College of the Sea

As part of its commitment to encourage and facilitate continuing education, The Marine Society College of the Sea offers a unique support service to British seafarers embarking upon undergraduate studies.

We can help by acting as mailing agent for the OU and making arrangements for you to sit OU examinations at sea if this becomes necessary. This means that the OU has our address, with correspondence and teaching materials forwarded to us for onward passage to you, the OU seafarer student, wherever you've told us you are going to be at that time.

Many seafarers find this an extremely useful service, as they've discovered from bitter experience that the OU computer doesn't respond too well to frequent changes of address! For many deep-sea seafarers especially, sitting OU examinations would not be possible without our support.

We may also be called upon to act as honest broker between OU and seafarer. Circumstances might include verifying an explanation to the OU for the late submission of assignments as a result of postal delays or resolution of misunderstandings about a seafarers inability to attend residential school because of operational commitments.

There is another good reason to register with The Marine Society College of the Sea for your OU studies: the OU will waive your examination fees!

Currently we invite seafarers to contribute an annual fee of £25 to help administer this support package. The fee is payable at the beginning of each year the seafarer wishes to use the service.

Whilst we've been offering this service to OU seafarers for many years, we stress that seafarers do not have to use it in order to pursue OU study. It is entirely up to the individual whether they consider it will be helpful.

Even if you choose not to register with us in the way outlined above for your OU study, we are of course willing and able to offer advice and practical support for all aspects of your OU studies, from discussing your intended study programme to helping you get hold of recommended books.

We emphasise that all matters related to Open University enrolment from seafarers, whether they be from present or prospective students, should be directed to the OU's West Midlands Regional Centre. The address is given below.

The Open University in the West Midlands
66 High Street
Harborne
Birmingham
B17 9NB
Tel: 0121 426 1661
Fax: 0121 427 9484
email OU West Midlands

Of course free, impartial and friendly advice is readily available from The Marine Society - ask for Education Manager Wendy Francis.


You may contact us here or by telephoning 020 7654 7050

But please be aware that The Marine Society College of the Sea cannot make application to the OU on your behalf. You have to do that yourself by contacting the OU directly.

For general information on OU provision:

OU Student Registration & Enquiry Service
The Open University
PO Box 197
Milton Keynes
MK7 6BJ
Tel 0870 333 4340
Fax 01908 654 914

Or email OU

Or visit the OU website