Your first step towards a career at sea
A career as an officer in the Merchant Navy starts with the right preparation. At Fleetwood Nautical Campus, our Cadet Preparation routes are designed to help you build confidence, gain essential maritime knowledge, and progress into a sponsored cadetship.
Whether you already have sponsorship or are still exploring your options, we’ll support you every step of the way.
Understand more about the Merchant Navy HERE
Who are these courses for?
Cadet Preparation courses are ideal if you:
- Are aged 16+ and interested in a career at sea
- Want to become a Deck Officer or Marine Engineer
- Don’t yet have sponsorship but want support securing it
- Need a strong foundation before moving into higher‑level maritime training
There is no upper age limit, and we welcome both school leavers and career changers.
Sponsored and Pre‑Cadetship Routes
We offer two clear routes into a Merchant Navy cadetship, depending on whether you already have sponsorship in place.
Sponsored routes are for learners who already have sponsorship from a shipping company. This leads directly into a Level 3 DipHE or Degree cadetship programme.
Pre‑cadetship routes are for learners without sponsorship. Our Level 3 Pre‑Cadetship programme prepares you for a Merchant Navy cadetship and includes support to help you secure sponsorship for progression into higher‑level training.
There’s a broad range of shipping companies and charities who sponsor maritime training. Visit the Careers at Sea website to discover more.
Want to find out more? You can download our prospectus or we'd love to see you at one of our maritime careers events.
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Cadet Preparation pathways
You can choose from Deck (Nautical Science) or Marine Engineering routes, depending on your career goals.
Courses include our Level 3 Pre-Cadetship programme that acts as entry points into Merchant Navy officer training.
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Level 3 Pre-Cadetship Programme
The Level 3 Pre-Cadetship Programme is a one‑year course designed to prepare learners for a maritime cadetship or higher‑education study in Nautical Science or Marine Engineering, combining academic learning, practical skills and sponsor‑readiness support.
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Progression and career opportunities
On successful completion, learners can progress into:
- Deck or Engineering cadetships with sponsoring companies
- Maritime higher education programmes
- Long‑term careers at sea, including Officer of the Watch, Marine Engineer Officer, Chief Mate or Master Mariner
Ready to take the first step?
If you’re not sure which course is right for you, our team is here to help.
Call 01253 504800 or email us at maritime@blackpool.ac.uk
Student Testimonial
“My first phase at FNC offered me the support and education to develop my engineering skills for my first time at sea. It is a very rewarding course with opportunities to travel, meet new people and have a lifelong career.”
Cadet Preparation Courses - Direct Entry (non-sponsored route)
| Course | Course Code |
|---|---|
| Study Programme Level 3 Pre-Cadetship | MFSP1012 |
| Engineering Shipping and Maritime Operations - Level 3 | MF1FE18 |
| Deck Shipping and Maritime Operations - Level 3 | MF1FE19 |
