HNDNautical Science
How to apply
Why study a deck cadetship at Solent University
Build the foundations of a career as a deck officer in the dynamic maritime industry - supported by a sponsoring company to become a certified Officer of the Watch.
- 0yearsof providing maritime training to seafarers
- Top0%for teaching quality, out of 131 institutions (Times Good University Guide, 2025)
- £0minvestment in our campus and industry-standard facilities
- 100% of employed graduates who responded to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey (from 2021 to 2024) were in high-skilled employment.
- Seafaring experience included - time at sea is built into the course, offering real-world experience.
- Gain academic and professional qualifications while studying, and work towards your MCA Certificate of Competency. 
- Cadetships are fully sponsored by shipping or maritime companies.
- Warsash Maritime School has a full range of industry-leading training facilities, including a seamanship centre, fire school, and a full-function suite of networked maritime simulators.
- A world-class hub of maritime excellence, our Warsash Maritime School has over 70 years' history of maritime education, and an international reputation for quality. 
- Study in the heart of Southampton, a major hub in the UK and European maritime and shipping industry. 
Course overview
Build the foundation of a great career as a deck officer in the dynamic maritime industry - the backbone of modern international trade. This maritime cadetship offers extensive hands-on training at sea on real working vessels, supported and fully sponsored by one of a huge range of shipping and maritime companies.
Combining specialist study in our cadet training facilities in Southampton – one of the UK’s busiest ports – with extensive practical training at sea, our deck cadetship is developed to meet the specific needs of the shipping industry and the Merchant Navy Training Board.
Shipping out as an officer cadet on a range of vessels owned or operated by your sponsoring company, you will develop the essential skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to become a Deck Officer in the Merchant Navy.
You will acquire a strong understanding of the fundamental principles and interrelationships of the three main shipboard functional areas – navigation, shipboard operations and management – and learn to anticipate, identify and generate timely and workable solutions to a wide range of problems and issues.
As part of your cadetship, you will gain your first qualification as an Officer of the Watch – and be equipped with all the knowledge and understanding to you need to undertake tasks as detailed in the industry-based onboard training – and with academic exemptions for further professional qualifications under the internationally recognised Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) and UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) regulations.
This course is part of the South Coast Institute of Technology (IoT), a partnership of colleges, universities and industry-leading employers to create new career opportunities in the technology sector. IoT courses like this one are precisely tailored to the needs of employers in the maritime, engineering and digital industries – industries which are hungry for talented new engineers, technologists, technicians and creatives like you.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email:Â Call:ÂPart of:
Course features
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Additional qualification
This course offers additional qualifications for you to obtain with your degree
January start available
This course has an option to start in January
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Who is this course for?
This course is ideally suited for students wanting to enter the Merchant Navy, who have good interpersonal and communication skills, and remain calm and capable under pressure.
What does this course lead to?
This exciting course will allow you to gain your first qualification as an Officer of the Watch, opening up a wide range of opportunities within maritime command. With further study and sailing experience you can take your career further, rising through the ranks to Captain.
Meet the team
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
Warsash Maritime School has a full range of industry-leading training facilities, including a cutting-edge suite of networked 360° bridge simulators; built-in ECDIS suites; vessel traffic service and GMDSS radio communications; a dedicated seamanship centre; survival craft facilities, including lifeboats, fast rescue boats, RIBs and lifting equipment; a purpose-built live fire training facility with a three-storey steel ship/offshore unit; and our manned model ship-handling centre at Timsbury Lake.
Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
What you'll study
Core modules
Intro to General Ship Knowledge
This module provides an introduction to the seagoing environment, with an overview of ships, systems and pertinent auxiliaries, alongside the fundamentals of ship design, maintenance and stability, offering the theoretical and practical skills necessary for the new seafarer to carry out their duties onboard a ship.
Mathematics for Nautical Science
Mathematics is a key skill for deck officers, used when plotting a navigational course, checking the stability of the vessel or just problem solving. This module will provide you with the underpinning mathematical knowledge that will be applied to ship related modules such as chart work, terrestrial and celestial navigations, meteorology and ship stability during your cadetship.
Intro to Navigation
This module introduces a range of navigational skills that you will develop throughout your cadetship, enabling the safe passage of your vessel, cargo and crew travelling through a wide range of ocean and weather conditions, drawing on traditional skills and modern technology: cartography, meteorology, tides, rules of the road and electronic navigational equipment.
Academic Study Skills
This module provides the foundational academic skills you need for the academic phases of your cadetship, including research, referencing, presentation and writing skills. You will explore the Solent University Library and its online resources, learn the Harvard Referencing System, and become familiar with both effective, well-sourced research and formal styles of writing.
Intro to Ship and Port Operations
The module covers the principal elements of safety, legislation and cargo operations, and how they contribute towards the day-to-day running of a vessel. You will become familiar with nautical terminology, different types of ships - their construction, their cargo, their equipment and any associated dangers - as well as port operations and associated port activities including loading, discharge, arrival and departure.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- In-class tests
- Practical classes and workshops
- Practical activities
- Project work
- SQA written exams
- MCA oral exam
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out more
Study support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
The disability advice team provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose the industry?
Maritime and shipping is a huge, thriving industry – the backbone of international trade, and a fundamental part of modern global commerce.Â
As a ship’s officer you will be a key part of this, keeping vessels of all kinds, from tankers to container ships – or even ferries, cruise liners or superyachts – running effectively, efficiently and safely.
Under the captain’s management, the deck department is responsible for the safe navigation and operation of the vessel, both at sea and in port.
Deck officers are a vital part of the on-board management team, taking charge of an expensive vessel and its equally valuable crew, guests, or cargo. You will take key decisions on manoeuvring the vessel and controlling its navigation, communications and security.
Numerous opportunities also exist for qualified navigation officers ashore. Shipping companies often recruit shore based marine superintendents and fleet operations staff from their seagoing officers. Harbour authorities recruit experienced officers to train as pilots, harbour masters and port operations managers.
Solent Futures
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Accreditations, recognitions and memberships
Part of:
Tuition fees
Officer cadet training is fully sponsored by shipping companies.
- Successful applicants will have their course fees paid and be provided a training allowance by the UK sponsoring companies throughout their training: .
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
All cadets are required to wear uniform; some sponsoring companies will supply kit to their cadets, but others do not - please check with your company first. You can find out more about uniform requirements under 'Uniform' on our new officer cadets page.
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you may be required to pay for the rental of your ceremonial uniform. You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
Student funding - the essentials Student finance in under three minutes
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
Four GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including mathematics, English and science (with a significant physical science content).
For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
British shipping companies will normally accept applications from candidates from the EU. Candidates should apply directly to the shipping companies for sponsorship.
For further information about UK, EU and international qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels. However, MCA certificates of competency may be awarded to people of any nationality and the training programmes are open to all.
British shipping companies will normally only recruit UK or European Union nationals. If you're a potential international candidate from outside the UK and EU, you should research shipping companies from your own country (that are approved by the MCA) to secure sponsorship.Â
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email:Â Call:ÂHow to apply
To apply for this course, you must meet the academic entry requirements as stated.
The next step is to find a company to sponsor you so you can complete the sea service elements of the training programme. You should apply direct to the sponsoring companies for details of their recruitment policies and the availability of sponsorship.
There are a number of UK sponsoring companies that recruit UK nationals as officer cadets to work in the various shipping sectors of the Merchant Navy (for example, cargo, container, cruise, tanker etc.), either individual shipping companies recruiting to fulfil their own staffing needs or training organisations that recruit on behalf of their clients.
Companies normally start the recruitment process around January each year for entry in the following September or January.
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Make your application
- 3 years
