Maritime Colleges in UK

You have perhaps felt that connection with the sea, or are just fascinated by marine studies. Whatever your reason is for seeking maritime colleges in the UK, there are available institutions that can transform your course of study into a journey of a lifetime. This is a big step towards achieving your dreams, and you should be proud of yourself to make it. Maritime studies are not everybody’s pick, but a reserve for minds and hearts that move with the sea.

If you’ve started your search already, then you are probably looking for an institution which you can trust to provide an ideal environment through your studies and thus for your performance. Which then, are the best maritime colleges in UK? The list is inexhaustible. Not to worry, however, in this article, we’re going to look at a few that you could consider.

UK Maritime Colleges

• Newcastle University

Established in 1834 as a School of Medicine and Surgery, the Newcastle University evolved over the years and finally became independent from the University of Durham in 1963. Located in North East England’s New Castle upon Tyne, this public college offers research studies in 40 institutions, along with teaching conducted in 24 academic schools. Besides 175 full-time undergraduate degree programs, the University also offers roughly 340 postgraduate programs on various disciplines.

NUMI Singapore, a Marine International campus, was established as the University’s first branch overseas, in September 2008.

• University of Plymouth

Rising in 1862 as a School of Navigation, the University of Plymouth achieved its University status in 1992, absorbing the Plymouth School of Marine Studies. Located in Plymouth, England, with branches spread across South West England, this public college is home to 19,645 students. This makes the University, by total student number, 38^th largest in the UK.

The Plymouth Graduate School of Management also offers marine studies.

• University of Strathclyde

First established in 1796 as the Anderson Institute, the University of Strathclyde achieved its university status from the Royal Charter in 1964. Located in Glasgow, Scotland, this public research college is, by total student number, third-largest in the UK. This is notably the first University in the UK to be awarded University of the Year twice; first in 2012, then in 2019.

Its Faculty of Engineering offers Ocean and Marine Engineering under a joint department with the University of Glasgow.

• Southampton Solent University

Established in 1855 as the Southampton College of Art, the Southampton Solent University has evolved over the years, gaining its University status in 2004 as Southampton Institute of Higher Education. It was renamed Solent University in 2018. Located in Southampton, UK, this public university is home to roughly 11,000 students. It has its main campus near the city centre and maritime hub of Southampton; East Park Terrace.

You may be glad to know that Solent University’s maritime courses have risen the ranks to be among the world’s best.

• University of Southampton

Coming up first in 1862 as Hartley Institution, the University of Southampton has undergone some changes, before being awarded its University status in 1952. Located in Southampton, England, this is, by higher education students, the largest university in the South East, with at least 6,900 postgraduate and 15,700 undergraduate students.

The Boldrewood Campus is home to the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute, the university Maritime Technology campus and the Maritime Center of Excellence.

Certificate of Competency, CoC

The journey to your dream is not a short one, and cannot be achieved through one way. If you desire to, at some point, be awarded a certificate of competency, also known as UK CoC, then an MCA approved maritime college in UK could be your ideal pick.

What is MCA approval?

Many Maritime Colleges in the UK are governed by a body called the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Such colleges, if approved by the MCA, are one way to get a CoC. Why don’t we look at some of your available options? You can find more information here.

• Blackpool and The Fylde College, located in Fleetwood, Lancashire, UK.
• City of Glasgow College, located in Glasgow, Scotland.
• East Coast College, located in Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK.

More from the Mariner’s Galaxy are:

• South Tyneside College, located in South Shields
• Maritime Professional Training, located in Ft. Lauderdale
• UKSA, located in West Cowes

Maritime Law

You could be wondering about the available Maritime Law courses in UK, and which institutions offer them. Well, there are plenty, some providing undergraduate and others, postgraduate studies; why don’t we shed some light on a few? They are:

• University of Southampton, offering LLB Maritime Law and LLM Maritime Law.
• Swansea University, offering LLM International Commercial and Maritime Law, and International Maritime Law
• University of Plymouth, offering BSc (Hons) Maritime Business and Maritime Law
• Cardiff University, offering MSc Maritime Policy Shipping Management
• University of Essex, offering LLM International Trade and Maritime Law

Final Words

Welcome to the world of possibilities, where you can craft your future. The institutions we’ve looked into, and those that I’ve just listed, are all good colleges. Preference could differ as to where to take your maritime studies, but all in all, where you’ll feel most comfortable should be your next destination.

You can find out more about the listed colleges and their locations. Also, determine whether you’re more interested in maritime short courses in UK, or long courses. This is because some institutions have specialized in certain areas more than others, and some may even fail to offer what you’re looking for.

Excellence is not a journey of a single day, but one we grow on every day we try. You shouldn’t worry about the college you’ll study in more than your plan on how to get to where you want. Map it out and on settling down, begin your relentless pursuit. The sea is where the heart will live for a long time to a marine student. The life out there looks out to you, hence the pride and satisfaction that should come with your decision to take up this path.