February 27, 2026

Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University will extend its maritime training beyond academic boundaries and make them available to all citizens, in line with the Council of Higher Education’s vision for qualified employment.

The Faculty of Maritime at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University has been authorized to provide maritime training courses under a protocol signed with the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.

With internationally recognized certifications—often described as a “working passport”—the faculty will open the door to new career opportunities offering high earning potential in the global labor market.

Through its “Seafarer” and “Oiler” training programs included in the curriculum, the faculty aims to equip individuals who wish to enter the maritime sector from scratch with a professional qualification.

In addition, specialized training programs such as First Aid, Firefighting, and Proficiency in Survival Craft will provide trainees with internationally standardized competencies.

Participants will be able to work as qualified personnel in a wide range of high-income sectors, from cruise tourism and the mega yacht industry to port operations, offshore energy platforms, shipyards, logistics centers, and coastal facilities.

The safety culture and emergency management competencies gained during the training process will provide participants with a sustainable professional foundation not only at sea but also on land.

These programs, which will be opened to citizens, will be conducted in parallel with courses offered to undergraduate students, while also including practice-based vocational training components. The training content will be delivered in accordance with the “Directive on the Training and Examination of Seafarers and Maritime Pilots” issued by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.

The duration, schedule, and total course hours of the programs—planned according to program type—will be announced in official notices. At the end of the training, written exams, evaluations, and practical examinations will be conducted, and the results will be recorded in the Ministry’s system.

Successful trainees will be entitled to receive a certificate of course completion. In addition, internationally valid licenses and certificates will be issued to them by the Port Authority. With these documents, participants will be qualified to serve on commercial vessels engaged in international maritime operations.

– Strong Integration into the Blue Economy

Prof. Alper Kılıç, Dean of the Faculty of Maritime at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, stated that through these short-term yet intensive programs, they aim to integrate human resources into the “blue economy.”

Emphasizing that every individual who embraces a culture of safety at sea is an important part of Türkiye’s goal of becoming a “maritime nation,” Kılıç said, “We invite all our citizens who wish to set sail toward a new future in the Blue Homeland to join this vision.”

Noting that their primary priorities are education and social contribution, Kılıç stated that they aim to ensure broad participation by keeping tuition fees at reasonable levels. “Our citizens will be able to apply in accordance with the training calendar that we will announce shortly,” he added.