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Solent Unviersity Southampton logo

Marine engineering at Solent

Are you technically minded but looking for more than nine to five? An engineering career at sea offers you something utterly unique – an adventurous lifestyle packed with exciting and well-paid career prospects, in a dynamic and growing industry.

Challenge. Responsibility. Transferable skills. And the chance to explore the world aboard one of a vast range of vessels, from commercial shipping to private leisure, from tankers to ferries to superyachts.

Do you want more from your career? Explore what an engineering officer cadetship has to offer.

Fully sponsored by one of a huge range of shipping and maritime companies, and developed to meet the specific needs of the shipping industry and the Merchant Navy Training Board, our engineering cadetships combine rigorous academic study at our dedicated cadet training centre in Southampton with extensive practical training at sea.

With options covering general marine engineering or electro-technical specialism, our cadetships offer a strong understanding of modern shipboard systems and practical engineering skills for operating at sea, problem-solving and safe practices.

As part of your cadetship, you will be equipped with all the knowledge and understanding you need to meet the requirements of industry-based onboard training – and with academic exemptions for further professional qualifications under the internationally recognised Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) and UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) regulations.

When you complete your cadetship, you’ll be able to drop straight into an engineering role with your sponsoring company or on a huge range of vessels, working your way up through the engineering ranks towards chief engineer, moving to shore-side roles such as engineering operations manager, or even branching out into a huge range of engineering roles outside the maritime industry.

Frequently asked questions

Experience Solent for yourself at an open day

Courses

BEng (Hons) Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Voyage the world in the Merchant Navy as a valuable member of crew, working towards qualification as an electro-technical officer, and studying with world-renowned Warsash Maritime School.

HND Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Build the foundations of a career as a marine electro-technical officer in the dynamic maritime industry - supported by a sponsoring company to become a certified Engineer Officer of the Watch.

HND Marine Engineering

Build the foundations of a career as a marine engineer in the dynamic maritime industry - supported by a sponsoring company to become a certified Engineer Officer of the Watch.

BEng (Hons) Marine Engineering

Benefit from a maritime cadetship programme (supported by a sponsoring company) to build your skills as engineering officer in renowned Warsash Maritime School with its industry-leading facilities.

FdEng Marine Engineering

Prepare for the exciting prospect of travelling the world in the Merchant Navy to become a marine engineer officer, delivered from the world-renowned Warsash Maritime School.

Facilities

As an engineer officer cadet, you will spend around 450 hours in the workshop, learning new skills and developing your practical workshop skills, such as use and care of hand tools, drilling machines, lathes and welding.

We have a full range of industry-leading engineering training facilities, including a full-mission engine room simulator and 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 practise electrical maintenance, as well as operational and fault-finding procedures.


Come to an open day