Chief Mate (Blended Learning) - Diploma of Higher Education Nautical Science
Course Code: MD1EC0002
Maritime & Nautical
Next course dates
| Start Date | Location | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anytime | Fleetwood Nautical Campus | 4 Years | Apply |
Not ready to book? Enquire here about our upcoming dates:
Course Overview
If you want to obtain an MCA issued Certificate of Competency as a Chief Mate, this course is key to achieving your career goal. The Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) Nautical Science programme develops the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for a career as a senior deck officer in the maritime industry. This qualification fully aligns to the MCA requirements regarding education and training of management level deck officers (Chief Mate and Master), when combined with the short courses set out in MSN 1856.
Depending on your career path or career goals, you may be eligible to study face-to-face onsite over a period of around 6 months, or you may be able to study by Blended Learning, which utilises a block-and-blend approach with a mix of distance learning and block attendance. There will be a requirement for BL students to attend on site up to 4 x 1 week blocks. This will be agreed with the team and yourself.
The programme welcomes you, especially if you are:
- an experienced officer of the watch, looking to upskill to Chief Mate
- a holder of a non-UK CoC and wish to convert to an MCA issued Chief Mate Unlimited CoC
If you already possess an Education and Training letter confirming that you have successfully studied all the required subjects Chief Mate criteria, you do not need this course. This list is not exhaustive, so if you are unsure if this is the course for you, our team will be able to give you the initial advice and guidance you need to have confidence that you are on the right programme for you.
Students who have previously studied the SQA Advanced Certificate or Advanced Diploma in Nautical Science (from September 2020 onwards) may be eligible to transfer into this programme. Eligibility will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the curriculum team, based on completed modules and alignment with the current programme structure. This ensures academic parity and supports progression within the MCA framework.
Please note: your enrolment on the programme runs for a period of three calendar years from the point of enrolment, which is flexible allowing you to enrol any time in the year. This 3-year period could span four academic years (Aug-Jul), which is reflected in the 4-year course duration stated above. This does not mean you have four calendar years to study.
Entry Requirements
To study on this programme, you must meet at least one of the criteria below:
- Successful completion of CertHE Nautical Science
- Hold an MCA-approved level 4 or higher qualification that meets the criteria for STCW II/1 OOW Unlimited CoC
- Hold an appropriate STCW II/1 OOW Unlimited CoC
International students may require an overall band score of 5.5 and a minimum of 4 in each element of IELTS.
Note: Whilst the programme team will provide information and guidance (IAG) for applicants to the qualifications, in all cases where sea service or an existing CoC are used as entry criteria for the course, it remains the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that these will be accepted by the MCA as counting towards their CoC and if necessary, liaise with the MCA directly.
Qualification Obtained
DipHE Nautical Science
Assessment Methods
Please see the course information sheet for details of the modules and assessment strategy for this course.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Throughout your studies you will learn and be assessed in a range of ways to support the overall aims and outcomes of the programme in order to equip you with the appropriate skills for roles within the maritime industry. Employers will be looking for a range of skills and competencies, including innovation and initiative. Employers want you to have strong communication and team-working skills. The programme promotes the development of these qualities alongside technical competencies and academic knowledge.
Canvas (virtual learning environment) will provide the hub for your learning, incorporating lecturer-authored summaries of module concepts. There will also be videos to help students learn in a multimodal manner, including links to carefully curated resources, such as those provided through Ocean Leaning Platform, journal articles and technical industry sources of information. This will include the use of forums to share ideas as a team on a topic and to critique each other’s ideas in order to help develop your critical thinking. In addition to Canvas you will have access to eBooks and journals, as well to all relevant publications, as identified on the reading lists. You will receive access to maritime specialist documents and eBooks with membership to Witherby publications and Regs4Ships, online resources providing access to conventions, codes and regulations relevant to the maritime industry.
Please see the programme specification for more information.
Industry Placement and Field Trips
This course does not include industry placements, applicants would be expected to already be working in a relevant capacity in industry.
Other Costs and Equipment Needed
B&FC provide access to key reading materials and other resources as a part of the course costs. You are expected to provide stationery, including parallel rulers and dividers as you may need to use these as part of Management of Passage Planning and Meteorology and Management of Bridge Operations; you will also need a scientific, non-programmable calculator that is not on your phone.
It will be essential for you to have a laptop or equivalent device that you use for your studies to access Canvas (virtual learning environment) where you will access the vast majority of your learning resources. Without this, you will not be sufficiently equipped to consume the quantity of material required.
Expert Tutors
All staff involved in the delivery of any courses within the College are approved to teach and/or assess the subjects and modules they deliver. The approval process ensures that staff delivering and/or assessing a given programme are appropriately qualified, with relevant technical and industrial experience and professional practice.
Regulation and Accreditation
Accrediting Institution: N/A
