Chief Mate (Unlimited) Advanced Diploma in Nautical Science - Remote (Blended) Learning

This is MCA approved 36* week programme covering the underpinning knowledge and short courses required to qualify for a Chief Mate (Unlimited) Certificate of Competency.

This course can be attended in two parts. 

The first part (approximately 14 weeks) can be studied in the comfort of your own home via remote learning on MS Teams.  Candidates will follow a normal timetable and will be learning alongside other candidates attending at the college. With our facilitates it will allow you to interact with students from all over the world and the students attending face to face.  Additional academic tutorials will be given to enhance the remote learning.

For the second part of the course you will attend face to face lessons in the college.

Delegates will study towards an SQA Advanced Diploma which will cover the academic underpinning knowledge required for certification. 

The course consists of the following units:

• Marine Passage Planning
• Management of Bridge Operations
• Applied Marine Meteorology
• Ship Stability
• Structures and Maintenance
• Management of Vessel Operations 
• Shipmasters Law & Business
• Shipboard Management
• Marine Engineering Systems
• Graded Units 2 and 3

During the academics to support your learning we will endeavor fully utilise all our world class resources, including our state of the art ship simulators, ‘live ship’ cargo software, meteorological instruments, ships compasses and our chartrooms. 

During the second term of the Advanced Diploma delegates will attend external MCA/SQA examinations in Navigation and Stability & Structure.

The fee for the programme includes two weeks of MCA oral preparation.

The programme also consists of three required short courses, although an additional fee is required:

• Navigation Aids and Equipment Simulator Training (NAEST) Management. 
• Human Element Leadership and Management (HELM) Management
• Medical Care Onboard Ship 

At the end of the programme you will attend two weeks of MCA oral preparation prior to your MCA oral exam. This course is specifically designed to cover the orals syllabus and each lecture is taught by a subject specific lecturer who will utilise our world class facilities and resources to their fullest extent.  

You will spend half a day at our Marine Offshore Safety Training Centre. 

All of the above courses are all part of the programme so you will be automatically enrolled.

View our impressive facilities by taking a look at our virtual tour here: 

This course covers all the material for Chief Mate/Master written examinations.

The MCA regulations require a candidate:

• Not less than 12 months sea service as a watch-keeping officer whilst holding an OOW Certificate of Competency (CoC). 
• Discharge book entries verifying sea service.
• Watch-keeping certificates to support all watch-keeping sea service.

A candidate who does not have a discharge book will need to obtain documentation from their shipping company verifying their sea service. 

It is the responsibility of candidates to ensure that all entry requirements for the course and the issue of a Notice of Eligibility (NoE) by the MCA are met prior to attending the course.

For further information, please refer to MGN1856 - Amendment 1 on the MCA website: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For the Advanced Diploma all the assessments are internal and college based.

The MCA/SQA written examinations are externally moderated and are hosted within the college.

The MCA oral examination is conducted via Microsoft Teams by MCA examiners. 

With further sea service and experience candidates are eligible to enter the oral examination for the Masters (Unlimited) certification. Successful candidates can also progress onto our BSc (Hons) (Top Up) in Marine Operations.

To apply for this course e-mail nadmin@tynecoast.ac.uk for more information and an application form.

For UK students a £500 deposit is required and a deposit of £1000 for Non-UK students to reserve your place on the course (subject to availability).  For overseas students full payment will be required before a CAS (if required for this course) will be issued.

Any fees paid by Bankers Draft should be made payable to Tyne Coast College.

Accommodation is available in the college at Dr Winterbottom Hall or in private lodgings. For full details, please refer to the separate information page or contact Dr Winterbottom Hall directly. Please telephone: +44 (0)191 427 3666 or email DWH@tynecoast.ac.uk for more information.