Information for new officer cadets

You’ll be sent further information about what you need to do before you start at Warsash. In the meantime, we’ve put together some information here that answers some of the most commonly asked questions we get from new phase one cadets before they join us. 

Where you'll study

Cadets mainly study at the University's main campus at East Park Terrace in Southampton city centre. The engineering and ETO workshops are currently located at St Mary's campus, in the grounds of Southampton City College, until the building work for the new workshop at the main campus is completed in 2025. Practical basic safety training short courses are held at the Warsash campus in Warsash town.

Absence

Your attendance in class and workshops is monitored by the School and reported to your training manager. A sponsored cadet is required to attend 100 per cent, however if you’re absent through sickness, or need to attend an appointment, you must inform:

• your training manager,
• your course tutor, and
• email wma.cadetabsence@solent.ac.uk

Accommodation

Cadets can live in the University's Deanery and Chantry student residences. These residences are in Southampton city centre and are a 15-minute walk from the main East Park Terrace campus. 

Solent's dedicated accommodation and residences teams are available to support you all year round and help to ensure that Southampton is a fun, exciting place to live and study. The residence hub is available to all resident students 24/7 and is located in the David Moxon residence.

The University also has dedicated staff to provide advice and assistance in finding accommodation in the private sector.

The student residences fully comply with the standard for student accommodation, the Universities UK/Guild HE Code of Practice for the Management of Student Housing.

Uniform

All cadets are expected to wear a college uniform. Some sponsoring companies will supply kit to their cadets, but others do not - please check with your company first. If you need to purchase your own kit, we recommend you get enough items to cover a week of study at a time. Details (including a list of suppliers) are provided in your joining instructions. The uniform generally consists of a white shirt with cadet epaulettes, black or company tie, black trousers or skirt, and navy-blue NATO-style pullover with cadet epaulettes, black shoes, and navy or black waterproof jacket. Uniform must be worn at all times when you’re on campus (between 08.30 and 17.00) unless told otherwise by your course leader or tutor - this includes classrooms and social areas. 

Support for you and your studies

During your time at Warsash you’ll have access to Solent’s excellent student support network. The Student Hub is located in the Spark building at the University's main East Park Terrace campus. The Student Hub is your first point of contact for queries relating to your studies. Student advisers can also offer support on personal issues, as well as health and wellbeing, and specialist support such as counselling, money advice and chaplaincy. There is also dedicated support for students who may have specific additional learning requirements. 

Solent's 24/7 library is available to all cadets - you'll find it at the main East Park Terrace campus. We have one of the most extensive nautical libraries in the country to help our students with their maritime study programmes.

There’s no need to buy any textbooks before you start, unless you’ve been specifically advised to do so in your joining instructions. You’ll be provided with a recommended book list by your tutors early in your course, and the library has several copies of each text book for loan. 

Solent Online Learning

The University's virtual learning environment, Solent Online Learning provides access to online course materials and recorded lectures as part of the interactive learning experience at the Solent. Students can participate in quizzes, online assessments, forums, create blogs, access course materials and communicate with classmates and tutors. 

New entrants and maths

You have chosen a very worthwhile and rewarding career that requires a sound knowledge of mathematical principles which you will be taught to apply to modern ship operations.

Whether you're training to become a navigation (deck), marine engineering or electro-technical officer, one of the first courses you'll take is a study of mathematics. Therefore, shortly after your arrival you will be asked to undertake a maths skills evaluation to assess your current level so we're aware of any support you may need.

As many students have different abilities and have studied mathematics to different levels before their arrival at Warsash, we've prepared this resource so you can revise some of the topics you studied at GCSE (or on equivalent professional courses). The aim is to help refresh and consolidate your basic knowledge so you arrive at the University ready to commence your professional and academic courses. We recommend working through a selection of topics you may need to brush up on, rather than work through all the topics necessarily.

If you have a sound understanding of this work, you'll be able to progress quickly to the applied section of your course with ample time to study new topics thoroughly. We have included exercises and answers for you to test yourself as you work through this material. To consolidate the mathematical knowledge you need to be familiar with, select the one appropriate to you: 

Maths refresher for deck cadets

Maths refresher for engineering cadets

Sport facilities

Solent University's Solent Sports Complex, next to The Spark at the East Park Terrace campus, boasts a 90-station gym, fitness studios and sports halls. There's no joining fee and there are great student membership options available, including a one-month pass or pay-as-you-go.

For cadets looking to join a team, Team Solent has over thirty teams covering sports from football, rugby, rowing, hockey, boxing, and many more. Many of these teams compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) leagues. Some teams also compete in local and national leagues. 

Careers advice and support

Warsash cadets are entitled to impartial careers support from Solent Careers. The team can help you explore opportunities in the maritime sector, as well as investigating other career options. 

While you're studying they can check your CV or offer one-to-one guidance, including mock interviews. Look out for Solent Futures' employer events, which take place throughout the year.  

Some of Solent Careers' programmes and events are also available to you after you finish your cadetship.

Visit the Solent Careers in JM109 in The Spark at the main East Park Terrace campus, or email careers@solent.ac.uk to find out more.

Solent Futures Online

Solent Futures Online is a jobs board and career management system offering advice and information on all aspects of the job search process. Use your Solent email to log in to Solent Futures Online.