Navigation and Maritime Science is an exciting foundation degree designed for students who wish to pursue a career as a Professional Yachtsman, Merchant Navy officer, Super Yacht officers or in Maritime Management.  The course focuses on the interaction of the marine environment, the human element, modern technology and is integrated with a vocational training programme, which leads to a full professional qualification.

With 90% of global trade carried out by sea and millions of tonnes of cargo transported the UK is well known an important trading nation. The yachting and super yacht industry is worth just under £3 billion to the UK. With some 30% of that business taking place in the South West Plymouth is at the heart of a region that is exciting and innovative.

BSc (Hons) Navigation and Maritime Science degree enables you to gain a modern industry based degree at one of the UK's top Universities. The degree will broaden your horizons, help you develop new skills and increase your employability.

The majority of our students are on professional sailing or management career trajectories; some are sponsored by shipping companies and will become deck officers in the Merchant Navy.  Opportunities for sponsorship are available which contribute towards tuition fees and living expenses, as well as provide the opportunity for a seagoing placement year.

Those students sponsored by shipping companies with the aim of becoming deck officer will find the majority of companies prefer to sponsor a foundation degree. If this is your career aim you should also apply to the FdSc, safe in the knowledge that you can top up to the BSc with an extra year of study.

You don’t need to be a sailor to take this degree just a keen interest and the dedication required to work hard.  See our entry requirements for details on qualifications accepted.
 
Please contact us for details
 

This course is offered by the School of Marine Science and Engineering.

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 instead of four, you can gain the Certificate of Competency a year earlier.​

SPECIAL FEATURES

• payment of university fees
• payment for additional professional training courses
• assistance with accommodation costs
• paid work on board company vessels.

"I came to Plymouth University to study Navigation, very unsure of what career would lie ahead of me. I had a love for sailing and was contemplating a marine related career due to this, but looking back I couldn’t have chosen a more relevant degree for the two careers I have subsequently followed.

Being at Plymouth also gave me the opportunities to get heavily involved in yacht racing and I completed my RYA Yacht Master course. Throughout the course I built my knowledge of meteorology, oceanography and navigation amongst other skills which significantly aided me in my dream of ocean racing!"

Samantha Evans
Yacht Racer and Market Executive