Advice and Guidance

Matrix

Independent and impartial advice

Marine Society recognises the need for seafarers to be able to receive independent and impartial advice with their lifelong learning and educational needs, careers advice and continuing professional development.

We work with education providers, employers and professional organisations to obtain the best impartial information, advice and guidance that we can to assist you with your enquiries.

If you would like any information advice or guidance contact us.

Alternatively, if you would like to speak to someone please call: 0207 654 7050

Our unique and tailored pathway helps you get the most out of your learning experience as you investigate your study options. The advice and guidance we give is free, confidential and comes with no commitment.

Our impartial service helps thousands of seafarers each year, it is quality recognised and is accredited to the quality Matrix Standard for information advice and guidance.

Please see our FAQs below. Click on the blue rectangular boxes to find the answer to each question. If you have any queries that are not covered, please contact our dedicated team on either learning@ms-sc.org or 0207 654 7050.

    • For seafaring qualifications, refer to our funding page for options available through the Marine Society (including JW Slater Scholarship) and the eligibility criteria.

    • If you are a British seafarer working abroad but normally resident in the UK  and hold a British passport, you can apply for funding.

    • Please note that as from June 15th 2020 we no longer offer GCSE/A level distance learning provision including exam facilitation. Please contact Oxford Open Learning www.ool.co.uk (http://www.ool.co.uk) if you have any enquiries regarding these courses. Private Candidates should contact the relevant examination board who can provide a list of private candidate exams centres.

       

    • As a charity that supports seafarers, we understand that studying can be difficult, especially at sea or during short-notice drafts. Distance learning allows you to study wherever you are in the world, giving you an opportunity to develop your skills and understanding without needing to attend regular lessons. Each course will come with its own requirements, but our advisors will be happy to help explain how we can support your learning wherever you find yourself and with any course – from upskilling programmes to post graduate degrees.

    • We no longer offer an exam centre provision. We advise you to contact the awarding bodies directly (AQA, EDEXCEL/PEARSON, CIE, OCR) who can provide a list of private candidate exam centres.

      AQA

      Pearson (Edexcel)

      CIE 

      OCR

    • For enquiries relating to higher education, including top up degree course please visit https://www.marine-society.org/degrees 

    • For enquiries relating to bursaries or financial support for further study please visit https://www.marine-society.org/funding 

    • For enquiries relating to the JW Slater Scholarship or STCW professional qualifications please visit https://www.marine-society.org/slater-scholarship 

    • Our Learn@Sea platform offers a range of practical short courses that can help you to improve your knowledge and skills in a wide range of subjects that are maritime contextualised. Our award-winning apps can be studied anywhere at any time.

      For more information on how to subscribe and the list of courses please click here. 

    • Yes. With three clicks you can subscribe to any or all of our 15 Learn@Sea, bite-sized, portable courses.  Click here to see the full range of courses.

      Our award-winning content is designed to help you prepare for an exam or upskill.

    • This is a Diagnostic tool to help you identify strengths and weaknesses in core skills, focussing on numeracy and literacy. It comes free with your subscription to any Learn@Sea course. We recommend that you do this first. Click here to find it in your resources page.

    • Yes we do. Take your pick from our specialist courses and manage your stats with your own dashboard. Click here to purchase discounted Learn@Sea courses and find out about the different prices.

      Every member of your crew that you add gets free access to the Skills Radar and Modern Slavery@Sea courses. 

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  • Call us:
  • +44 (0)20 7654 7000
Marine Society and Sea Cadets is a charity registered in England and Wales 313013 and in Scotland SC037808.

Marine Society and Sea Cadets is a charity registered in England and Wales 313013 and in Scotland SC037808.
Copyright © 2025 Marine Society College / All rights reserved.
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