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Nautical Science

BSc · 3 Years · Full-time · 07/09/2026 · UndergraduateNautical Campus

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Commercial shipping carries almost all the goods we use on a day-to-day basis - from your computer to your car (and the fuel it runs on). This programme will give you an entry point to the maritime industry, providing essential knowledge, skills nd behavious that will make you competitive in the most globalised industry there is.

About this course
The BSc (Hons) in Nautical Science will provide you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for a career in commercial shipping. Approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB), this three-year programme combines academic education with vocational training and 12 months’ industrial placement on board ships, leading to the award of Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certificate of Competency (CoC). The CoC is the certificate you need to go to sea and, as its name suggests, proves your competency for the role.

This programme is aligned to support your progression through knowledge acquisition at both the operational level and managerial level, as directed by the Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) 1978. This programme integrates academic and work-based learning through close collaboration between employers an Blackpool and The Fylde College.

Course content
You will cover topics such as STCW basic training in vocational areas such as first aid, firefighting and survival at sea, alongside courses such as enclosed space rescue. The programme is delivered across three years and broken down into five phases: phases 1,3 and 5 will be delivered on campus whilst phases 2 and 4 will be spent at sea, applying what you have learned in college in the real world.

By the end of the sea phase window, students wishing to achieve a Certificate of Competency should have had the opportunity to complete the MCA sea time requirement of 12 months. This will be provided by sponsorship of a shipping company, however, other maritime related industries may meet the requirements of the programme.

Further information can be found on the FNC website at https://fleetwoodnautical.blackpool.ac.uk/course/mh1he93

Modules

These can be found in the Programme Specification at this link - https://fleetwoodnautical.blackpool.ac.uk/course/mh1he93

Assessment method

Assessment will take place in a range of ways to support the overall aims and outcomes of the programme in order to equip you with the appropriate skills for roles within the maritime industry. Employers will be looking for a range of skills and competencies, including innovation and initiative. Employers want you to have strong communication and team-working skills. The programme promotes the development of these qualities alongside technical competencies and academic knowledge.The programme utilises a mix of classroom-based lectures and seminars as well as more practically oriented sessions using Fleetwood Nautical Campus’s world-leading simulator facilities. This gives you the opportunity to learn theories and principles and see how they apply in practice.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Nautical Campus

Study options

  • BSc • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 07/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
J690
Institution code:
B41
Campus name:
Nautical Campus
Campus Code:
N
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Blackpool and the Fylde College has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
J690
Institution code:
B41
Campus name:
Nautical Campus
Campus Code:
N

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 60 points

A level - CC

in subjects which support the application

GCSE Mathematics (level 5 or above), Science and English Language (level 4 or above or equivalent letter grades). If you hold other qualifications that are equivalent to the above, the programme team will review evidence supplied by applicants regarding their ability to undertake the programme. The award of credits via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be assessed on an individual basis.We will also consider your application if you have a Level 3 Diploma in Shipping and Maritime Operations with a letter of recommendation, usually from your sponsor or Level 3 programme leader, on your aptitude for studying at degree level.

In all cases of alternate qualifications, please email us at maritime@blackpool.ac.uk with details of the qualifications you hold and our programme team will review and come back to you.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Other
As mentioned above, this programme forms part of a Merchant Navy cadetship so to undertake one of these programmes, you will need to apply to a shipping or training company and obtain sponsorship. The companies cover the cost of your programme and related training courses, your uniform and pay you an allowance (how much varies slightly by company). You can find out more about how to apply to a company on the Careers at Sea website (https://www.careersatsea.org), where you can also find a list of sponsoring companies. You will need to pass an industry-standard medical examination (ENG1) to complete a placement at sea; it is strongly advised that you complete this prior to enrolment on the programme.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 5.5 or equivalent is required. This must have been achieved within the two years prior to applying for the programme. You can find out more on our website.

https://fleetwoodnautical.blackpool.ac.uk/course/mh1he93 https://fleetwoodnautical.blackpool.ac.uk/course/mh1he93

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£7700Year 1
Northern Ireland£7700Year 1
Scotland£7700Year 1
Wales£7700Year 1
International£7700Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

We provide access to key reading materials and other resources as a part of the course costs. You are expected to provide stationery, including parallel rulers and dividers for chart work, celestial navigation and radar plotting, as well as a scientific calculator.

You are strongly advised to have a laptop or equivalent device that you can bring to college as part of your studies as many classes will incorporate technology throughout the learning process. There are limited quantities of laptops available for short-term loan from the LRC if you are not in position to bring your own device to college.

Incorporated within the programme are a number of short courses that provide you with certification that form part of your application for an Officer of the Watch Certificate of Competency. Uniform and general personal protective equipment, such as safety shoes and boiler suits are required for some of the associated short courses. Sponsors also typically fund all associated short courses that form part of your eligibility for your Certificate of Competency.

If you require MCA Final attempts, these bear a fee that may not be borne by your sponsor.

Sponsorship information

This course forms part of a cadet training programme which runs alongside the academic award. If you intend to achieve the Officer of the Watch CoC, then you should have a sponsorship in place prior to enrolling onto the programme. However, if you join the programme with no sponsor, we will support you to achieve sponsorship. You can find out more about sponsorship at the Careers at Sea website (https://www.careersatsea.org).

The company will cover the entire cost of your programme and related training courses, your uniform and pay you an allowance (how much varies slightly by company).

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