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    KEY FACTS

    • Title
      BSc (Hons) Marine Studies (Ocean Yachting)
    • Course type
      Full-time
    • Duration
      3 years (no placement)
    • Award
      Bachelor of Science - BSc (Hons)
    • Faculty
      Faculty of Science and Technology
    • School
      School of Marine Science and Engineering
    • UCAS codes
      Institution P60
      Course J605
    • Location
      Plymouth
​The new degree course has been designed to cover the requirements of Maritime & Coastguard Agency-approved professional qualifications. Delivered by staff from the School of Geograpy, Earth and Environmental Sciences, we use a 'state-of-the-art' ship simulator capable of simulating a range of ship types ranging from large oil tankers to high-speed jet boats.

You will be taught alongside merchant shipping and marine navigation students to allow all potential professional mariners to understand the needs and requirements of the whole industry. In addition to simulator training, ocean yachting students undertake a period of training afloat, using 70' yachts provided by the Ocean Youth Trust.

​Facilities

There are a wide range of facilities at Plymouth University for students on marine courses and of course one of our best assets is the sea itself Plymouth Sound is a beautiful natural harbour which provides the perfect platform for all kinds of watersports, as well as opportunities to gain a whole range of knowledge in marine science, oceanography, navigation and many other important topics for a professional seafarer.
 
The University is very proud to have its
very own Diving and Marine Centre on
the waterfront, where a variety of
boats and ribs are used to support diving, seamanship training and marine research activities. Our Moody 33 ‘Fair Tide’ is based there and marine studies students make regular use of this vessel to support what is learned in the classroom.
 
The main leisure watersports location is
the Mount Batten Centre which is equipped with a range of sailing dinghies, as well as many other types of watercraft. There are hundreds of other privately owned yachts and powerboats in Plymouth and many students make connections with their owners and get opportunities to gain experience on the water.
 
Our main shore-based facility is our ship simulator – which is used extensively in our teaching. You can learn how to navigate any type of vessel from a small powerboat, right up to a supertanker or container ship.

 

Location

There is no better location than
Plymouth to engage in the once-in-a-lifetime experience of studying for a degree especially if you are interested in a marine career. There are lots of beaches in the area, many are only a 20 minute drive from the campus. A leisurely stroll from the city centre brings you to the Hoe, Plymouth's waterfront. Here you can enjoy superb views across the natural harbour to some of Devon and Cornwall's finest coastlines. The magnificent natural harbour of Plymouth Sound provides a unique laboratory and the surrounding coastline and estuaries make this a vibrant place for marine research and recreation.
 
Plymouth is a vibrant city with a
thriving student population. Plymouth is
easily accessible with its own airport,
good road and rail links and a continental ferry port. The campus is ideally situated in the heart of the city. 

 

​Special features

A strong focus on fieldwork and
simulation underpins this exciting course. With two week-long field weeks in the first and second year, both in exciting and challenging environments, the opportunity to put into practice the theoretical understanding that you have built is unparalleled.
 
With our extensive use of simulation
you will find that the practical experience continues throughout the course and allows you to gain experience in a safe and controlled environment. Qualifications are required to work in the professional yachting industry and the fieldweeks provide an opportunity to reach RYA Day Skipper and Yachtmaster levels for students who have already logged some miles.
Ocean yachting is accredited by the
Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which means that you get a head start in obtaining the professional certificates
needed to work on superyachts - where RYA Yachtmaster is just an entry-level qualification.
 
Students who are attracted to this
course are also likely to want to spend a lot of time on the water. Plymouth offers a wealth of opportunities to get afloat under sail and power. This is the home of famous ocean races – such as the Transat and there are many sailing businesses based in the South West.
 
Students who obtain the RYA/MCA
Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of
Competency by the end of the second
year, readily find employment on
superyachts. Ocean yachting students are encouraged to take a year out between the second and third year to gain further seagoing experience in this way.