Pre-Cadet (Maritime Deck Cadet)

Study Level

Level 3

Location

Lowestoft Campus

Duration

One year

FT / PT

Full-time

This course is perfect for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the Maritime industry, specifically for those who want to progress to the Merchant Navy Deck Cadet programme.

It is a full-time course with a timetable of delivery of 13 hours a week (inclusive of one-hour tutorial support per week) plus structured independent study. You will be expected to complete independent study of at least 10 hours a week additional to tutor delivered sessions.

You will study units including:

  • Study Skills
  • Introduction to the Maritime Industry
  • Maritime Employment and History
  • Standard Marine Communication Phrases
  • Operation and Maintenance Deck Equipment and Machinery
  • Numeracy and Mathematics for Seafarers
  • Control Vessel Operations and Pollution Prevention
  • Nautical Science and Ship Construction
  • Introduction to Seamanship
  • Assist with a Vessel’s Navigational Watch

This course is college certificated only and has been developed to support students to progress to the deck cadet programme. It is useful for learners who are not yet 16 years old who would like to begin their maritime studies before progression to the full deck cadet programme after reaching 17 years or 18 years of age*.

You may also want to consider studying A Levels in a relevant subjects or another relevant Level 3 programme, such as engineering, as an alternative to this course.

*A sponsored cadet offer is more likely when you reach 18 years of age. 

Requirements

You will ideally need to have six or more GCSEs at grade 4, including English language, maths and a science. You may be able to study for one GCSE in either English language or maths alongside this course. This will be discussed during the interview process.

Assessment

Assessment includes coursework assignments (structured questions/reports/essays/presentations etc) and exams.

Progression

Learners who meet the required standard set by the cadet employers will be offered an interview for a sponsored Deck Cadet place, subject to available places, interview and any required regulatory checks.