College of the Sea

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.

There's a Learning Club for those in the Sea Cadets, too.

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).

More info here

We're delighted to announce an agreement with The Open University to provide flexible online learning and development courses ideal for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for seafarers and the SCC.

In working with the OU, the MSSC is able to offer its Student Members a special 10% discount on all these courses.


More about our CPD offering.

In partnership with Middlesex University, The Marine Society is offering a unique route for seafarers to top up their HND or Foundation Degree into a full honours degree by means of a programme that is entirely distance taught.

We're also offering a route whereby seafarers can use their Class 1 certificate of competency to gain a Masters degree through work-based learning - all without the need to step ashore!

These are truly ground-breaking opportunities! Find out what's available!

Here at MSSC HQ we’re often asked to express a view on what would be the most appropriate learning and development route for an SCC adult to undertake: CVQO, or the MSSC/Open University Foundation Degree.

For convenience, we’ve set out the salient facts here.

And please remember: impartial advice and helpful guidance is just a mouse click or call away!

If you work with the Sea Cadet Corps then you might like to regard the College of the Sea as your one-stop shop for learning and development opportunities.

We offer a range of tutor-supported distance taught courses and you can also find out about CVQO provision for SCC adults.

We've teamed up with the UK's biggest provider of distance taught degrees to offer an exciting opportunity to gain a recognised and worthwhile qualification in youth work: Foundation Degree in Working With Young People. And what's more we're offering scholarships to cover costs to all who work with the Sea Cadets!

You can find both the scholarship and Foundation Degree application forms in our Download Centre.

Members of the Sea Cadet Corps can now enjoy access to Europe's biggest e-Learning resource: the Defence Learning Portal.

We are the first volunteer-led organisation to secure such access. More here

We introduce a new suite of courses.

Nutrition Awareness, Sports Management and the Sports Higher Diploma are now available for those who are looking to improve their knowledge in nutrition and exercise or for those who wish to gain a professional qualification in sports and recreation management.

Delivered in association with our partner - the National Extension College - these courses are entirely distance-taught and require no attendance for examinations.