A UK Merchant Navy cadetship is a structured officer training programme combining academic study and sea service. It is not an apprenticeship in the traditional sense and not a regular degree course, although you will study for a Degree, Foundation Degree or HND depending on the route you decide to take. 

 

The end goal is to qualify as a certificated officer under the standards set by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Cadetships are available in three main departments:

Deck, Engine and ETO.

Cadetships are sponsored, meaning you are backed financially and administratively by a sponsoring company or organisation. Common sponsors include:

  • Commercial shipping companies (Cruise, Cargo, LNG, etc.) 

  • Training groups (Charities, Awards, Foundations) 

  • Public-sector bodies (e.g. harbour authorities, dredging companies)

 

The sponsor:

  • Pays your training allowance

  • Covers college fees and sea-phase costs

  • Allocates ships for sea service

  • Oversees your progress

 

Without a sponsor, you cannot train as a cadet.

Requirements vary slightly by college and sponsor, but broadly:

 

Deck Cadet

  • GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English

  • Science often preferred

 

Engineering / ETO Cadet

  • GCSEs in Maths, English, and Science

  • Engineering or electrical background strongly favoured

 

You must also:

  • Pass an ENG1 medical

  • Meet STCW medical fitness standards

  • Have the right to work in the UK (for UK-funded cadetships)

 

Academic strength matters, but attitude and reliability matter more.

  • Your sponsor chooses which college you attend

  • This is based on:

    • Available course spaces

    • Company links with colleges

    • Training schedules

However:

  • You can usually request a preferred college

  • Sponsors often try to accommodate requests

  • There is no guarantee you will get your first choice

You must be prepared to attend any college your sponsor assigns.

 

 

 

A cadetship typically lasts 3 years (sometimes 3½). Training alternates between college phases and sea phases.

 

College Phase

  • Navigation, ship stability, cargo, law (Deck)

  • Marine engineering, systems, thermodynamics (Engineering)

  • Electrical systems, automation, fault-finding (ETO)

  • Safety courses (STCW)

 

Sea Phase

  • Structured sea service onboard merchant vessels

  • Completion of a Training Record Book (TRB)

  • Supervised watchkeeping and practical tasks

Sea time is not just “time served” — it must be documented and signed off correctly.

 

 

Most UK cadetships are part-funded by the government (via the SMarT scheme), with the sponsor topping up costs.

 

Cadets receive a training allowance, typically:

  • £700–£1,200 per month (varies by sponsor and phase)

You are not salaried crew, and you do not earn overtime or bonuses.