Degree Studies

Our seafarer-friendly degree pathway means you can gain qualifications without stepping ashore.

If you need an academic qualification to open doors ashore but don’t have the time or money, then work-based learning is for you.

We have partnered with Warsash Maritime School - Solent University and University of Portsmouth

As partners with Warsash Maritime School - Solent University and University of Portsmouth, we are able to signpost seafarers or those transitioning ashore to opportunities where they can top up to gain a degree or higher academic qualification.

Warsash Maritime School - Solent University  

Warsash Maritime School - Solent University is proud to offer quality education and a wide range of maritime study programmes ideal for seafarers looking to convert existing qualifications to a Bachelor’s degree or post graduate qualifications. 

Qualifications

The Warsash Maritime School - Solent University thinks that every seafarer deserves the opportunity to top-up their qualifications to a degree at Bachelor's or Master's Level. Your HNC/HND/SPD/FD and professional experience can be utilised to access to the following courses:

BSc (Hons) Maritime Management (Top-Up)

Campus based, 1 Year Full-Time

UK Fees £9,250, International Fees £16,125, Level 6

https://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/maritime-management-top-up-bsc

BSc (Hons) Maritime Science (Top up)  

Campus Based, 1 or 2 years full time (depending on previous experience)                                                                                                                 

The 2024/25 fees are not yet available. For guidance, the 2021/22 fees were: UK Fees £12,000, International Fees, £12,500, Level 6                   https://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/maritime-sciences-top-up-bsc                                      

BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Direct Entry to L6/Y3)

Campus based, 1 Year Full-Time

UK Fees £9,250, International Fees £16,125, Level 6

https://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/mechanical-engineering-beng

LLM International Trade and Maritime Law

Distance Learning, 1 Year Part-Time

UK & International Fees £7,995, Level 7

https://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/international-trade-and-maritime-law-pgdip

MSc Shipping Operations

Distance Learning, 2 Years Part-Time,

The tuition fees for the 2024/25 academic year are not yet available.

For guidance, the 2023/24 fees were: UK fees £4,500 per year, International fees £7,650 per year, Level 7

UK Fees £8,700, International Fees £14,300, Level 7

https://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/shipping-operations-msc

To be admitted into this program, students are required to submit a full application with all required documents to Solent University Admissions (warsash.admissions@solent.ac.uk). 

Successful applicants that have been referred by Marine Society will be eligible for an award of £100, granted by Marine Society.

For more information regarding Solent University programmes and tuition fees, please visit: www.solent.ac.uk/courses

 

University of Portsmouth 

Find out everything you need to know from undergraduate to PHD level below:

UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

POSTGRADUATE OPEN DAY WEBINARS

These webinars will introduce you to their Learning at Work courses, covering all you need to know if you are planning on combining your study with your work.

Masters and PHD Webinar Series Schedule

 

Learning at Work

Portsmouth's Learning at Work programme offers you a wide range of work-based and distance learning courses suited to the unconventional lifestyle of seafarers.                                                                                                             

Qualifications

The qualifications on offer are:

• Bachelors degree: top up an HNC/HND/FD to an honours degree
• Masters degree: trade on your professional qualifications and experience to get an academic qualification

Both are available in the following subjects:

• Professional Studies
• Maritime Studies
• Engineering Studies
• Engineering and Management Studies
• Plus more!

Is this the right course for me?

If you’re looking for a qualification that will allow you to transfer into a different role, then this is a good way to do that. 

For more information regarding University of Portsmouth's Learning At Work programme, please visit: https://www.port.ac.uk/study/studying-while-working/work-based-degrees

Distance learning

You can study wherever is most convenient for you and schedule your studies around your existing commitments. You can tailor your course to match your employer's objectives.

You get to put the skills you learn to work instantly in your job, so you perform better and further contribute to the success of your company while you study.

Because the course is work-based, you should already be in a full-time, part-time or voluntary role

Benefits to you

• Your previous qualifications and experience can count towards your degree, which reduces the amount of time you need to study
• You can study for a UK Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from anywhere in the world
• You can tailor the pace of learning to suit demands on your time
• Your learning leads to professional and career enhancement, because what you learn is related to your job

For Officers, your HNC may be worth as much as 120 credits, whilst a HND may be worth as much as 240 credits at undergraduate level.

For Chief Engineer/Master Mariners holding Class One Certificate of Competency (Unlimited), with five years relevant post certificate experience and a minimum of two years relevant sea-going experience can get as much as 120 credits at postgraduate level.

To find out details on how to apply, please call us on: 020 7654 7050 or email: learning@ms-sc.org.

When enroling with University of Portsmouth, you must click on 'Marine Society College' whilst completing your application.