HD2 Maritime
An education that equips the Blue Denmark and the maritime sector to meet future challenges.
Summer admission 2026
Maritime Business Optimisation
The HD2 Maritime programme is a targeted professional development programme that equips you with competencies from two vital fields: shipping and business development.
The programme enables you to analyse and address global challenges such as the green transition, digitalisation, and geopolitical change – challenges that businesses around the world must navigate and respond to.
Throughout the programme, you will develop the skills needed to optimise important value chains with a focus on suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders. This unique combination of shipping, business insight, and business optimisation provides both you and your company with a distinct competitive advantage.
Students develop a unique competency profile that positions them as frontrunners in the maritime sector and key contributors to the green transition. The programme offers a flexible structure built on the latest research from CBS's expert faculty and is closely anchored with the realities and challenges of the participants' professional lives.
UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAMME IN 3 MINUTES
Hear Associate Professor Martin Jes Iversen and Anne Trolle, Executive Director at Danish Shipping, talk about HD2 Maritime and the needs of the maritime sector.
Summer Intake 2026
Intro: Week 33 (starting with Mon 10 August), 2026
Programme start: Week 33 (starting with Mon 10 August), 2026
Language: English
Pris: Click 'Fees' below
Teaching formats: The courses on HD2 Maritime are delivered online, and all teaching is conducted in English. Please note: Courses in the first semester include one on-campus teaching day. This session will be streamed and recorded should you be unable to attend in person.
Teaching days and times: For detailed information, please refer to the individual course descriptions under 'Programme structure'.
3 benefits waiting for you
Strengthen your strategic skills
Approximately 70% of students report that they have become better at collaborating across professional disciplines and cultures. This gives you a broader understanding of your organisation and its business activities, enabling you to make a greater impact.
Develop a global perspective
You will learn to make strategic decisions, manage risks, and lead organisations across cultural boundaries. On the HD2 Maritime programme, you will develop the skills to identify, understand, and manage the risks your organisation faces when operating across multiple markets.
Higher Earning Potential
Compared with individuals at a similar educational level, HD2 graduates earn approximately DKK 14,500 more per year on average.
"An education should work for you"
Lucas was looking for a programme that matched his ambitions of building a career in the shipping industry and offered the flexibility to fit around his life.
He found exactly that with the HD2 Maritime programme.
Do you have a Danish Shipping Education?
If you are currently enrolled in, or have previously completed, a Danish Shipping Education programme, you can qualify for HD2 Maritime in just one year.
You can do this by enrolling in our HD1 Maritime Fast Track, which can be completed in one year and prepares you for further study on the HD2 Maritime programme.
The Fast Track consists of a carefully selected combination of courses that provide you with essential knowledge and skills in business economics and organisation. Upon completion, you will be better equipped to understand and contribute to your company's business activities
Combined with a Danish Shipping Education, the HD1 Maritime Fast Track provides direct access to the HD2 programmes.
Please note: No formal qualification certificate is issued for the HD1 Maritime Fast Track, as it is a educational bridging programme comprising individual HD1 courses. However, documentation of successfully completed courses can be provided.
HD1 Maritime Fast Track
This course pathway is specifically designed for applicants who hold a Danish Shipping Education. If you have a different maritime or shipping-related educational background, you can find further information in the FAQ section at the bottom of the page.
The HD1 Maritime Fast Track consists of courses that are only offered in Danish and runs over two semesters (equivalent to one year):
1st semester:
- Managerial Economics (10 ECTS)
- The Theories and Practices of Organizing (5 ECTS)
2nd semester:
- Capital Budgetting and Investment Appraisals (5 ECTS)
- Business Intelligence (5 ECTS)
- The Economic and Political Environment of the Firm (5 ECTS)
- Research Design and Analysis (5 ECTS)
Upon completion of the HD1 Maritime Fast Track, you will gain admission to HD2 Maritime, which builds on the knowledge and understanding you have acquired through both the Danish Shipping Education and the HD1 Maritime Fast Track.
Receive a video presentation
If you would like to learn more about the academic content and the career opportunities offered by the HD programme, we would be happy to send you a video presentation of HD1 or one of our HD2 programmes.
HD2 in Two Years
By enrolling in the full HD2 programme, you will follow a structured part-time programme that can be completed in two years.
You should expect to dedicate approximately 20 hours per week to your studies on average.
HD courses
HD courses allow you to tailor your education to suit your needs, both in terms of course sequence and study pace. Individual courses can also be a good option if you are looking to develop your expertise in a specific subject area.
Please note that you must meet the admission requirements for HD2 if you wish to complete the full HD2 programme.
FAQ
What are the entry requirements for HD2 Maritime?
To be admitted to HD2 Maritime, you must meet the two general entry requirements for HD2:
- A qualifying educational background
- A minimum of two years of relevant work experience
You meet the educational requirement if you:
- Have completed the full HD1 programme or an equivalent education.
- Have completed a Danish Shipping Education combined with the HD1 Maritime Fast Track (which can be completed in one year).
- Meet the general admission requirements for HD2 through other qualifications.
Read more here (in Danish):
Entry requirements for HD
Can anyone enrol in the HD1 Maritime Fast Track?
No. It is an educational bridging programme specifically designed for applicants who have completed a Danish Shipping Education.
However, you may still be eligible to enrol in HD2 Maritime if you have a different educational background. As a general rule, this requires you to have completed an HD1 programme or an equivalent qualification.
Depending on your educational background, you may not need to complete the entire HD1 programme and may instead only need to supplement your qualifications with selected courses.
Please note: HD1 courses are currently only offered in Danish.
Read more here (in Danish):
Entry requirements for HD
How to enrol in the HD1 Maritime Fast Track
Please note: This only applies to applicants who have completed a Danish Shipping Education. The HD1 Maritime Fast Track is not a programme you enrol in directly. Instead, you enrol in the full HD1 programme, which is subsequently adjusted to include the six relevant courses.
How to apply:
- Log in to our Application portal.
- Find and select the full HD1 programme with the study format that best suits your schedule and circumstances.
(We will adjust your enrolment so that you only follow the HD1 Maritime Fast Track pathway.) - Important: When completing your application and reaching the section "Please specify your qualifying degree", select:
"Andet (uddyb i feltet nedenfor)" - In the free-text field, enter: DSE
(This is how we are informed that you should follow the HD1 Maritime Fast Track pathway.) - Under the section "What is your highest education? (Not necessarily your qalifying degree)", select the following from the drop-down menu:
"Danish Shipping Education" - Complete the rest of the application as instructed.
- Finally, click "Submit application".
Can I apply with a different maritime or shipping-related qualification?
Since launching HD2 Maritime in 2023, we have received many enquiries from applicants with educational backgrounds in shipping and the wider maritime sector.
We therefore recommend that you contact the HD Admissions Office (HD Tilmelding), somwhich can advise you on your eligibility and the admission process. DeThey can help determine whether you need to supplement your qualifications with individual HD1 courses or complete the full HD1 programme.
We have, however, received a number of enquiries regarding these specific educations:
- Erhvervsuddannelse (EUD) i Spedition og shipping
Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Freight Forwarding and Shipping
For example, from Rybners in Esbjerg.
If this is your only qualification, it does not provide direct entry to HD2 Maritime. It is also not sufficient to complete only a few supplementary courses. To be eligible for HD2 Maritime, you must complete the full HD1 programme.
- Akademiuddannelsen i International transport og logistik
Academy Profession Programme in International Transport and Logistics
Applicants with this qualification are assessed on the same basis as applicants with other academy profession qualifications (akademiuddannelse).
This means that you must complete the supplementary package of HD1 courses listed on our website under the heading: "All Other Academy Profession Programmes" ("Alle øvrige akademiuddannelser").
These courses must be passed before you become eligible for the HD2 programmes.
Do you have any questions?
Please contact our HD Admissions Office:
hdtilmelding@cbs.dk
Entry requirements for applicants with an international background
The entry requirements for our HD2 programmes also apply to applicants with an international educational background.
This means that you must hold a qualification equivalent to a full HD1 programme in terms of academic content, level, and scope (ECTS credits).
We are better able to assess your eligibility if your qualification has already been evaluated and recognised for use within the Danish education system. This assessment can be obtained through the website of the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science.
Do you have any questions?
Please contact our HD Admissions Office:
hdtilmelding@cbs.dk
What does HD2 Maritime cost?
The total tuition fee for the full HD2 Maritime programme is DKK 81,000.
If you need to complete the HD1 Maritime Fast Track, the cost is based on the courses you are required to take:
- Managerial Economics - DKK 9,500
- The Theories and Practices of Organizing - DKK 4,750
- Capital Budgetting and Investment Appraisals - DKK 4,750
- The Economic and Political Environment of the Firm - DKK 4,750
- Business Intelligence - DKK 4,750
- Research Design and Analysis - DKK 4,750
The total cost of the HD1 Maritime Fast Track is DKK 33,250.
Please note: Prices are subject to change.
Read more here (in Danish):
Enrolment and Payment (Tilmelding og betaling)
Will I receive a qualification certificate?
► HD2 Maritime ◄
Yes – Upon completion of HD2 Maritime, you will receive a diploma certifying that you have successfully completed and passed the HD2 Maritime programme. This confirms that you have obtained a qualification at bachelor's degree level.
► HD1 Maritime Tast Track and individual courses ◄
No – A qualification certificate is not issued. The HD1 Maritime Fast Track is an educational bridging programme consisting of selected individual courses from HD1. Its purpose is to qualify students for enrolment in HD2, and the courses serve as supplementary subjects to a Danish Shipping Education.
However, it is possible to request transcripts for individual HD1 and HD2 courses that you have passed, including courses that form part of the HD1 Maritime Fast Track and any individual HD2 courses you may have completed.
Please note that a combined qualification certificate is not issued for the HD1 Maritime Fast Track or for individual courses.
Further education at CBS within the maritime sector
If you wish to pursue further education within shipping and logistics after completing HD2 Maritime, CBS Executive Education offers the Executive MBA in Shipping & Logistics (The Blue MBA) – an internationally recognised programme designed for managers and executives in the maritime sector.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with the programme’s terms, conditions, and entry requirements well in advance.
Read more here:
Executive MBA in Shipping & Logistics (The Blue MBA)
The full HD2 programme is a two-year part-time programme worth 60 ECTS credits, distributed across four semesters.
HD2 Maritime is delivered online, and all teaching is conducted in English.
Click on the courses below to learn more about the academic content, teaching schedules, learning objectives, and examinations.
Reading List
You can find the reading list on Academicbooks.dk - select your institution (CBS), programme (HD2), and semester.
1st semester
2nd semester
3rd semester
4th semester
Elective Courses at HD2
This allows you to tailor your education to your interests and career goals through our exciting selection of electives. These courses add additional dimensions to your competency profile and give you the opportunity to shape your educational journey according to your individual interests and ambitions.
Explore our current course offering on our course page. Use the filtering options to find the elective courses that best match your interests, schedule, and preferred teaching format.