Choosing your qualification

The Institute's academic year opens on 17 June 2024.

To sit an exam with the Institute during the 2024/2025 academic year, you will need to register as a student. This can be done online at www.shipbrokers.org.

We have 3 levels of qualifications to offer: Professional Qualifying Examinations – PQE – leading to Membership of the Institute, and a wide range of Diplomas at Foundation and Advanced level.

> Professional Qualifying Examinations

The Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQEs) form the pinnacle of the Institute’s qualifications. Passing these 7 exams demonstrates your developed knowledge and understanding of the commercial shipping industry. The PQE programme comprises seven exams, taken over a period of up to five years. Of these, four exams are compulsory and the remaining three can be chosen from a list of 12 optional subjects (see the syllabus section on our website).

Many people complete the full programme in about 2 or 3 years, and some are eligible for exemptions from some exams, based on industry experience and prior qualifications. Exemptions do not apply to the Diplomas, so if you are eligible for a few, it may make sense to start your journey with PQE.

The PQE is a flexible and modular programme that can be completed in steps. Typically candidates would start with a shorter programme – an ICS Diploma covering 2 modules only. After taking a Diploma – Foundation or Advanced or both – candidates would proceed and take the remaining PQE modules, till all 7 have been successfully covered.

When completing the 7 modules in the PQE programme, candidates are then eligible to apply for membership of the Institute.

> Foundation Diploma

The Foundation Diploma is ideal for people with little industry experience but who would like to gain practical knowledge and a sound qualification. It involves taking the Introduction to Shipping paper plus one other subject from Group 1 (except Shipping Business) or from the Group 2 list of optional papers from the Institute’s syllabus.

The Foundation Diploma is a stand-alone qualification in its own right, but because it can count towards your membership examinations it is also a great way to ease into study and gives you an overall view of the business.

A Foundation Diploma is awarded if both subjects are passed in the same exam sitting.

Foundation Diplomas:

And from this year you can also choose one of the following:

Diploma Qualifications also contribute to PQE credits.

> Advanced Diploma

The Advanced Diploma has been designed as a stepping stone into full professional qualification and suits those who have some industry knowledge. Like the Foundation Diploma, the Advanced Diploma is a recognised and respected qualification and it can count towards your Professional Qualifying Examinations. It involves taking the Institute’s benchmark paper Shipping Business plus one other subject from Group 1 (except Introduction to Shipping) or from the Group 2 list of optional papers from the Institute’s syllabus.

An Advanced Diploma is awarded if both subjects are passed in the same exam sitting.

Please see below the full range of Advanced Diplomas available:

Advanced Diplomas:

You can also choose one of the following:

Diploma Qualifications also contribute to PQE credits.

Since 2019-2020…

…We offer the Foundation Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Legal Principles in Shipping Business and in Economics of Sea Transport and International Trade.

For more details please contact us at education@ics.org.uk.

Choosing your qualification