Electro-Technical Cadetships

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Applying For A Electro-Technical Cadetship

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

Let’s start with the basics. An Electro-Technical Officer is a specialist officer working within the Engineering Department where they take particular responsibility for the maintenance of on board control engineering and electronic systems including propulsion control, radio communications and electronic navigation aids.

What is a Electro-Technical Cadetship?

A Electro-Technical Officer Cadetship is the combination of your 3-year course study, your at 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.

An Electro-Technical Cadetship is the springboard to an exciting career away from the normal office based nine to five routine. With no shortage of opportunities, trainee Electro-Technical 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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Marine Electro-Technical Officer Cadet - Foundation Degree Programme

Some Marine Colleges offer a full marine Electro-Technical Officer (METO) Cadet programmes by a Foundation Degree route, leading ultimately to the award of:

Foundation Degree (FdEng) in Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering
UK MCA METO Certificate of Competency (STCW A-III/6 OOW)
A GMDSS radio maintenance certificate and an electronic navigation equipment maintenance (ENEM) certificate.

The programme also offers 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 College 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 College in conjunction with work-based learning on board ship

ETO workshop skills training at College to MNTB-approved standard

Practical training on board ship, including completion of an MNTB Training Record Book. This enables officer 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.

Entry Requirements:

HND or Foundation Degree in Marine Electrical Engineering

HND Marine Electro-technology (City of Glasgow College)

This route would be suited to candidates who have or will expect to have Scottish Higher Maths and or/Physical Science at grade C or above (or equivalent) and GCSE grade 5 (or above) or Scottish Standard National Level 5; in Maths, English, Physical Science (Physics, Chemistry, Technological Studies Engineering Science) and at least one other subject.

Foundation Degree in Marine Electrical/Electronic 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.

MCA Operational Level (METO) 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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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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