Global shipping affects everyday quality of life
After I completed my undergraduate degree, I worked in a variety of finance and energy roles in Houston, Texas. In a prior role I became interested in shipping as it was part of the supply chain we were developing but was something that would always be controlled by another company. My interest peaked in shipping as 90% of everything we use in our daily lives is moved by a ship at some point in its lifecycle. Without shipping, the modern global economy that allows for the quality of life we enjoy and take for granted would not be possible.
Wanting to pursue a career in shipping, I decided a Master’s degree could help me find a career in my desired field. I chose the University of Greenwich due to its proximity to London, and due to Programme Leader’s Georgios Kiourktsoglou prior experience in shipping – he has had years of experience in downstream oil negotiations, corporate strategy and retail sales.
Being taught by an academic with years of experience in the industry you are studying is invaluable, as is being close to London, a global hub for shipping.
I also received an International Scholarships Award, which reduced the cost of the degree. This has helped me by allowing for additional money in my personal budget to travel back home to visit family in Texas over the course of the year.
The most rewarding aspect
The most challenging aspect of completing a Master’s degree was easily the dissertation. Showing up to class is easy when you are interested in the topic but spending months researching and writing a comprehensive dissertation on a topic which you may know little about is difficult. My dissertation investigated whether Bio-LNG could be produced to meet the global fuel demand from shipping and if it would meet the IMO2050 emissions reduction regulations. The most rewarding aspect, however, was finishing the dissertation, having taken information from multiples of sources, finding a research gap, and then answering that gap with data. It was an extremely satisfying feeling.
I now work in Commercial Operations for a London-based global energy company, and it was studying the Commercial Management of Ships module of my course that was the most useful to me – the topics covered in that class I encounter on a regular basis in my role.
Therefore, the MSc Global Shipping Management degree has helped me secure a role in the shipping industry, as well as given me valuable knowledge on other aspects of shipping to which I hadn’t been exposed to and may not have been exposed to.
Study with us
Global shipping is a rapidly growing industry. This postgraduate degree course at the University of Greenwich combines theoretical maritime and shipping management topics with emerging industry trends to give students insight into the global shipping management commercial environment and the tools to solve key challenges. In this way, students are prepared to embark upon or enhance existing careers in seaborne trade and shipping management.
