Nautical Science (OOW Deck Officer) - Certificate of Higher Education
Course Code: MH1HE0001
Maritime & Nautical
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Course Overview
If you want to become a deck officer in the commercial shipping industry, you must pass qualifications set out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) Nautical Science programme forms a key part of your development of the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for a career within the maritime industry as a deck officer. This qualification is designed to fully align to the MCA requirements with regard to education and training for a Deck Officer of the Watch Certificate of Competency (CoC), when combined with the short courses set out in MSN 1856.
Depending on your career path and 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 block-and-blend, with a mix of distance learning and block attendance. Find out more about blended learning here.
This programme welcomes you, especially if you are:
- undertaking a deck cadetship
- an experienced seafarer looking to upskill from Rating to Officer
- a Royal Navy Officer leaving the armed forces, wishing to convert you experience to a Merchant Navy CoC
- a holder of a non-UK CoC, or a limited UK CoC and wish to convert to an MCA issued OOW Unlimited CoC
- employed on a ship, looking to gain more knowledge about the industry and prepare for a more senior role in the future
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 enrolling on the right programme.
Entry Requirements
To study on this programme, you must meet at least one of the criteria below:
- A Level 3 Diploma in Shipping and Maritime Operations plus 5 GCSES Grade 4 and above, including English at grade 4 or above and Maths at Grade 4 or above, or
- To study by blended learning, be employed on a ship in a capacity that will accrue sea time relevant to obtaining an OOW Certificate of Competency, or
- To study full time, have all relevant sea service required for the relevant CoC
International students may require IELTS with an overall band score of 5.5 and a minimum of 4 in each element.
Note: Whilst the programme team will provide IAG for applicants to the qualifications, in all cases where sea service is used as entry criteria for the course, it remains the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that this will be accepted by the MCA as counting towards their CoC and if necessary, liaise with the MCA directly.
Qualification Obtained
CertHE Nautical Science
Assessment Methods
Please see the Programme Specification for details on the modules and assessments.
| Assessment | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 29% | 0% | 0% |
| Exam | 31% | 0% | 0% |
| Practical | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Teaching and Learning Methods
N/A
| Learning Method | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled (Hours) | 960 | 0 | 0 |
| Independent (Hours) | 1440 | 0 | 0 |
| Placement (Hours) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total (Hours) | 2400 | 0 | 0 |
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 or on an MCA Approved Training Programme (e.g. cadetship).
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 for chart work, celestial navigation and radar plotting, as well as a scientific calculator.
You are strongly advised to have a laptop or equivalent device that you can bring to college as part of your studies as many classes will incorporate technology throughout the learning process.
Short course costs are not included in the listed fees for this programme. Cadets' sponsors also typically fund all associated short courses that form part of the eligibility for a Certificate of Competency.
Sponsored cadets are expected to wear Merchant Navy uniform and general personal protective equipment, such as safety shoes and boiler suits are required for some of the associated short courses.
What you will learn
At Level 4
| Module Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Operational Management | 20 | MH4MD0001 |
| Bridge Watchkeeping and Emergency Response | 20 | MH4MD0002 |
| Celestrial and Terrestrial Navigation | 20 | MH4MD0003 |
| Electronic Chartwork and Tides | 10 | MH4MD0004 |
| Operational Passage Planning and Meteorology | 20 | MH4MD0005 |
| Operational Stability and Naval Architecture | 20 | MH4MD0006 |
| Marine Cargo Operations | 10 | MH4MD0007 |
| Operational Management | 20 | MH4MD0008 |
| Bridge Watchkeeping and Emergency Response | 20 | MH4MD0009 |
| Celestrial and Terrestrial Navigation | 20 | MH4MD0010 |
| Electronic Chartwork and Tides | 10 | MH4MD0011 |
| Operational Passage Planning and Meteorology | 20 | MH4MD0012 |
| Operational Stability and Naval Architecture | 20 | MH4MD0013 |
| Marine Cargo Operations | 10 | MH4MD0014 |
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
