What can you do with a maritime business degree?

Things to consider when choosing a career or considering further study after studying a maritime business degree

Cargo ships entering one of the busiest ports in the world, Singapore.

Skills and knowledge

Your study of maritime business will provide you with knowledge and skills that are valuable to employers, both in terms of directly-relevant technical skills in addition to broader soft skills, such as:

industry knowledge
networking, business development and relationship management
entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial skills
critical thinking
problem solving
data analysis
communication and presentation skills
commercial awareness.

Career options

Degrees relating to maritime business can prepare you for very specific and/or technical career options, in addition to equipping you with skills that will prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities. Networking can be of significant importance in this sector and we encourage you to create and maintain long-term relationships with your peers that will last for years after graduation. Excitingly, due to the nature of maritime business, you could choose to work in many different areas of the world, such as the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.

Job options that relate directly to these degrees include:

Port manager
Operations manager
Logistics and distribution manager
Supply chain manager
Maritime consultant
Maritime lawyer
Insurance officer
Marine analyst
Freight forwarder
Project manager
Shipbroker
Merchant navy officer
Passenger transport manager
Transport planner

With a maritime business degree you could work for any number of different types of business, from the ports themselves, shipping and logistic companies or maritime legal firms to companies in engineering and manufacturing; food science and technology; textile and trade industries. However; as approximately 90% of world trade is carried by sea you could work for any number of different manufacturers so these examples really are a drop in the ocean!

You could also apply the broader skills developed during your degree to many other opportunities: it is estimated that although graduate employers often specify a minimum degree classification as part of their shortlisting, approximately 70% of graduate employers do not specify that you must have studied a particular subject to work for them. However, graduate employers do highly prize skills such as entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, critical thinking, problem solving and networking skills which are some of the key skills you can develop during your course. Therefore, you could use your degree to access work in a multitude of sectors or industries.

Researching your career options

With such a wide range of careers open to you as a maritime business graduate, it is important to make sure you explore and research your options thoroughly so that you can make informed decisions about your future.

Take a look at the Prospects, TargetJobs and professional associations websites for inspiration:

Employment opportunities

Below is a snapshot of what some of University of Plymouth maritime business graduates told us they were doing six months after graduation. For some graduates, these jobs serve as stepping stones to professional posts by providing relevant workplace experience.

Administrative Assistant Project Manager
Business Generation Maritime
Chief Mate
Shipbroker
Trainee Shipbroker

Employers

Best Food Logistics
Clarksons Platou
GG Lucas
Redfunnel
VesselsValue

Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with a maritime business degree and learn how you can stand out to graduate employers.

We encourage you to:

undertake career planning and research
build your networks, meet employers and graduates
gain essential work experience during your course
attend career fairs and events
continually develop your skills and knowledge
get involved with relevant clubs and societies
visit the Careers Service for advice.

Further study

Some of the careers chosen by maritime business graduates will require or benefit from further study, so this should be considered carefully. The University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study options that could be of interest to maritime business graduates:

You should consider the financial implications of further study as well as selecting a programme that suits your interests, learning style and future career direction. The following websites are a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, but you may also benefit from talking to a Careers Consultant about your particular situation.

Some useful websites to help you find a suitable postgraduate programme:

It is also worth investigating what

further study options the University has to offer

as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni –

find out your funding options

Careers Service support

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier, come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the

Student Hub

or access our

24/7 online resources

There is a wide range of support available from skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.

Our bite-sized Skills Workshops can give your career the boost it needs. Choose from a range of topics:

effective career planning
job hunting techniques
finding part-time work
CVs and interviews
mastering LinkedIn
and more.

Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service, however they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Connect with graduates

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn’s alumni tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.

search LinkedIn for ‘University of Plymouth’
select ‘Alumni’
filter the results by subject, sector, company or location.

For more information about the alumni tool select the LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile, select the LinkedIn guide for students or

come to one of our workshops

Other advice and guidance

Gain work experience

Undertaking work experience in your first and second years will help you stand out from the crowd when the time comes for you to complete applications for graduate employment and further study. Work experience develops valuable skills and qualities that employers are looking for and is essential for many roles. It can also help you to confirm or rule out particular career choices. Furthermore, experience in the workplace can bring you into contact with people who may be able to assist you at the beginning of your career.

You have plenty of options open to you. You could apply for a placement year, work part-time around your studies, undertake volunteering or approach organisations directly to negotiate short periods of work experience. Some organisations offer paid internships over the summer or of one year’s duration.

The University of Plymouth Students’ Union also offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities.

Clubs and societies

Engaging in a sport or society shows employers you are engaged and seek out opportunities, it also helps you improve your teamwork, communication and negotiation skills. Committee members develop leadership, diplomacy and organisational skills and will gain experience of meetings, handling funds, and society promotion

You may choose to join a society that is specifically linked to maritime business, such as the highly active Shipping Society, or take the opportunity to explore the huge range of clubs, societies and sports, all of which can help you to broaden your horizons and explore new interests.

Tutor and academic support

Your tutor and other academic staff are an excellent source of support for your career development. They will have experience and contacts across industry and academia, so do approach them for advice and insights into careers you are considering. Your tutor will ultimately be writing references for your employment or further study applications, therefore establishing a positive relationship with this person is invaluable.