Shipping, Port Management and Logistics - MSc

The programme

This Master’s programme provides an integrated holistic approach in shipping, ports, and freight logistics, thus giving students a sound academic and business oriented global trade understanding of the overall transport and supply chain needs, based on the market requirements. Business and research informed analysis of trends and latest developments, technology advances, and industry practice in these sectors are introduced by faculty having a unique combination of high level academic and practice expertise, being in the forefront of the shipping, ports and international logistics industries.

The challenges of global trade growth including geopolitical changes and new international regulations, the fierce competition along with the increasing requirements for environmental, social and economic sustainability, the climate change adaptation needs and the technological evolution prospects form the backbone of this programme. Thus, it takes a unique, integrated and holistic approach to equip students with the knowledge and expertise required to effectively manage shipping operations and ports as well as to respond to the overall transport and supply chain needs in this dynamic and complex environment.

The programme equips students with in- depth knowledge and understanding of the critical issues, challenges and opportunities in these sectors and the key skills and competences that will enable them to provide solutions to complex management problems. In addition to subject specific skills, the programme equips students with transferable skills and competences.

The programme carefully balances academic rigour with professional and consultancy expertise in the teaching, learning and assessment methods.

Dr Sotiris Theofanis presents the MSc in Shipping, Port Management and Logistics

The programme is now offered Online/Synchronous

• Global Trade and Shipping
• Ship Operations and Management
• Accounting and Finance for Managers
• Managing People in Organisations
• Port and Terminal Operations and Management
• Contemporary Issues in Shipping and Port Management
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Research Methods
• Dissertation

Global Trade and Shipping
The unit covers advances and latest developments in the Global Maritime Trade; advances in Global Supply Chains; a thorough analysis of the Global Shipping Industry in terms of commodities, patterns, and vessels, including a special analysis of the Liner Shipping Industry; the role of concentration in the Shipping and Port Industries, including the role of Global Terminal Operations; sustainability challenges for the Shipping Industry; and the role of Technology for the Shipping Industry.

Ship Operations and Management
This unit offers a thorough knowledge and understanding of ship operations and management required for shore-based positions. It covers concepts, terminology, processes and management theories adjusted to the needs of the shipping sector. The unit will focus on the structure of shipowning and shipping operations, the organizational structures of shipping companies, key processes and functions and voyage estimating and costs. In addition, emphasis will be given on the understanding and analysis of corporate social responsibility of shipping enterprises.

Accounting and Finance for Managers
Analysis of three key aspects of accounting practice. Management accounting involves the provision of information internally to facilitate processes of management control. Financial strategy concerns processes of capital investment and treasury management.

Managing People in Organisations
This unit involves critical exploration of core concepts in current organisational theory with comprehensive analysis of the new managerial implications and practices. Recent developments in human resource management are discussed in depth, while structural changes in organisations of different sizes and sectors are analysed.

Port and Terminal Operations and Management
The unit provides a unique thorough coverage and understanding of the principles and developments of the global port industry, along with port governance, port planning, port handling technologies and operations for the different types of port activities and different cargo types (containers; dry bulk, liquid bulk, general cargo). In addition, the unit covers port leadership and management strategies, along with the latest practices employed in the sector, port sustainability, port safety, principles of port security and the role of technology and Information in the port sector, including up to date developments. Other topics include, human resources management in the port industry, ports and intermodal transport; and port – city relationships.

Contemporary Issues in Shipping and Port Management
This unit offers an excellent opportunity to study a range of contemporary issues relevant to the industry including a series of guest lecturers directly from industry experts on key topics in maritime law, chartering, insurance, Sustainability, Innovation and Technology trends.

Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Traditional Business and Logistics courses have dealt with the individual processes associated with developing new products, buying materials, transforming them, and shipping them to customers, none have dealt with the integration of information and material flows across multiple organisations. The integration of organisations within a single supply chain is becoming recognized as a core competitive strategy that will distinguish the winners from the losers beyond the year 2000. As organizations seek to continuously service customers faster, cheaper, and better, managers have come to realize that they cannot do it alone, but that they must align themselves with the best organizations upstream and downstream in order to jointly reap the rewards. The existing experiences must be synthesized to create a managerial perspective of the core tasks and challenges required to effectively develop supply chains in the future. Because supply chains involve members from every single function within organizations, engineers, purchasing managers, operations managers, logistics managers, sales personnel, financials etc, the unit philosophy is intended to provide insights into what a supply chain is, why it is becoming important, and the future challenges that lie ahead for managers.

Research Methods
This unit provides a series of lectures on academic presentation, writing skills and an introduction to research issues and methods. The unit examines a wide range of research methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative, with reference to their philosophical base and practical application in marketing, management, banking and the leisure industry. The aim is to help students design, implement and apply their own research as well as to equip them to be able to critically evaluate published material.

Dissertation
The dissertation represents a piece of individual and original research based on an approved topic of the student’s choice related to the course and selected in consultation with tutors. The term ‘originality’ here does not necessarily imply that the dissertation will develop new theoretical insights or models but that it clearly demonstrates the development of new insights and knowledge in the candidates own mind and work.

Entry requirements

View the application and admission requirements of the programme.

How to apply

If you wish to apply for this programme you may view details of the application process.

The Business Administration & Economics Department (BAED) of CITY College, University of York Europe Campus aims at providing all students with an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment that allows them to acquire important skills and competencies for their professional and personal life.

Business matters at BAED. Our undergraduate and postgraduate courses in management related disciplines are designed to challenge students’ thinking and inspire them to develop the advanced knowledge and analytical skills they will need to succeed in business.

Our academics continually work with international, national and regional businesses as part of their research and use their experiences to make their teaching relevant and up-to-date.
More about the Business Administration & Economics Department

Research at the Business Administration & Economics Department

The academic staff of the Business Administration & Economics Department

Contact the Business Administration & Economics Department

Recognition and Careers

Accreditation and Recognition
CITY College is strongly committed to quality education and academic excellence. It is officially accredited and recognised by top international accreditation bodies. Read more

Degree and formal qualifications
The degree and formal qualifications our graduates receive.

For Greek graduates only: Recognition of degrees

Career opportunities

Career, Employability and Enterprise Centre

The Career, Employability and Enterprise Centre, focuses on helping students to set attainable career goals. It offers advice on CVs and cover letters, and on how to effectively handle job interviews. Through career fairs, and different internship programmes, the department aims at constantly bringing students in contact with prospective employers. 

Every spring we organize the Annual Career Fair presenting with an opportunity to get a first feel of job seeking. During the event students and alumni have interview opportunities with corporate recruiters and present their skills and abilities to potential employers. Large companies, organisations and multinationals from different industries across S.E. Europe participate every year in our Career Fair and offer employment and internship opportunities to our students and graduates.
More about our Career Services.

Contact the Career, Employability and Enterprise Centre at careers@york.citycollege.eu

Dr. Sotirios Theofanis
Professor of Practice
Programme Lead, MSc in Shipping, Port Management and Logistics

Dr. Sotirios Theofanis is Professor of Practice at CITY College, University York Europe Campus; Member of the Board of Directors, Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A.; and Affiliated Faculty, Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation, Rutgers University, New Jersey. He is an internationally acknowledged expert, manager and academic in the fields of freight transport, logistics and ports. He has a unique blend of industry and academic background, with extensive administrative, high level managerial, consulting / advisory and academic experience in the fields of port planning, management and operations, as well as in freight logistics, intermodal and maritime transport.

Articles by Dr Sotirios Theofanis

• Presentation at GreenPort Congress - Piraeus, October 2021 (PDF)
   
• Article in ELNAVI, October 2021 - Greek Port System (in Greek) (PDF)
   
• The context of European Port Industry - Recent Developments & Challenges (PDF)
   
• Article in Logistics Management magazine - May 2021 (in Greek) (PDF)
   
• Article in Logistics Management magazine - April 2021 (in Greek) (PDF)
   
• Competition and Complementarity in Overland and Maritime "One Belt One Road" Variants: Some Key Issues and Considerations (PDF)
   
• The Maritime Silk Time Initiative and the Mediterranean: Strategies, Tactics and Challenges (PDF)

The programme is taught by academic staff members who have extensive teaching and professional experience. Our academics continually work with international, national and regional businesses as part of their research and use their experiences to make their teaching relevant and up-to-date. The administration staff fully supports all processes of the department and provides a wide range of services to our students.

The academic staff & administration staff of the Business Administration & Economics Department