Entry Requirements
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Entry Requirements
To embark upon an Officer Cadetship, prospective candidates must pass the industry’s medical examination and meet the academic entry requirements for the training programme concerned, as well as any company-specific requirements.
Seafarer Medical Examination (ENG1)
To work at sea, all Officer Cadets must have good health and pass the Seafarer Medical Examination (ENG1). As part of this examination, prospective Deck Cadets have to pass a sight and colour vision test to the required standard (corrective lenses may be allowed in certain cases).
It is advisable to undertake this ENG1 medical examination before starting to apply to sponsoring organisations, to ensure that you are fit to work at sea. Many sponsoring organisations will later reimburse the examination fee, if a receipt is retained and provided to them.
The list of doctors in the UK approved by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) to conduct ENG1 seafarer medical examinations is available at: UK Doctors approved by MCA for ENG1 Exams
Academic Qualifications
To be accepted on Higher National Diploma (HND), Foundation Degree (FD), Scottish Professional Diploma (SPD) or Bachelor’s Honours Degree (BSc/BEng) training programmes, applicants need to hold the following minimum academic qualifications:
Higher National Diploma – England (GCSE level or equivalent)
- Four GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade 9 to 4, including Mathematics, Science (with significant Physical Science content), English and one other subject Or
- Passes in these four subjects at Scottish National 5 level Or
- Passes in these four subjects in the Northern Ireland Grammar School Senior Certificate Exam (as above)
Scottish Professional Diploma/Higher National Diploma – Scotland
- Scottish Highers (or equivalent) at grade C or above in Mathematics and Science (with significant Physical Science content)
- Plus four National 5/GCSEs or equivalent in Mathematics, Physical Science, English and one other subject
Foundation Degree – England (A-Level or equivalent)
- Minimum of 48 UCAS tariff points (including a numerate subject for Engineering/ETO)
- A minimum of 48 UCAS tariff points (including a numerate subject for engineering/ETO)
- Plus four GCSEs at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C), including Maths, English and Science (with significant Physical Science content)
BSc/BEng (Hons) – England (A-Level or equivalent)
- Minimum of 104 to 120 UCAS tariff points (including a numerate subject for Engineering/ETO)
- A minimum of two A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D or equivalent, which comply with the minimum entry requirements of 104 UCAS points.
- Plus four GCSEs at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C), including Maths, English and Science (with significant Physical Science content
The maritime industry uses the UCAS tariff points system for ease of checking that your qualifications meet the entry requirements. The 48 UCAS points required for the Foundation Degree route can be made up of any combination of qualifications.
Other eligible qualifications for the Foundation Degree route may include BTEC qualifications, AS Levels, A Levels, Scottish Highers, Welsh Baccalaureate and International Baccalaureate. UCAS tariff points are then calculated on the grades achieved in these qualifications.
If you have any queries regarding your own academic qualifications, please contact us at: [email protected]
What career are you interested in?
No matter what career path you choose, we will find the right place for you!
A six-part television programme produced by Scottish Television in conjunction with CareersatSea.org provides some very useful insights in to working at sea in the Merchant Navy:
Further information for you to consider
Additional information about maritime careers is available from the following industry sources:
Ready for the next step?
For further information about maritime careers, please contact us at: [email protected]
Once you are ready to apply for a cadetship, please email your application letter and Curriculum Vitae (CV) to us at: [email protected], and confirm your preferred training discipline (i.e. Deck Cadetship, Engineer Cadetship, METO Cadetship or Hotel Trainee).
