Time: You can start your studies within week of enrolment. The estimated time for completing this course is three months. Note! The course opens and you can start your studies 1 April 2026!
Enrollment for the spring courses is open till 14 June 2026, and you can start your studies within a week after enrollment. This course is also available in fall – enrollment opens in June and the first start is in August 2026.
Please note that lecturers will not provide guidance or assess courses between 1 June and 16 August 2026.
Place: Online studies
Scope: 5 ECTS credits
Number of study places: 70
Target group: Anyone interested in the subject
This course is completed independently online on Learn digital learning environment.
Please notice that only students with a Finnish social security number (i.e. a personal identity code) can start their studies on Xamk Pulse’s courses. You can read more here.
Credited in degree at Xamk: Merenkulun johtaminen (YAMK), Maritime management (master studies)
Area of competence mentioned in Curriculum: Complementary competence
Enrolment by 30 August 2026, when there is approximately 3 months left to complete the course.
Fee: EUR 125 (EUR 25 / credit). More information about fees here.
Enrollment for Xamk Pulse studies is binding. After the studies start, you will be sent an invoice by email. The fee will be invoiced and will not be refunded, even if you interrupt/cancel your studies.
You can enroll for Open UAS studies for a maximum of 50 credits per semester. Enrolments that exceed 50 credits will be removed in the order of enrolments.
Xamk’s degree students who are present or absent cannot enroll for Xamk Pulse’s courses. Enrolments by Xamk’s degree students will be removed without separate notification. Paid course fees will not be refunded.
Xamk’s path students enroll on Peppi or Tuudo.
Dive into the heart of Baltic Sea maritime security with this timely and comprehensive online course!
As the geopolitical landscape shifts, the Baltic Sea’s strategic importance is more pronounced than ever. This course offers an in-depth exploration of the region’s maritime security challenges and solutions, viewed through the lenses of international law and EU strategies, and emerging threats like critical maritime infrastructure protection. Strengthen your expertise and understanding of a dynamic operational environment that directly impacts trade, security, and international relations.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand the geopolitical, historical, and current dimensions of maritime security in the Baltic Sea region, as well as key actors.
- Be able to apply key principles of international maritime law and recognize the significance of the maritime regulatory framework (IMO) for global and regional security.
- Analyze the strategies of the European Union and other international actors in promoting maritime security in the Baltic Sea.
- Identify and assess diverse maritime security threats, including traditional and hybrid threats, and understand the importance of protecting critical maritime infrastructure.
- Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of maritime security measures and identify areas for development.
Contents and methods:
- Geopolitical and Security Environment of the Baltic Sea: History, current situation, key challenges, and actors (including Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership).
- International Maritime Law and Regulatory Frameworks: Fundamentals of UNCLOS, the role of the IMO and key conventions and flag state responsibilities.
- Regional Security Strategies and Actors: The EU Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS), NATO’s role in the Baltic Sea, and the activities of other relevant organizations.
- Maritime Security Threats and Countermeasures: Traditional threats (piracy, terrorism), hybrid threats, cyber threats, threats to Critical Maritime Infrastructure (CMI) and its protection, and port and ship security (ISPS).
- Analysis and Development of Maritime Security: Assessing the effectiveness of measures and future outlooks.
A five-credit course corresponds to approximately 135 hours of student workload. The number of hours is theoretical and varies depending on the student’s effort.
The course is designed as flexible online studies that the student can complete at their own pace within the given timeframe. Learning is based on independent work, including watching recorded video lectures, studying teacher-compiled learning materials, and completing assignments. There are no group works. While there are no time-bound virtual lectures or discussions, students are expected to actively participate in discussion forums in the online learning environment, if provided. All lecture materials are available as recordings throughout the course.
The course is assessed based on learning assignments, quizzes and a final report.
The quizzes, assignments and their final submission dates will be announced in more detail in the online learning environment at the beginning of the course. All assignments must be submitted by the course end date.
No separate exam. The possibility to redo or supplement failed learning assignments will be agreed with the teacher on a case-by-case basis.
Study material:
- The primary study material consists of materials compiled by the teacher, distributed via the online learning environment. This includes lecture recordings and slides, articles, and other electronic materials. All material is in English.
- A key recommended (but not mandatory) book: Kraska, James, and Raul Pedrozo. International Maritime Security Law, BRILL, 2013.
Assesment methods and criteria:
Assessment is based on quizzes completed during the course, active participation in the online discussion related to each quiz and a final report. The quizzes measure the student’s comprehension of lecture materials and other distributed content. Each quiz must be passed with at least 75% correct answers. Quizzes may be attempted multiple times to achieve this target.
Online discussions assess the student’s ability to apply learned knowledge, engage in informed dialogue, and produce well-reasoned viewpoints. A passing grade requires successful completion of all quizzes meeting the aforementioned minimum requirement, and active, quality participation in all required online discussions. More detailed weighting and assessment criteria will be announced in the online learning environment.
The student is able to:
a. find, study, produce and assess critically multidisciplinary data in their field of expertise (demonstrated in discussions and by applying knowledge absorbed through quizzes).
b. assess different strategic approaches and justify their use (demonstrated in online discussions by analyzing maritime security strategies and actions).
c. work independently in the expert duties of their professional field (the independent nature of course completion and knowledge acquisition supports this).
d. communicate proficiently and systematically in their written form in one foreign language (English) (demonstrated by active and quality participation in English-language online discussions).
Assessment scale:
Accepted/Failed
We will inform you about the implementation of the course by email. If you do not receive the message, please also check your spam!
Additional information on enrolment
Xamk Pulse, openstudies@xamk.fi.
Cancellation
If you do not start your studies, please inform us so that we can remove you from the course. This way, there will be no record of the course you did not complete. Cancellations should be sent to avoinamk@xamk.fi. The fee will be invoiced even if you interrupt/cancel your studies.
Transcript of records
The teacher has one month to give a grade after the student has completed all learning tasks. We will send you an electronically signed transcript of records within about a week after you have received the grade in the Peppi system. The transcript serves as a document if, for example, you are applying for credit for your studies at another university. Studies can also be credited at Xamk if you come to us as a degree student. See more on our website Information on Open UAS, Xamk Pulse studies.
This course is based on the curricula of Xamk’s degree programmes and the Finnish credits are fully compatible with the ECTS.
Please note that there can be changes in the course details in terms of the timetable and teachers, for example.
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences is audited by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC).