Marine Engineering HNC

What is special about this course?

The course covers many different aspects of marine engineering and provides an excellent basis for anyone wishing to become an engineer. It forms the second year of the Merchant Navy Cadet Programme for engineering officers and runs over three years.

As a cadet, you will be sponsored throughout your training by a shipping company and receive an allowance and support at college, as well as spending a portion of your time onboard ships gaining hands-on marine training.

It is also possible to undertake the HNC as a one-year stand-alone course for which there would be no requirement to spend time at sea. For further information please contact Shetland UHI: cadets.shetland@uhi.ac.uk 

Special features

• You will gain all the hands-on experience you need to become an engineer cadet
• You will have financial support throughout your course by way of sponsorship from a shipping company
• Engineering officer cadets spend a total of at least 8 months on-board a Merchant Navy vessel during their 3-year cadetship
• Highly qualified professional staff with experience afloat and ashore
• State of the art simulation equipment, engineering workshops and training vessels 
• High quality support infrastructure within modern facilities
• Small class sizes providing opportunity for one-to-one teaching
• Ship and local company visits are undertaken during the course to enable you to see engineering in action

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

Year 1 of the Cadet Programme:

• You should normally have a minimum of four National 5, Standard Grade or GCSE passes at Grade C/3 or above, including English, Mathematics and a science-based subject
• Other relevant qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis
• You will be required to undergo a medical and fitness test.
• You must be sponsored by the industry (Merchant Navy), be resident and have had residency in the UK for at least 36 months, be a national of the UK or an EU member state, and hold a UK or EU member state passport.

Direct access to the HNC:

• You should normally have a National Certificate in Engineering (SCQF level 6) or at least two Higher passes at Grade C or above, one of which should be Mathematics or a Physical Science
• Other equivalent qualifications and/or relevant experience may also be accepted

Access routes

• NC in Maritime Operations

Year 1 - HNC

Mandatory units are:

• Marine engineering: graded unit 1
• Marine engineering: thermodynamics
• Marine engineering: mechanical principles
• Marine engineering: electro-technology
• Marine engineering: stability and structure of merchant ships
• Marine engineering: pneumatics and hydraulic systems
• Marine engineering: auxiliary systems
• Marine engineering: propulsion
• Fundamentals of control systems and transducers
• Engineering mathematics 1
• Marine legislation and leadership
• Safety engineering and the environment

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK and EU students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying (see the Funding section opposite).

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.