FdEngMarine Electrical and Electronic Engineering
How to apply
- 2025
- 2026
Why study a marine electro-technical officer cadetship at Solent University
Get world-class practical training, ready to qualify as an electro-technical officer in the Merchant Navy, studying at the world-renowned Warsash Maritime School.
- 0yearsof providing maritime training to seafarers
- £0minvestment in our campus and industry-standard facilities
- Seafaring experience included - time at sea is built into the course, offering real-world experience.
- Gain academic and professional qualifications while studying for your foundation degree, you will also be working towards your electro-technical officer MCA Certificate of Competency.
- Warsash Maritime School has a full range of industry-leading training facilities, including an ETO lab for electronic navigational systems operations and maintenance of items such as radars, navigational aids and control systems. Our electrical workshop facilities also enable you to practice electrical maintenance, operational and fault-finding procedures.
- Cadetships, for eligible UK students, are fully sponsored by shipping or maritime companies.
- A world-class hub of maritime excellence with over 80 years' history of maritime education, and an international reputation for quality.
- Study in the heart of Southampton, a major hub in the UK and European maritime and shipping industry.
Course overview
Training as an electro-technical officer (ETO) cadet in the UK’s Merchant Navy will offer you the chance to gain valuable academic and practical electrical engineering knowledge and put your specialist skills into practice while away at sea on a fully sponsored three-year marine electro-technical officer cadet programme at the world-renowned Warsash Maritime School.
Officer cadet training schemes typically last for around three years and are split into five phases which alternate between academic studies, practical experience, and safety training at Warsash Maritime School and seagoing periods to gain practical shipboard experience.
To enrol on an officer cadet training scheme, candidates apply directly to shipping companies, not through UCAS. This is because officer cadet training is fully sponsored by the shipping company, covering course fees and also providing the means for gaining the mandatory work-based learning on board ship. Cadets will often also receive a small salary or living allowance while they are training.
Electro-technical officers take particular responsibility for the maintenance of on board control engineering and electronic systems, including propulsion control, radio communications and electronic navigation aids. During their training, ETO cadets are taught the necessary academic underpinning knowledge, as well as gaining practical training, providing them with the confidence and know how to maintain a wide range of electrical and electronic equipment to maximise the operational safety and efficiency of the vessel.
This programme is aligned to the new UK-wide maritime officer cadetship syllabus developed by the Cadet Training and Modernisation (CT&M) Programme, led by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Effective from September 2025, the new syllabus reflects the current practices and technology used aboard modern vessels and supports the development of 'human element' skills - essential learning for today’s aspiring officers.
This course is part of the South Coast Institute of Technology (IoT), a partnership of colleges, universities and industry-leading employers to create new career opportunities in the technology sector. IoT courses like this one are precisely tailored to the needs of employers in the maritime, engineering and digital industries – industries which are hungry for talented new engineers, technologists, technicians and creatives like you.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
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Course features
Professional accreditation
This course has been accredited by a professional body
Additional qualifications
This course offers additional professional qualifications which you will obtain in addition to your academic qualification
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
April and September starts available
This course has an option to start in April and September
Further studies
After successfully completing your programme, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Who is this course for?
This fully-sponsored training programme is a must for those who wish to become a marine electro-technical officer in the Merchant Navy. The course is suited to those who are looking for an interesting and varied career, and is ideal for those with a strong interest in electrical engineering and technology.
What does this course lead to?
This exciting course will allow you to gain your first qualification as an ETO, opening up a wide range of opportunities within maritime electrical and electronic engineering. With further study and sailing experience you could progress to Chief Technical Officer or Electrical Superintendent, depending on the company you work for.
Meet the team
Warsash Maritime School is a world leader in maritime education and training, with close links to the marine industry. The extensive professional experience of academic staff ensures that the course draws on real-world case studies and equips you with practical, readily applicable knowledge and skills.
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
Warsash Maritime School has a full range of industry-leading training facilities including an ETO lab for electronic navigational systems operations and maintenance of items such as radars, navigational aids and control systems. Electrical workshop facilities enable cadets to practice electrical maintenance and operational and fault finding procedures.
Solent is an Adobe Creative Campus, meaning all students also have free access to Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes the full suite of Adobe professional software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, Premier Pro, and more.
What you'll study
Core modules
Maritime Electrical Machines
Electrical machines are critical to the operation and maintenance of systems aboard ships. This module will introduce you to the working principles of common electrical machines found on board ship, such as motors, generators, and transformers, as well as the operation of electronic devices in power circuits.
Maritime Mathematics for Engineers
Mathematical analytical skills are critical to your future career as an engineer. This module will allow you to develop your mathematical abilities to solve engineering problems in a maritime context and underpins the mathematical requirement to prepare you for future numerical based modules within the course.
Maritime Thermodynamics and Mechanics
Thermodynamics and mechanics are critical in the understanding of the design, operation and maintenance of marine engineering plant systems. During this module you'll learn about property changes and energy transfer processes in closed and open thermodynamic systems, develop the knowledge and understanding to describe heat transfer processes and perform simple calculations involving such processes. You'll also have an opportunity to investigate energy transfers in an open system such as internal combustion engines, basic steam power cycles, and refrigerators.
Operational Electrical and Electronic Control Systems
The safe operation of modern merchant vessels relies on electrical and electronic control systems to accurately and efficiently monitor ship systems. This module will introduce you to the fundamentals of control systems engineering and electrical engineering, with a focus on electrical distribution on board ship.
Operational Marine Engineering Knowledge
This module gives you the opportunity to learn about the construction and operation of ships' systems in the engine room and the critical safety considerations which must be taken into account when they are being operated. You'll be exposed to different types of marine propulsion systems and their associated auxiliary systems and will be asked to look at various aspects of operation and maintenance of these systems to evaluate both commonality and difference between ship types.
Operational Maritime Law and Project Management
This module will familiarise you with the relationship between laws, codes, and various forms of guidance related to ship and crew safety, as well as operational procedures. You'll gain an understanding of the laws governing the shipping industry, both nationally and internationally, and an insight into the organisational structures used by your company, both ashore and onboard. Additionally, you'll explore the factors that can influence decision-making, such as stress, fatigue, culture, and situational awareness, and learn techniques to mitigate these influences.
Operational Naval Architecture and Stability (Engineering)
This module will familiarise you a typical ship’s structure and the salient features of a range of ship vessel types, in addition to applying the principles of ship stability to box- and ship-shaped vessels in routine situations.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Coursework
- Group presentations
- Individual presentations
- Project work
- Written exams
- Timed exercises
- Practical exams
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out more
Study support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
The disability advice team provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose a career as an electro-technical officer?
Maritime and shipping is a huge, thriving industry – the backbone of international trade, and a fundamental part of modern global commerce. As a ship’s electro-technical officer (ETO) you will be a key part of this, keeping vessels of all kinds, from tankers to container ships – or even ferries, cruise liners or superyachts – running effectively, efficiently and safely.
ETOs are specialist officers who work within the engineering department where they take responsibility for the maintenance of on-board control engineering and electronic systems, including propulsion control, radio communications and electronic navigation aids.
ETOs should have the opportunity to develop their careers along a professional electrical engineering path, perhaps leading to the rank of chief electro-technical officer, chief technical officer or electrical superintendent (company dependent).
Solent Careers
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
We also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
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UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Accreditations, recognitions and memberships
Part of:
Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence
Every student at Solent University will also have the option to study an additional Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence qualification alongside their course. Free of charge, the course ensures you'll be prepared for a fantastic and varied career after graduation.
Tuition fees
Officer cadet training is fully sponsored by shipping companies.
- Successful applicants will have their course fees paid and be provided a training allowance by the UK sponsoring companies throughout their training: .
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £20. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
Student finance Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.Student funding - the essentials Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
54 UCAS tariff points
- A numerate subject or national engineering award at level 3.
- Plus GCSEs at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) in the following subjects:
- Mathematics (preferably Higher Tier)
- English
- Science (with significant Physical Science content)
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
- Entry to this course is through a sponsored cadetship; please see the Warsash Maritime School website for details.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
British shipping companies will normally accept applications from candidates from the EU. Candidates should apply directly to the shipping companies for sponsorship.
For further information about UK, EU and international qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels. However, MCA certificates of competency may be awarded to people of any nationality and the training programmes are open to all.
British shipping companies will normally only recruit UK or European Union nationals. If you're a potential international candidate from outside the UK and EU, you should research shipping companies from your own country (that are approved by the MCA) to secure sponsorship.
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: Call:How to apply
To apply for this course, you must meet the academic entry requirements as stated.
The next step is to find a company to sponsor you so you can complete the sea service elements of the training programme. You should apply direct to the sponsoring companies for details of their recruitment policies and the availability of sponsorship.
There are a number of UK sponsoring companies that recruit UK nationals as officer cadets to work in the various shipping sectors of the Merchant Navy (for example, cargo, container, cruise, tanker etc.), either individual shipping companies recruiting to fulfil their own staffing needs or training organisations that recruit on behalf of their clients.
Companies normally start the recruitment process around January each year for entry in the following September or April.
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
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