Choosing your qualification
The Institute's academic year opens on 19 June 2025.
To sit an exam with the Institute during the 2025/2026 academic
year, you will need to register as a student. This can be done
online at https://shipbrokers.org/.
We have 3 levels of qualifications: Our Professional Qualifying
Examinations - PQE - leading to Membership of the Institute, and a
wide range of Diplomas at Foundation and Advanced level (
learn more about our qualifications) with different
study methods to suit all students.
If you are interested in enrolling with ICS and would like some
advice from the education team, please register your interest by
completing our course enquiry
form.
> 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.
And from this year you can also choose one of the following:
Diploma Qualifications also contribute to PQE
credits.
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:
You can also choose one of the following:
Diploma Qualifications also contribute to PQE
credits.
For more details please contact us at education@ics.org.uk.
