MSc

MSc Harbour Management

Plan a berth, a tide, and a tariff

Online or on campus

18 months36 creditsEnglish

Overview

Harbours on the Scottish coast are the setting: cruise calls, small cargo, pilotage limits, and the dues that pay for the wall. You produce a weekly plan, not a port authority's strategy deck. Online study uses published tide and traffic patterns. Campus time, when offered, is a quay walk with a measuring brief. MSc Harbour Management is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 18 months, and the credit total is 36. Students move from Berth planning through Berth planning; Turnaround; Dues and tariffs; Weather and pilotage; Neighbours and environment; Weekly harbour plan, and finish on Weekly harbour plan. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation. Reading is a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. The artefact a marker expects is a consulting brief a manager could use. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Plan a berth window Build a simple tariff Write a bad-weather rule Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.

The credit total on this page is the sum of the courses in the curriculum. Assessment is the work named on each course.

Who This Programme Is For

Quay staff
Cruise agents' assistants
Council harbour officers
Mariners moving ashore

Faculty spotlight

University of Brigant supervises the courses and the final assessed file. Supervision is assigned from the school that owns the award.

How you can study

Recommended

Study online

100% tuition-free online

Online tuition is free. Online examinations are free. There is no exam fee for online study.

✦ Tuition: £0 / $0
✦ Examinations are free. There is no exam fee.
✦ Learn from anywhere · Live online seminars

Apply online →

On-campus study

Study at our campus

Prefer to learn at our Edinburgh campus? Campus tuition and campus examinations are charged. The published campus price is on each programme page.

✦ Tuition: £9,500 / US$12,000/year
✦ Location: 3 Lady Lawson St, Edinburgh EH3 9DS, United Kingdom
✦ Campus examinations are charged
✦ In-person seminars, library & student services

Apply for campus →

What You Will Learn

Plan a berth window
Build a simple tariff
Write a bad-weather rule
Cost a cruise turnaround
Hand over a weekly harbour plan

Curriculum

Stage 1 — Methods and cases

Code	Course	Credits · hours
HAR501	Berth planning Berth planning (HAR501) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation, using Berth planning as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a consulting brief a manager could use. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. HAR501-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Berth planning HAR501-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Berth planning HAR501-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Berth planning HAR501-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Berth planning HAR501-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Berth planning HAR501-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Berth planning	6 · 60 h
HAR502	Turnaround Turnaround (HAR502) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation, using Turnaround as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a consulting brief a manager could use. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. HAR502-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Turnaround HAR502-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Turnaround HAR502-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Turnaround HAR502-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Turnaround HAR502-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Turnaround HAR502-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Turnaround	6 · 60 h
HAR503	Dues and tariffs Dues and tariffs (HAR503) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation, using Dues and tariffs as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a consulting brief a manager could use. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. HAR503-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Dues and tariffs HAR503-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Dues and tariffs HAR503-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Dues and tariffs HAR503-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Dues and tariffs HAR503-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Dues and tariffs HAR503-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Dues and tariffs	6 · 60 h

Code

Course

Credits · hours

HAR501

Berth planning

Berth planning (HAR501) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation, using Berth planning as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a consulting brief a manager could use. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.

HAR501-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Berth planning
HAR501-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Berth planning
HAR501-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Berth planning
HAR501-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Berth planning
HAR501-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Berth planning
HAR501-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Berth planning

6 · 60 h

HAR502

Turnaround

Turnaround (HAR502) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation, using Turnaround as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a consulting brief a manager could use. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.

HAR502-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Turnaround
HAR502-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Turnaround
HAR502-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Turnaround
HAR502-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Turnaround
HAR502-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Turnaround
HAR502-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Turnaround

6 · 60 h

HAR503

Dues and tariffs

Dues and tariffs (HAR503) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation, using Dues and tariffs as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a consulting brief a manager could use. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.

HAR503-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Dues and tariffs
HAR503-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Dues and tariffs
HAR503-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Dues and tariffs
HAR503-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Dues and tariffs
HAR503-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Dues and tariffs
HAR503-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Dues and tariffs

6 · 60 h

Stage 2 — Practice and project

Code	Course	Credits · hours
HAR504	Weather and pilotage Weather and pilotage (HAR504) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation, using Weather and pilotage as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a consulting brief a manager could use. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. HAR504-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Weather and pilotage HAR504-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Weather and pilotage HAR504-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Weather and pilotage HAR504-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Weather and pilotage HAR504-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Weather and pilotage HAR504-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Weather and pilotage	6 · 60 h
HAR505	Neighbours and environment Neighbours and environment (HAR505) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can draw the system, name the constraint that binds it, and compare two responses, using Neighbours and environment as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a system description, an indicator note, and a project option paper. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation for one decision, with the evidence and the downside. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer a professional engineering licence. HAR505-M1 · System boundary, constraint, and actors — Neighbours and environment HAR505-M2 · Indicators, sources of error, and a better measure — Neighbours and environment HAR505-M3 · Two options on cost, time, and downside — Neighbours and environment HAR505-M4 · Safety, environmental limit, and who bears the risk — Neighbours and environment HAR505-M5 · A site, grid, or product decision — Neighbours and environment HAR505-M6 · A recommendation with evidence and residual risk — Neighbours and environment	6 · 60 h
HAR506	Weekly harbour plan Weekly harbour plan (HAR506) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation, using Weekly harbour plan as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a consulting brief a manager could use. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. HAR506-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Weekly harbour plan HAR506-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Weekly harbour plan HAR506-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Weekly harbour plan HAR506-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Weekly harbour plan HAR506-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Weekly harbour plan HAR506-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Weekly harbour plan	6 · 60 h

Code

Course

Credits · hours

HAR504

Weather and pilotage

Weather and pilotage (HAR504) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation, using Weather and pilotage as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a consulting brief a manager could use. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.

HAR504-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Weather and pilotage
HAR504-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Weather and pilotage
HAR504-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Weather and pilotage
HAR504-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Weather and pilotage
HAR504-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Weather and pilotage
HAR504-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Weather and pilotage

6 · 60 h

HAR505

Neighbours and environment

Neighbours and environment (HAR505) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can draw the system, name the constraint that binds it, and compare two responses, using Neighbours and environment as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a system description, an indicator note, and a project option paper. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation for one decision, with the evidence and the downside. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer a professional engineering licence.

HAR505-M1 · System boundary, constraint, and actors — Neighbours and environment
HAR505-M2 · Indicators, sources of error, and a better measure — Neighbours and environment
HAR505-M3 · Two options on cost, time, and downside — Neighbours and environment
HAR505-M4 · Safety, environmental limit, and who bears the risk — Neighbours and environment
HAR505-M5 · A site, grid, or product decision — Neighbours and environment
HAR505-M6 · A recommendation with evidence and residual risk — Neighbours and environment

6 · 60 h

HAR506

Weekly harbour plan

Weekly harbour plan (HAR506) is a 6-credit course on MSc Harbour Management, with 60 notional learning hours. By the end, students can diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation, using Weekly harbour plan as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a consulting brief a manager could use. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.

HAR506-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Weekly harbour plan
HAR506-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Weekly harbour plan
HAR506-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Weekly harbour plan
HAR506-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Weekly harbour plan
HAR506-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Weekly harbour plan
HAR506-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Weekly harbour plan

6 · 60 h

Career Paths

Harbour operations assistant
Marine officer trainee
Cruise turnaround coordinator
Port dues clerk
Marina duty manager

Programme Highlights

Six courses, 36 credits
Capstone is a weekly harbour plan
Berth, tide, and dues
No harbour authority appointment

Assessment

Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.

Admission requirements

Academic entry

A bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, or equivalent professional standing considered by admissions

English language

English sufficient for postgraduate study, or evidence of prior English-medium study

Documents

A statement of about 500 words on why this award fits your work
Two references, academic or professional
A CV showing study and relevant work

Programme questions

How long is the MSc Harbour Management?

The published duration is 18 months. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.

Can I study this from my country?

You may study this award fully online from your country, or — where published — on campus at Brigant. Online study does not require a student visa. Campus study may.

What does it cost?

Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.

What are the entry requirements?

Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.

How is the programme assessed?

Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.

Will this award be recognised where I live?

Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. University of Brigant publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.

How do I apply?

Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@brigant.uk.

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