Engineer Cadet - Foundation Degree Route
About this course
This fully-sponsored cadet training programme leads to an FdEng Marine Engineering, as well as the award of a UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Certificate of Competency (STCW A-III/I OOW).
Marine engineer officers are responsible for the maintenance and operation of the ship’s main propulsion machinery and auxiliary plant, including deck machinery, air conditioning plants and domestic and electrical services. During your training at Warsash, you'll be taught the necessary academic underpinning knowledge, as well as engineering workshop skills training, allowing you to develop a detailed understanding of the safe operation and maintenance of the engine room and auxiliary machinery of a modern merchant vessel.
You'll complete your academic and mandatory safety training with us. This training is complemented with work-based learning on board ship. You'll also do some practical training during your sea phases, which includes completing a MNTB Training Record Book. This will enable you to develop the professional competency needed for the initial MCA certification as an Officer of the Watch.
Officer cadet training schemes typically last for around three years and are split into five phases which alternate between academic studies and practical and safety training, and seagoing periods to gain shipboard experience.
The education and training programme consists of four distinct but complementary elements:
- Academic education at Warsash in conjunction with work-based learning on board ship to attain the Foundation Degree in Marine Engineering, which provides a direct top-up pathway to the BEng (Hons) Marine Engineering Management.
- Engineering workshop skills training at Warsash to MNTB-approved standard.
- Practical training on board ship, including completion of an MNTB Training Record Book. This enables cadets to develop the professional competency needed for initial certification by the MCA.
- In addition to the academic studies, the MCA requires officer cadets to take a number of safety and survival courses during their cadetship.
This programme is aligned to the new UK-wide maritime officer cadetship syllabus developed by the Cadet Training and Modernisation (CT&M) Programme, led by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Effective from September 2025, the new syllabus reflects the current practices and technology used aboard modern vessels and supports the development of 'human element' skills - essential learning for today’s aspiring officers.
Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence
Every student at Solent University will also have the option to study an additional Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence qualification alongside their course. Free of charge, the course ensures you'll be prepared for a fantastic and varied career after graduation.
What you'll study
Phase 1
- 26 weeks (this is approximate and subject to change)
- Engineering Mathematics
- General Engineering Science
- Marine Electronics and Control Systems
- Marine Engineering Principles
- Marine Engineering Systems
- Work-Based Engineering Operations
- Engineering Workshop Skills
- Basic Safety Training Week (BSTW) (STCW short course)
- Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (STCW short course)
Phase 2
- 28 weeks at sea (sea phase lengths are approximate and subject to change)
Phase 3
- 22 weeks (this is approximate and subject to change)
- Further Engineering Science
- Marine Electro-Technology
- Marine Engineering Management
- Marine Propulsion Systems
- Naval Architecture
- Work-Based Engineering Project
- Engineering Workshop Skills
What you'll study
Where you'll study
The classroom teaching and workshop instruction for this course is delivered from Solent University's East Park Terrace campus, located in Southampton city centre. All mandatory STCW maritime safety training courses are delivered from the Warsash campus.
Facilities
Marine engineering workshops
Purpose-built and fully-equipped for teaching the use of machine tools, welding and electrical maintenance for marine engineers.
Find out more
Fire school
Our purpose built fire school provides a realistic but safe environment in which seafarers can learn the vital techniques of fighting fires at sea.
Find out more
How to apply
Entry requirements
A minimum of 48 UCAS tariff points (for engineering, including a numerate subject)
Plus GCSE at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) in the following subjects:
- Mathematics (preferably Higher Tier)
- English
- Science (with significant Physical Science content)
Medical requirements
Officer cadets must be in good health and capable of passing the Merchant Navy Medical Examination (ENG1).
Anyone contemplating a career as a ship’s officer would be well advised to take a medical examination and sight test as soon as possible to find out if there are any physical bars to their career aspirations.
The MCA holds a list of approved doctors throughout the UK who are able to provide ENG1 seafarer medical examinations. This list can be found here.
Nationality
British shipping companies will normally only recruit UK or European Union nationals. However, the MCA certificates of competency may be awarded to people of any nationality and the training programmes are open to all.
A potential international candidate from outside the UK and EU should secure sponsorship from a suitable shipping company that will be able to provide appropriate sea service as part of the cadetship programme.
International students should also hold a formal International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate of at least 5.5, as a good knowledge of written and spoken technical English is required to commence the programme.
