combine different focus areas to create an interdisciplinary profile.
Core curriculum and elective modules
The curriculum consists of compulsory modules that build your expertise in research, innovation and applied practice, alongside elective modules that let you deepen your knowledge in areas such as sustainable transition, data science and human factors. You choose at least two electives, giving you the freedom to develop the profile that best fits your goals. Most modules can also be taken individually as stand-alone courses, with the exception of the Maritime IMPACT graduation module.
Your next step towards impact
Throughout the programme, you develop the knowledge and skills to turn innovative ideas into practical solutions for the maritime sector. Whether you want to contribute to cleaner shipping, smarter operations or safer working environments, you’ll graduate ready to drive innovation and create lasting impact.
Compulsory modules
Develop the research skills expected at master’s level. You learn how to design and conduct research, analyse data using statistical methods and report your findings. The module concludes with a small-scale research project on a maritime
topic of your choice.
Learn how to turn maritime challenges into innovative, practical solutions. Using the MIT innovation process, you move from problem analysis to concept development and prototyping while applying international regulations throughout the design process. You work with industry partners to develop and validate your innovation.
The Maritime IMPACT module is the graduation project of the programme. You address a real challenge within your organisation or a research project and deliver a solution with tangible value for the maritime sector. Throughout the project,
you apply innovation, stakeholder collaboration and the latest technologies to create lasting impact.
Elective modules
Explore the maritime energy transition and its impact on ship design and operations. You study emission regulations, alternative fuels, sustainable propulsion systems and electrical energy conversion. You apply your knowledge by designing and calculating your own sustainable maritime solution.
Discover how data supports smarter maritime decisions. You learn the fundamentals of Python programming, data processing, optimisation and modelling. The module also introduces machine learning and AI through practical maritime
applications. Assessment is assignment based, often linked to your own professional context.
Improve the interaction between people and technology. You analyse complex work situations and design safer, more effective solutions by studying topics such as human cognition, decisionmaking, safety, ergonomics and organisational
performance.
Innovation starts with people. This module explores how organisations improve performance through effective leadership, quality systems, asset management and lifecycle thinking. You develop academic and professional skills such as critical
thinking, problem solving and leadership while learning from experts and guest lecturers from the maritime industry.
Contact weeks
Each academic year is made up of 5 periods. Each period begins and ends with a 2 or 3 consecutive contact days. You will attend classes on Terschelling and in Leeuwarden. The start week in September is essential and takes place in Terschelling, other contact weeks are important but can be arranged flexibly.
Practice based research
During your studies, you will work on a practice-oriented research project focusing on questions and dilemmas from professional practice. The topic depends on your chosen field of study. Examples of practice-based research are:
In what way can maritime safety in the North Sea be increased, given the increasingly busy shipping lanes and junctions and the associated increased risks of collisions?
In what way can we contribute by exploiting innovations (technical, procedural, communicative and/or organisational) to increase the number of ships passing PSC inspections with as few deficiencies as possible?
With which innovative organisational and technical solutions can we reduce the administrative burden resulting from laws and regulations for Dutch seafarers within maritime SMEs in particular?
How can AI be used to develop organisational and technical innovations that contribute to the development of smart ship operations and management?
Combining work and study
The Masters in Maritime Innovations is a part-time course. This gives you the opportunity to combine the study with your job, family or other things that require your time. You will attend a number of contact days at different locations, the main location being Terschelling. In total, you will have five contact moments (each 3 to 4 days) per academic year, during which you will attend classes together with other students. However, you will mainly study at a distance. You will then be flexible and free to choose your own study moments. This makes it easy to combine this master's degree with your job.
Customised learning
You can create a tailor-made study programme based on your previous training, experience and available time. Consider, for example, putting together a programme from different learning lines. Before you start the programme, you will have an interview with the admissions committee to discuss whether this is possible for you.
Workplace
The programme is closely linked to professional practice. Therefore, it is important that your organisation or employer is willing to cooperate intensively.
Location
You will study at the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz (MIWB), one of the best maritime institutes in the Netherlands. MIWB is part of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences and has locations on Terschelling and in Leeuwarden. MIWB has all the facilities to make your studies as professional as possible, such as:
Maritime Simulator Training Centre (MSTC)
High Voltage Simulator
DP simulator
Hydraulics and refrigeration laboratory
Good contacts with the maritime sector
Course Catalogue
The course catalogue contains detailed information on the programme, so that you can compare different studies or get a more in-depth understanding of what the programme entails.
Is this the degree for you?
If you're confident this degree is the one for you, then why not apply online straightaway? Or pick one of the other options to help you take the next step.
