Ocean Leadership

Admissions every other year (next 2026, 2028, etc.)

Basic academic requirements
Applicants must document a completed bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), or an equivalent qualification. Applicants must have a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (2,5) in the ECTS scale.

Additional requirements
This program is for people in leadership positions in government agencies, industry and/or civil society engaged in marine or maritime affairs. A minimum of 3 years of work experience, including at least 1 year leadership experience (at any level) is required.

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.

Applicants must also document English language proficiency.

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 language requirements for higher education.

Capacity:
20 students. Admissions every other year (next 2026, 2028, etc.)

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.

Participants will develop relevant knowledge and skills 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.

Learning outcomes

A candidate who has completed their qualification should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence and attitudes:

Knowledge:

Upon completing the Ocean Leadership program, participants will have:

• advanced knowledge of sustainability challenges
• substantial insight into ocean law and governance
• information and data literacy relevant for ocean leadership
• specialized knowledge of different approaches to leadership for advancing ocean sustainability
• solid understanding of the need for and challenges associated with bringing together diverse types of knowledge and stakeholders

Skills:

Upon completing the Ocean Leadership program, participants will be able to:

• critically assess and use diverse sources of information
• identify and apply relevant theories and methods to analyze practical problems
• envision creative solutions to complex problems
• facilitate teamwork to develop and advance common goals
• plan and implement projects in accordance with applicable norms
• communicate effectively with different target audiences

General competence and attitudes:

Upon completing the Ocean Leadership program, participants will be able to:

• value and advance sustainability and equity
• acknowledge and act in the face of complexity
• develop and implement integrative and inclusive problem-solving
• anticipate and attend to emerging futures in a changing world
• recognize and realize their potential to be inspiring and innovative agents of change

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.

Access to further studies

The Ocean Leadership Executive Master does not alone provide sufficient study credits to pursue a PhD program in Norway.

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 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.

Mandatory Attendance

For students starting this study program in August 2026, the first mandatory intensive session (4,5 days) will take place from Monday, August 24, to Friday, August 28 (Week 35). Physical attendance is required during this period.

Please note that throughout the study program, participation in intensive sessions is mandatory. A minimum attendance rate of 80% for these sessions is required to complete the program. Students must organize their own transport and accommodation for the face-to-face intensive sessions.