MSc Shipping Operations
Is it time to take your maritime career to the next level? This two year distance learning programme is ideally suited to maritime professionals who are hoping to move into...
BSc (Hons)Nautical Science Top-Up
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Starting in:Â 2026
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps
Why study a nautical science top-up degree at Solent University
Enhance your transferable skills by topping up your nautical science deck cadetship HND or foundation degree to a full honours degree.
- 0yearsof providing maritime training to seafarers
- Top0%for teaching quality, out of 131 institutions (Times Good University Guide, 2025)
- £0minvestment in our campus and industry-standard facilities
- Designed for qualified navigation officers, this specialised top-up course enables students to achieve a full BSc (Hons) degree and prepare for senior maritime management roles ashore.
- Study in the heart of Southampton: a major hub in the UK and European maritime and shipping industry.
- A world-class hub of maritime excellence, our Warsash Maritime School has over 80 years' history of maritime education and an international reputation for quality.
- Graduates from our Warsash Maritime School can be found throughout the maritime industry worldwide, in every role from shore-side management to senior positions at sea.
Course overview
This top-up degree allows former maritime officer cadets with a suitable foundation degree (FdSc) or HND qualification to top up these qualifications to BSc (Hons) level and prepare for senior maritime management roles ashore.
Building on your existing qualifications, seagoing experience, and industry knowledge, the course will develop your critical thinking and analytical skills in parallel with wider knowledge of the maritime industry.
The course has two entry points in March and July 2026.
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Contact international admissions
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Apply direct
You can apply direct to Solent University for this course
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Top-up option
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
Who is this course for?
The course will allow former cadets who have previously achieved a foundation degree (FdSc) or HND with at least a 50% average grade, and who want to further their career opportunities, to earn a BSc (Hons) degree.
Suitable candidates will be those who aspire to senior management roles (marine superintendent, fleet or harbour operations, pilot etc) in shipping companies, maritime or harbour authorities. They will value the opportunity presented by this course to develop the skills and strategies that will be an asset in working towards such positions.
What does this course lead to?
This course would suit former cadets who want to prepare themselves for a time later in their navigation careers when they may wish to come ashore and work as marine superintendents, vessel managers or similar roles.Â
Meet the team
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 bridge simulators and ECDIS suites where deck cadets can learn and develop their passage planning skills and navigate ships in an environment that closely resembles the equipment and layouts found on a modern ship’s bridge. Practical maritime safety training takes place at our Warsash campus at our fire training ground, medical training centre, and pier head.
Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
What you'll study
Core modules
Dissertation
Maritime professionals need to be skilled in identifying and analysing problems to lead changes in policy or practices. You will develop these skills by identifying, planning, and implementing research in your chosen area, and analysing and communicating the findings.
Leadership and Management
This module will enable you to understand how effective and efficient people management adds to a company’s success. The module analyses the integrated nature of people management and how this is achieved through a range of management tools and techniques, and identifies current themes and issues that relate to managing people from the perspective of the line manager in an organisation.
Marine Surveying and Accident Investigation
The module focuses on the process of statutory surveys and inspections, and the investigation of potential breaches of statutory requirements resulting in damage and loss. During the module, you'll explore the role of investigators appointed by maritime certifying authorities, government maritime accident investigation agencies, shipping companies, and protection and indemnity (P&I) insurers.
Maritime Business and Commercial Practices
Throughout your cadetship, you will have started to develop a much greater understanding of the commercial elements of the industry such as chartering and brokering and the relationships between the many agencies and businesses involved in the maritime world. This module will examine some of the key global business factors you'll need to identify and evaluate to support your decision-making processes. You'll also develop knowledge of management, and the processes involved making commercially appropriate strategic management decisions.
Maritime Sustainability
During this module, you will develop the skills in leadership and management needed to sustainably manage business activity and projects. The module begins by focusing on developing your understanding of sustainability and addresses the development of sustainability, its contested nature and interdisciplinary application. The module then moves on to discuss the concepts of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and their application to the industry, followed by a consideration of the tools and technology available to meet the needs of industry in reaching a more sustainable future.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Project work
- In-class tests
- Written exams
- Dissertation
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 a deck officer in the Merchant Navy?
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 officer 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.
Under the captain’s management, the deck department is responsible for the safe navigation and operation of the vessel, both at sea and in port.
Deck officers are a vital part of the on-board management team, taking charge of an expensive vessel and its equally valuable crew, guests, or cargo. You will take key decisions on manoeuvring the vessel and controlling its navigation, communications and security.
Numerous opportunities also exist for qualified navigation officers ashore. Shipping companies often recruit shore based marine superintendents and fleet operations staff from their seagoing officers. Harbour authorities recruit experienced officers to train as pilots, harbour masters and port operations managers.
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.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
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.
Further study
Thinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get 20% off their postgraduate study.
MSc International Shipping and Logistics
Get a head start in the exciting, global industry of shipping and logistics - gain the skills and knowledge sought after by employers.
MSc International Maritime Business
Expand your knowledge of maritime business to graduate well-equipped for an international career in chartering, trading, ship management.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are:
- UK, ROI, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £6,950 per year
- International full-time fees: £9,995 per year
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.
Solent EU Welcome Scholarship (Fee Discount)
This scholarship is available to students from an EU country, with EU nationality, who are applying for an undergraduate course starting in September 2025. The scholarship will reduce your tuition fees to £10,500 per year - this includes foundation years.
Find out more about the scholarship
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 may be required to pay for the rental of your ceremonial uniform. 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 £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
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Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
Candidates who have previously achieved a foundation degree (FdSc) or HND cadetship in nautical science and have achieved an overall average score of 50% or higher, or hold a SQA HND Pass in nautical science, will be welcomed.
Key entry requirements
Entry is based on successful award of an HND or foundation degree (FdSc) cadetship in nautical science with an overall average score of 50%, or hold a SQA HND Pass in nautical science.
Key entry requirements
Entry is based on successful award of an HND or foundation degree (FdSc) cadetship in nautical science with an overall average score of 50%, or hold a SQA HND Pass in nautical science.
For more information about qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
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:Â Call:ÂHow to apply
Full-time
Applications for this course are made directly to Southampton Solent University. Students wishing to apply should click the red 'Apply direct' button in the main header.
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 92 with a minimum of 22 in writing and a minimum of 20 in reading, listening and speaking
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 100 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.
Make your application
- 1 year top-up
