Navigation and Maritime Science
UCAS Code: J617
Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc
Entry requirements
48 UCAS points including a minimum of 2 A Levels to include Grade E in a relevant subject: Biology / Human Biology / Chemistry / Maths / Physics / Geography / Geology / Applied Science / Engineering / Design Technology / Environmental Science / Environmental Studies / Psychology. Excluding General Studies.
Considered in combination.
Considered in combination.
Pass Access to HE Diploma (Science-based).
Considered in combination.
Considered in combination.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include Grade 4 at Higher Level in a relevant subject. Maths and English accepted within as GCSE equivalent.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
To include a relevant subject. Maths and English accepted within as GCSE equivalent.
Considered in combination.
Considered in combination.
Considered in combination.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
In a relevant subject.
Considered in combination.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
In a relevant subject.
Considered in combination.
Considered in combination.
48 UCAS points to include Grade E in a relevant subject. Maths and English accepted within as GCSE equivalent.
Considered in combination with Advanced Highers. Maths and English accepted within as GCSE equivalent.
UCAS Tariff
Including a minimum of 2 A Levels to include Grade E in a relevant subject: Biology / Human Biology / Chemistry / Maths / Physics / Geography / Geology / Applied Science / Engineering / Design Technology / Environmental Science / Environmental Studies / Psychology. Excluding General Studies.
Considered in combination.
Considered in combination.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
This exciting degree will set you on course for a successful career as a maritime professional in the global maritime sector. Opt to follow a two year programme designed for students wishing to pursue a career in shore based maritime management; or follow an accredited three year programme that includes a year working at sea, and gain internationally recognised qualifications for professional seafarers in the merchant navy, yachting or superyacht industries. You will immerse yourself in the latest technology; we've equipped our Marine Navigation Centre with an advanced full mission ship simulator and the latest in electronic charts. You’ll develop the practical, communication and problem-solving skills employers are looking for. You’ll experience life at sea first hand as trainee officers to gain practical experience from a seagoing placement year.
* Lay strong foundations for a successful career in the maritime sector. Join successful graduates who have gone on to work in a diverse range of maritime industries and professions such as professional navigator, marine manager and yacht racer.
* Distinguish yourself with a degree that’s accredited by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, as well as the Merchant Navy Training Board.
* Immerse yourself in the latest technology; we've equipped our Marine Navigation Centre with an advanced full mission ship simulator and the latest in electronic charts.
* Gain hands-on experience from the outset by learning to navigate our dedicated 13 metre sail and navigation training vessel Take The Helm on Plymouth Sound. Once qualified and approved, you'll be able to skipper her yourself.
* Ensure you have the practical, communication and problem-solving skills employers are looking for with a mixture of lectures, tutorials, and practical’s featuring group and individual problem-based learning; case studies; debate and critiques; oral and visual presentations; field work; and professional development planning.
* Gain sponsorship from shipping companies or training organisations, looking to train the next generation of professional seafarers. Sponsorship can become available to students already following our programme.
* Study this accredited degree as a sponsored student and receive funding towards tuition fees and living expenses from the sponsoring company, while you study.
* Experience life at sea first hand as trainee officers to gain practical experience from a seagoing placement year.
* If you are not sponsored you can still follow an accredited trajectory into a professional seafaring career. Many of our students wish to work as officers in the superyacht industry, where qualified officers are increasingly in demand.
Modules
In your first year, you’ll engage with the foundations of marine operations, meteorology and navigation techniques, including use of our ship simulator and sail training vessel. You’ll also develop your navigation, leadership and management skills in a challenging field week, which is essential for future maritime leaders.
In your final year, you’ll advance your navigation skills, learn about position determination, including celestial navigation, as well as ship construction, stability and cargo operations, and get to grips with the latest satellite position and timing systems. A sailing-based field week helps you put your navigation, leadership and management skills into practice, contextualising your theoretical work. You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake RYA qualifications, including Yachtmaster Offshore.
The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.
Assessment methods
24% of assessment is by exam, 64% by coursework, 12% is practical.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University of Plymouth
School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Maritime technology
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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Maritime technology
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Materials and technology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£25k
£26k
£32k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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