College of the Sea

The Marine Society has helped generations of seafarers continue their education, personal and professional development.

It does this through an effective combination of direct learner-centred provision; by working with carefully selected partner providers; by working with others to ensure their provision is seafarer-friendly; and by vigorously promoting learning, personal and professional development, thereby enhancing individual performance, growth and employability.

Our courses offer is constantly evolving and includes learning programmes and skills to suit every taste, age, background and ability.

We offer an extensive range of subjects at GCSE and A Level.

All are tutor-supported, and come with professionally prepared learning materials. As you would expect, all our provision is seafarer-friendly, meaning it’s ideally suited whether you're at sea or ashore.

And because we’re an examination centre, we can also enter you for examinations and make arrangements for you to sit them either ashore or at sea in your ship. More.

The Open University’s OpenLearn website gives free access to Open University course materials.

What's more The Marine Society has set up a Merchant Navy Learning Club where you share best practice, post ideas, and generally help each other out.

We're pleased to announce a new degree put together especially for seafarers by The Marine Society collaborating with The Open University.

The Open University degree is firmly focused on Business, Leadership & Management. It's a full degree offering a BA or BSc (depending upon option choices).

Even more exciting is the fact that the degree has been mapped for credit transfer against the HND in Nautical Science which most seafarers will hold. Those holding the HND will get a total of 180 points transferred credit: 120 at Level 1 and 60 at Level 2.

That leaves only a 60 point course at Level 2 and two 30 point courses at Level 3 to get the degree: quite achievable within two years.

More information here.

New for 2010 is a range of CPD courses offered by The Open University and available to our Student Members at a specially discounted rate.

Under continuing professional development we work with partner providers to offer a range of up-skilling programmes covering all aspects of the maritime sector.

We've a varied offering. There are courses in nutritional awareness and sports management; and we have up-skilling programmes in useful areas that cover report writing, editing skills, creative writing, through to web design. More.

Our suite of business skills is always kept up to date. Our current offering includes skills for those who may be thinking of running their own business such as marketing, bookkeeping, business start-ups, and accountancy. We even offer a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) through The Open University with a specially negotiated discount on fees. More.