HND Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering (ETO Cadet Programme)
About this course
The Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering provides a specialist, industry‑aligned pathway for aspiring electro‑technical officers (ETOs) to develop the advanced technical competence, professional judgement, and operational readiness required on today’s technology‑rich vessels.
Rooted in the standards of STCW and aligned with contemporary marine electro‑technical practice, the programme blends theoretical understanding with intensive hands‑on skills development across electrical power systems, automation, control technologies, navigation electronics, and safety‑critical engineering operations.
Cadets will build a strong foundation in electrical and electronic engineering, power generation and distribution, high‑voltage systems, instrumentation, diagnostics, and programmable logic control (PLC) technologies. Alongside this, you will gain essential workshop experience to ensure safe and effective performance at sea.
This is an intensive and professionally demanding programme: you will progress through modules at pace during university phases, with full working days on campus and independent study expected outside scheduled teaching.
The HND Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering cadetship programme has five main components:
- A 10-week 'academic ramp" to support cadets to prepare for studying in a higher education environment.
- A HND Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering, providing the underpinning academic knowledge requirement for the operational level Certificate of Competence (CoC).
- A minimum of eight months' sea time with your sponsoring company to complete a training record book that evidences your professional competency at the operational level.
- A MCA-approved workshop skills programme.
- A range of MCA-approved STCW short courses to provide critical knowledge in safety and operations.
Designed for a diverse cohort, the cadetship programme emphasises problem‑solving, professionalism, and operational resilience -, qualities central to modern maritime careers. By the end of the programme, you will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to contribute to safe vessel operations and the wider maritime engineering workforce, as well as having the underpinning requirements to achieve their Electro-Technical Officer (ETO III/6) Certificate of Competence issued by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), as defined in MSN 1860 Amendment 1.
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.
What you'll study
Phase 1
- 39 weeks (this is approximate and subject to change)
- Introduction to Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Introduction to Engineering Mathematics
- Introduction to Marine Engineering Systems and Legislation
- Introduction to Marine Electro-Technology
- Introduction to Engineering Science
- Maritime Electrical Machines
- Maritime Mathematics for Engineers
- Maritime Thermodynamics and Mechanics
- Operational Electrical and Electronic Control Systems
- Operational Marine Engineering Knowledge
- Operational Maritime Law and Project Management
- Operational Naval Architecture and Stability (Engineering)
- MCA Marine Electro-Technology Workshop Skills (Part 1)
- Maritime safety training courses:
- STCW Basic Safety Training Week
- Proficiency in Designated Security Duties
- Cadet Cyber Awareness (CCA)
- Entry Into Enclosed Spaces
- Human Element, Leadership and Management - Operational
- High Voltage - Operational
Phase 2
- 26 weeks (sea phase lengths are approximate and subject to change)
- MNTB Training Record Book
Phase 3
- 28 weeks (this is approximate and subject to change)
- Applications of Power Electronics in Electrical Motor Drive Systems
- Distributed Control Systems and High Voltage Systems
- Marine Navigation and Radio Communication Systems
- Maritime Electrical and Electronic Control Systems
- Power Electronics and Logic Controllers
- Shipboard Management
- Marine Analogue and Digital Electronic Principles
- MCA Marine Electro-Technology Workshop Skills (Part 2)
Phase 4
- 38 weeks (sea phase lengths are approximate and subject to change)
- MNTB Training Record Book
- Guided Studies (MCA Competency Assessment Preparation)
Phase 5
- 13 weeks (this is approximate and subject to change)
- ETO MCA Competency Assessment Preparation Course
- Maritime safety training courses:
- Advanced Fire Fighting
- Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats
- Medical First Aid
- High Voltage - Management
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.
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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.
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Pier head and survival craft
The pier head is used for maritime safety training for seafarers and safety training for those working on offshore installations.
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Medical training centre
The medical centre uses the same type of equipment found on board ships for mandatory medical training for ships' officers.
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How to apply
Entry requirements
Four GCSEs at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C), including:
- Maths (preferably Higher Tier)
- Physical Science (e.g. Physics, Engineering Science, etc)
- English
- One other subject (e.g. Geography, Computing Science)
- Passes in four subjects in the Scottish Certificate of Education (as above)Or
- Passes in four subjects in the Northern Ireland Grammar School Senior Certificate Exam (as above).
- Or successful completion of a Level 2 Pre-Cadetship
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 overall and a minimum of 5.0 in each component, as a good knowledge of written and spoken technical English is required to commence the programme.
Application and sponsorship
To apply for a cadetship you must be sponsored by an appropriate organisation who will support you throughout your cadetship journey, including providing you with the essential sea-time aspect of the programme.
You should apply direct to the sponsoring companies for details of their recruitment policies and the availability of sponsorship for the September or April intakes.
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