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    KEY FACTS

    • Title
      FdSc Marine Studies
    • Course type
      Full-time
    • Duration
      3 years (no placement)
    • Award
      Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc
    • Faculty
      Faculty of Science and Technology
    • School
      School of Marine Science and Engineering
    • UCAS codes
      Institution P60
      Course J608
    • Location
      Plymouth
Skip Navigation LinksPlymouth University > courses > undergraduate > FdSc Marine Studies

​What the students say

Photo of Tim Corthorn

'I studied at Plymouth University alongside my sea service as a Trainee Deck Officer on several top cruiseships; 'Oriana', 'Dawn Princess' and 'Arcadia'. After graduating I gained my Officer of the Watch Certificate and now I am Third Officer on the 'Grand Princess'. I have sailed all over the world and even bumped into one of my fellow students on another cruiseship when we were both visiting Alaska!'
Tim Corthorn
Merchant Navy Deck Officer  
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Special features

A particular feature of the FdSc/BSc (Hons) Marine Studies degree is that you will be sponsored by a shipping company to get started on a career in the Merchant Navy.
 
The sponsorship packages available vary depending on the company providing the opportunity, but this normally includes: 
  • payment of university fees
  • payment for additional professional training courses
  • assistance with accommodation costs
  • paid work on board company vessels.

Caught in a storm 

Find out what happened when some new recruits from Plymouth University battled against a raging storm in the North Atlantic
​Cargo ship

​Course summary

This is the main route of entry into the merchant shipping industry as a Deck Officer. 
 
It is fully sponsored and leads to both the FdSc Marine Studies and the award of an MCA Certificate of Competency.
 
You can then progress by direct entry to the BSc (Hons) Marine Studies programme.
 
This is a fantastic opportunity to get a university education as well as a professional qualification - without getting into debt!
 
All students are sponsored by a shipping company who may provide some degree of financial support throughout the course, as well as work-based learning at sea.
 
An interesting academic programme is integrated with a range of ancillary safety courses which meets all the international requirements for professional seafarers.
 
The course includes several trips to sea over a year of work-based learning with your sponsoring company.
 
When you apply for this course, please contact us to ask for further information about how to go about finding sponsorship.
 
This course is offered by the School of Marine Science and Engineering.
​Boat production

​What is the difference between the FdSc Marine Studies and BSc (Hons) Marine Studies (Merchant Shipping)?

The main difference is that it will be easier to get sponsorship (and financial support) on the FdSc. Both these courses deliver the same level of professional skills and knowledge, but the honours degree allows an extra year to develop additional academic and graduate skills which will give you a broader range of opportunities and is often the prerequisite for a career in management.  Because the FdSc runs over three years in stead of four, you can gain the Certificate of Competency a year earlier and are therefore more attractive to a shipping company sponsor.

​What the students say


'After graduating from Plymouth University, I successfully passed my exams for the Officer of the Watch Certificate. I could have continued with a sea-going career, but was attracted to the opportunity to work for a specialist marine transport logistics company. I am now involved in supervising the loading and discharge of heavylift cargoes - including wind turbines and power transformers. My boss came to visit Plymouth to look for more people like me because they value my combination of professional skills and the range of knowledge I absorbed when studying for my degree.'
Simon Covington, Specialist Cargo Project Manager (Graduated 2008)

​International opportunities

The MCA Certificate of Competency delivered by this programme is an internationally recognised qualification which means that you work on ships al over the world - not just British companies.

​Project work

The work-based learning modules which form part of this course contain the development and execution of a project, carried out with the support of your Tutor. 

​Professional accreditation

Maritime and Coastguard Agency logo
Accredited by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB). 
​Ship

​Work experience

Work experience at sea is an integral part of this programme.