Marine Engineering Cadetships

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Applying For A Marine Engineering Cadetship

We’re currently taking applications. You can apply here. But what is a Marine Engineering Cadetship and how have others like you fared?

Let’s start with the basics. A Marine Engineering Officer is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the ship’s main propulsion machinery, deck machinery, air conditioning plants, refrigeration plants, and domestic and electrical services.

Depending on the type of ship and operational circumstances, Engineer Officers will be required to keep watches in the ship’s Engine Room.

What is a Marine Engineering Cadetship?

A Marine Engineering Officer Cadetship is the combination of your 3-year course study, your sea placements, your qualification and the wider mentoring and welfare we offer and administer.

Each Cadetship is sponsored by a marine charity or commercial maritime company. See our list of Sponsors.

A Marine Officer Cadetship is the springboard to an exciting career away from the normal office based nine to five routine. With no shortage of opportunities, trainee Marine Engineering Officers who qualify will be provided with a wealth of opportunities that long term can be continued at sea or ashore.

What Courses Can I Study?

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Engineer Officer of the Watch - Higher National Diploma Programme

Most marine colleges offer a full Engineer Officer Cadet programme by a Higher National Diploma (HND) route, leading ultimately to the award of a UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Engineer Officer’s Certificate of Competency (STCW’95 III/I OOW),and the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marine Engineering.

The scheme consists of five phases (usually over three years), three spent at the Academy and two at sea gaining practical experience. The training consists of five distinct but complementary elements:

An HE entry course at the College, designed to prepare new entrants for study at HND level.

Engineering workshop skills training at the College to MNTB-approved standard.

Academic education at the College to attain the HND in marine engineering and satisfy the underpinning knowledge (UPK) requirements for the IAMI written exams.

Practical training on board ship, including completion of an MNTB Training Record Book. This enables cadets to develop the professional competency needed for initial certification by the MCA.

In addition to the academic studies, the MCA requires officer cadets to take a number of safety and survival courses during their Cadetship.

For more information on courses, location and accommodation available, click here to find the best option for you.

Engine Officer of the Watch - Foundation Degree

Most Marine colleges/universities offer a full Engineer Officer Cadet programme by a degree route, leading ultimately to the award of a UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Engineer Officer’s Certificate of Competency (STCW A-III/I OOW), a Foundation Degree (FdEng) in Marine Engineering and a direct top-up pathway to BEng (Hons) Marine Engineering and Management.

The scheme consists of five phases (usually over three years), three spent at the Academy for academic delivery and two at sea gaining practical experience. The education and training programme consists of four distinct but complementary elements:

Academic education at the Academy in conjunction with work-based learning aboard ship to attain the Foundation Degree in Marine Engineering, which provides a direct top-up pathway to the BEng (Hons) Marine Engineering Management.

Engineering workshop skills training at the Academy to MNTB-approved standard.

Practical training on board ship, including completion of an MNTB Training Record Book. This enables cadets to develop the professional competency needed for initial certification by the MCA.

In addition to the academic studies, the MCA requires officer cadets to take a number of safety and survival courses during their Cadetship.

For more information on courses, location and accommodation available, click here to find the best option for you.

Engineer Officer of the Watch - MNTB Workshop Skills Training

Unless a candidate is exempted by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency due to previous industrial experience/qualifications, an MNTB Workshop Skills Training programme has to be undertaken and passed before initial certification as Engineer Officer of the Watch (EOOW) can be gained.

The training programme covers all marine engineering workshop skills elements, including use and care of hand tools, measuring equipment, drilling machines, centre lathes, vertical milling machines, off-hand grinding machines and welding equipment. The programme then advances to cover maintenance skills, assembly skills and electrical/electronic practice.

Engineer Officer of the Watch (Specialised Route)

A programme leading to STCW ’95 III/1 Engineer Officer of the Watch (EOOW) Certification for candidates with specialised academic qualifications and/or experience recognised by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). In addition to any other training requirements specified by the MCA in their Letter of Initial Assessment, candidates will undertake the IAMI Engineering Knowledge (EK) written examination and/or the MCA oral exam.

Candidates will undertake the requisite MNTB workshop skills training (unless exempted by the MCA), which is taught and assessed to the satisfaction of the MCA in accordance with MNTB standards. Candidates must also pass the initial four STCW safety courses before completing a minimum six months’ sea service (including four months’ engine room watch keeping duties).

During the sea service period, candidates will complete an MNTB Training Record Book to the required standard. During the final College phase, candidates will complete all additional STCW certification courses and attend tutorials prior to undertaking IAMI EK written examination (on general engineering knowledge and steam/motor engineering knowledge) and the MCA oral examination.

Entry Requirements:

HND or Foundation Degree or Honours Degree in Marine Engineering

HND in Marine Engineering

This route would be suited to candidates who have or will expect to have GCSE Maths at grade 5 (or above) or Scottish Standard National Level 5; and GCSE’s at grade 4 (or above) or Scottish Standard National Level 4 in English, Physics or Combined Science and at least two other subjects.

Foundation Degree in Marine Engineering

Suitable for candidates who possess the above criteria, but who will also have or expect to attain a minimum of 48 Tariff points (120 UCAS points pre 2017) through A Levels or their equivalents, preferably in Mathematics or a Science based subject. For Marine Engineering and Marine Electrical/Electronic Engineering BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma’s are considered.

Honours Degree in Marine Engineering

Suitable for candidates who possess the above criteria, but who will also have or expect to attain the admission requirements of the university or college were they wish to study. A minimum of 80 Tariff points (120 UCAS points pre 2017), in accordance with the requirements of the sponsoring company, through A Levels or their equivalents, including Mathematics or a Science based subject.

OOW (Engine) Certificate of Competency

Suitable for candidates who possess the above criteria, but who will also have or expect to attain a minimum of 120 UCAS points through A Levels or their equivalents, preferably in Mathematics or Physics.

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Need Some Help? Read Our Cadetship FAQ’s

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Will I be with other Chiltern Cadets or are we spread at different colleges?

Yes, we hope that there will be a number of cadets at the same college – it all depends on who accepts and what course they are doing.

Broadly speaking, what are the typical shift patterns of a maritime Cadet?

Ships operate 24/7, 365 days a year. Usually, when you first join you will be on day work – this is 7.00am – 5 pm (ish) with breaks for lunch. Then as time goes on, you move onto watch keeping, again this is normally split into three shift patterns 8am-12 noon, 12 noon-4pm and 4pm-8pm. This means you will do two – 4-hour shifts a day i.e. 8-12 in the morning and 8-12 in the evening.

During training, Cadets usually get some time off to study and, on occasions, when the ship is in port you may be allowed to go ashore.

Do I only get paid my bursary while at sea?

Your sponsor will pay your bursary both whilst at sea and at college.

When at college, do you arrange your own lodging and pay for this separately?

During Phase 1 of your Cadetship, you normally stay on campus. This will be arranged for you and you pay for this out of your bursary. When you return to college after phase 1 for phase 3, most cadets share a house.

What is the relationship between Chiltern Maritime and a cadet manager?

Chiltern will remain in regular contact throughout your cadetship as the cadet manager. We visit you at college and communicate with you whilst at college and at sea.

Discover the training and life of our cadets, across our varied cadetships...

Deck Officer Cadetship

Marine Engineering Officer Cadetship

Electro-Technical Officer Cadetship

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