BSc (Hons) Shipping and Port Management Bachelor's degree at Southampton Solent University
BSc (Hons) Shipping and Port Management at SSU. You'll study in English at Southampton Solent University, which holds Gold for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
About this course
BSc (Hons) Shipping and Port Management is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at SSU, based in East Park Terrace. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Engineering and technology graduates from this provider, 80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 75% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Business & Management, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 80% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 100% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year one 6 modules
- Shipping BusinessCore
Module details
This module will provide you with the foundation knowledge that is essential to the understanding of shipping as business. This knowledge forms the basis for understanding maritime commercial law and practice.
- Global TradesCore
Module details
Develop your understanding of global trade and the relationship between supply and demand for natural resources. Explore how trade routes develop and change in response to new discoveries and socio-economic development.
- Data ScienceCore
Module details
Shipping is high volume industry with a need to measure cargo, fleet capacity and distances. To be prepared for this business environment, you will learn how to summarise and communicate numerical information and develop skills to deal with complex data.
- Shipping EconomicsCore
Module details
This module introduces you to economics of the main maritime trades. This covers the impact of the shipping cycle and how freight markets work alongside economic theory and business practice relating to maritime industry.
- Vessel OperationsCore
Module details
Identify vessel requirements for the vast array of commodities transported by ship and consider some of the more specialised vessels that work in the industry related to the cargo they carry. Look at how changes in technology and a need for a more sustainable approach will drive change in the industry.
- Maritime OrganisationsCore
Module details
Gain a foundation of knowledge of the typical organisation of shipping companies, ports and other firms that enable the transportation of goods – and people – by ship. You will also look into the organisation of companies that support seaborne trade, such as shipyards, ship chandlers, brokers, insurance firms and more.
Year two 8 modules
- Ship Management and OperationsCore
Module details
Shipping is a global business that is regulated by multiple organisations. You will look at the operations of a range of vessels, and regulations that are in place to ensure safety of crew and cargoes with the need to balance the economic, social, environment and regulatory requirements to successfully manage ships.
- Carriage of Goods by SeaCore
Module details
This module will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the commercial and legal issues involved in the carriage of goods by sea. Effectively conduct basic research using a variety of legal research tools, resources and electronic media to locate, organise and apply the core legal concepts that regulate commercial maritime law.
- Port and Terminal ManagementCore
Module details
Ports are essential nodes in the transport chain and important for the economy. This module will give you an depth understanding of ports and specialist terminals within them. The role of project planning everything from operations, planning and storage will be covered in as well the regulatory environment.
- Accounting for Decision MakingCore
Module details
As you are studying to become a manager in a maritime organisation, this module should prove indispensable for your future career. This is practice-driven module teaches you to interpret financial accounting information, supplier screening, competitor analysis, profit and optimisation.
- Principles of LogisticsCore
Module details
Modern logistics is an important pillar in the development of modern economy. The module investigates logistics systems, transport systems, warehousing, handling and picking systems, inventory, stock and provisioning management, network planning, and control. The module will provide you with tools to develop a problem-solving approach to managing commercial logistics.
- Work PlacementOptional
Module details
By undertaking a work placement, you will have the opportunity to implement the knowledge and skills gained from your course and learn about new concepts and working practices. The experiences you gain from working in the industry will help you develop key skills for your future.
- Chartering PracticeOptional
Module details
This module will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the practical, commercial and legal aspects of ship brokering and chartering.
- Maritime Innovation and TechnologyOptional
Module details
The maritime industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by digitalisation, decarbonisation and an increased focus on sustainability and security. Innovative technologies that improve productivity, sustainability and competitiveness are key to shaping the future of maritime and shipping.
Final year 4 modules
- DissertationCore
Module details
A dissertation gives you the opportunity to undertake an extensive piece of research within your subject area and develop important skills to critically analyse, synthesise and evaluate your chosen topic.
- Strategic ManagementCore
Module details
This module considers the issues of strategic management within the complex environment that enterprises operate, where opportunities and constraints are continually developing and changing. It explores a range of strategic management processes that address the complexity and variability of this environment.
- Supply Chain ManagementCore
Module details
The module explores how supply chain systems are developed by companies so they can remain competitive in modern, global business.
- Maritime SustainabilityCore
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This degree combines core business and management foundations with a focus on the maritime, shipping and port sectors. Year 1 typically covers introduction to management and organisations, marketing principles, and business economics. Year 2 moves into operations and supply chain management, organisational behaviour and human resource management, and strategy. In Year 3, you'll usually choose specialist options such as entrepreneurship, international business, digital business, consulting, marketing, or people and HR, and complete a capstone project or consultancy assignment. Throughout, the curriculum emphasises how these disciplines apply to shipping and port management contexts, building both general business acumen and sector-specific expertise.
Who it's for
This course suits students interested in the maritime and logistics sectors, particularly those aiming for management roles in shipping, ports and supply chain operations. Most accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent; the typical UCAS tariff among recent entrants was 112–127 points. You'll need to be comfortable with full-time study and English-language instruction.
Careers & job market
Across Business & Management courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with 60% in highly skilled work or further study. Graduate earnings data (national figures) show starting salaries of £24,000–£32,000 at 15 months; after three years, £21,250–£30,000; and after five years, £26,350–£37,200. These are sector-wide outcomes, not university-specific guarantees. The professional accreditation from the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers enhances your credentials in the maritime industry.
University & format
Southampton Solent University is a university based in Southampton. The BSc (Hons) Shipping and Port Management is delivered full-time over 3 years in English. The degree is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Shipboards (ICS) and is a nationally recognised UK degree. Southampton Solent holds Gold for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Year in industry. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 45% |
| another higher-education qualification | 15% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 15% |
| a previous degree | 10% |
| Other | 10% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code 3GAL). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at SSU →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Business & Management graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £30,000 | £27,500 – £32,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £24,000 | £19,000 – £30,000 | 135 |
| 5 years after | £31,500 | £24,000 – £39,000 | 130 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate / AnalystOn a scheme or first role · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / ManagerOwning an area, marketing, finance, ops · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / Head ofLeading a function and a team · 5–10 yrs
- 4Director / FounderRunning a business unit or your own company · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Business & Management nationally
National figures for Business & Management graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Business & Management courses at the same study level.
Compared with 3,421 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 55% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
- Architects, Chartered Architectural Technologists, Planning Officers, Surveyors and Construction ProfessionalsSOC 2020 245 · 40% of published destinations · ASHE median £45,972
- Skilled trades occupationsSOC 2020 5 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,241
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 60; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Business & Management graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine reporting and data pulls
- First-draft decks and copy
- Standard forecasts and reconciliations
- Scheduling and admin workflows
More human than ever
- Strategy and judgement under uncertainty
- Leading, negotiating and selling
- Sense-checking and owning what AI produces
- Relationships with clients and teams
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Business & Management graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Consultancies
- Corporate graduate schemes
- Retail & FMCG
- Startups & scale-ups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Business & Management graduates.
Business Director, Marketing ScienceXcedeBusiness ManagerLGPS CentralBusiness Change ManagerIGA Talent SolutionsBusiness Case ManagerPeregrineBusiness DirectorMedialab GroupBusiness Rates SurveyorW TalentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.1 out of 10: NSS 92% · in work or study 80% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Southampton Solent University
Business and management across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around East Park Terrace
3,609 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Business & Management right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to SSU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £19,081 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check SSU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with SSU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at SSU
Business & Management at other universities
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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