HX Expeditions, in partnership with the University of Tasmania (UTAS), has announced an expansion of its Antarctica education program to include two distinct online learning tiers, making Antarctic educational resources more accessible.
The announcement follows the program’s initial launch in prior seasons and its recognition as a finalist in the Expedition Cruise Initiative of the Year award at Seatrade Europe in Hamburg.
The first tier, called the Introductory Course, will be offered free of charge to all guests booked on HX voyages to Antarctica. It provides a flexible and broad overview of the Antarctic region, designed to spark interest and prepare travellers before, during, or after their expedition. The second tier, the Comprehensive Course, will be available year-round for a fee, carry UTAS accreditation, and allow participants to earn credit toward future study.
UTAS’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) maintains oversight of course content, which merges rigorous scientific instruction with accessible online delivery methods. HX notes the new two-tier structure forms part of what it describes as the most comprehensive science and education program in the expedition cruise sector.
As of September 2025, more than 2,250 travelers had already registered for the HX/UTAS program, with post-course surveys showing high overall satisfaction, relevance to voyage experience, and increased awareness of environmental stewardship among participants.
The Introductory Course for the 2025-2026 Antarctica season is slated for launch by the end of October 2025. The Comprehensive Course will follow, with details of the UTAS entry fee to be confirmed nearer to its release.
The collaboration is intended to deepen guests’ engagement with the polar environment, strengthen HX’s role in sustainable expedition cruising, and provide travellers with both the experience and understanding necessary to act responsibly in vulnerable polar regions.