Dear students and prospective students,

Dear university staff,

Dear partners,

National University “Odesa Maritime Academy” has a history spanning more than 80 years. Our institution was founded in 1944 as a Maritime Higher Education Institution. Throughout its history and years of development, it has borne various names: Odessa Higher Marine School, Odessa Higher Marine Engineering School, Odessa State Maritime Academy, Odessa National Maritime Academy, and National University “Odesa Maritime Academy” (NUOMA).Today, our university is a modern Maritime Higher Education Institution that combines the best maritime traditions and past educational and scientific achievements with the modern principles of the European Higher Education Area and modern teaching and learning technologies. It is Ukraine’s most renowned Maritime Higher Education Institution globally. Among the world’s leading shipping companies, the “Odessa Maritime Academy” brand stands for high quality and responsibility.

Our mission is to train highly qualified professionals for the maritime industry and international shipping; to shape each graduate into a well-rounded individual; to support the development of Ukraine’s maritime sector—particularly through fundamental and applied research and innovation, and the integration of education and science; to foster the advancement of social standards within the country; and to uphold Ukraine’s international standing as a maritime nation.

National University “Odesa Maritime Academy” is a leader in Maritime Education and Training in Ukraine. The university trains specialists for the maritime industry across a wide range of fields and specializations, covering all levels of higher and professional pre-higher education, while addressing the needs of the maritime sector, the region, and society. The university offers programs at the professional pre-higher education, bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels, and provides studies for Doctors of Science. Additionally, the university offers professional development programs for seafarers.

In addition to the main higher education institution in Odesa, the university comprises a number of separate structural subdivisions: the Azov Maritime Institute (located in Mariupol prior to the full-scale aggression, but relocated to the main institution in Odesa in 2022), the Danube Institute (Izmail), the O.I. Marinesko Maritime Professional College, the Maritime Transport Professional College, and the Danube Professional College (Izmail).  The university also incorporates two military training subdivisions: the Institute of Naval Forces and the Military Training Department of the Maritime Transport Vocational College. All subdivisions operate within a unified quality management and education quality assurance system, ensuring compliance with international and national training standards across all subdivisions.

Today, the National University “Odessa Maritime Academy” is the only Maritime Higher Education Institution in Ukraine possessing a comprehensive range of equipment for training ship officers in accordance with the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978. Students have access to navigation simulators, ship engine room simulators, electro-technical simulators, personal survival at sea training simulators, specialized foreign language classrooms, and a large number of modern subject-specific laboratories.

The university features a student campus named “Crew” which houses dormitories, a dining hall, a library, and a sports complex—complete with an Olympic-class swimming pool, sports and fitness halls, and a mini-stadium. Additionally, the university has a modern medical center for students and a waterfront facility on the seashore.

Thanks to our partners—shipping and crew management companies—our students have the opportunity to undergo practical training on modern vessels operated by leading international companies. We would like to highlight the companies that offer the highest number of training placements for cadets: MSC, V.Ships, Marlow Navigation, Alpha Navigation, Anglo-Eastern, Columbia, Uniteam, Univis, Stargate, CMA Ships, OSM, and Eurocrew. University graduates have employment opportunities with leading global shipping companies, offering high salaries and excellent prospects for career progress.

National University “Odessa Maritime Academy” is part of the global maritime community. The university actively engages with international partners and collaborates with leading maritime universities and international professional institutions. It is a member of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU), the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE), and the Black Sea Association of Maritime Institutions (BSAMI), and it actively cooperates with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and the Nautical Institute (NI) of the United Kingdom.The university is also a participant in the “Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine” national platform. Leading university experts regularly take part in events organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), contributing to the development of international shipping standards.The university participates in international educational and research projects—including those under the EU’s Erasmus+ program and research initiatives of the International Association of Maritime Universities—and is actively involved in the European “Horizon” research program.

The quality of education at our institution has been repeatedly confirmed at both national and international levels. All of the university’s educational programs are accredited by national quality assurance bodies. Furthermore, our engineering-focused bachelor’s and master’s programs have repeatedly received accreditation from the UK’s Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) – the world’s most authoritative professional body in the field of marine engineering. The university has also successfully undergone inspections by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on two occasions.

Amidst the full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the university has preserved its staff and its material and technical infrastructure. The university community is doing its utmost to ensure a high-quality educational process and the training of specialists to a high standard.We express our gratitude to all university staff members who, during these challenging times, carry out their professional duties with understanding and a sense of responsibility, despite the difficulties. Thanks to you, we are confidently holding the steering heel and staying on our planned course!We also express our gratitude to all the partners who support the university across various areas and fields of activity and contribute to its development!

Today, the National University “Odesa Maritime Academy” is confidently moving forward, shaping new generations of leaders capable of advancing the shipping industry, rebuilding Ukraine’s maritime infrastructure, and ensuring maritime safety through innovative technologies.

We invite the new generation – those aspiring to become specialists in the maritime industry and top-tier professionals – to join us for studies!We call upon our students to uphold the university’s glorious traditions, become true professionals, and contribute to maintaining Ukraine’s international standing as a maritime nation!We invite partners and alumni to support the university and engage in further cooperation!

Let us rebuild Ukraine’s maritime potential and build a better future together!

Sincerely yours,

Professor Vadym Zakharchenko, Acting Rector

Honored Worker of Education of Ukraine

Competent person to IMO

Doctor of Technical Sciences