Technology (Maritime Operations) MSc
Subject and course type
- Postgraduate
Have you successfully completed either the UK Royal Navy PWO or Royal Australian Navy PWO officer training courses and want to qualify for more senior positions in the Royal Navy (RN) or Royal Australian Navy (RAN)? You could enrol on the Technology (Maritime Operations) MSc with Kingston University.
You are reading:
Gain the knowledge and skills to apply for more senior positions in the RN or RAN
Kickstart your career in Maritime Operations
This course:
- is designed and developed for RN Warfare Officers
- is undertaken entirely in the workplace
- includes assignments based around your past and current work experience
- includes supervisor support from a tutor with long experience of working with the RN
- has no fixed dates for completing assignments, only a total time to undertake the course
Kingston University is a recognised provider for the UK military Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme and eligible candidates are welcome to partially fund their course in this way. This course is supported by the RN and the RAN. The RAN also provides financial support to some of their officers undertaking this award.
Why choose this course
The Technology (Maritime Operations) MSc was developed in partnership by the RN and Kingston University. The programme accredits the learning achieved during professional naval branch training.
This course is undertaken in the workplace, with assignments based around your past and current work. There are no fixed dates for completing assignments, only a total time to complete the course.
You will be supported by a supervisor who has extensive experience of working with the Royal Navy. Tutoring and advice may be provided face-to-face, via video conference, over the telephone or email exchange.
The majority of credits for your master’s degree will come from your prior completion of the principal warfare officer (PWO) course. You will gain the remaining credits through this MSc course by completing work-based assignments, an academic paper and a final reflective summary.
You will have full access to online library and literature database resources. Every effort will be made to accommodate your working patterns, where possible.
The application process is ongoing throughout the year, with four start points – August November, February and May – to provide flexibility. The course is targeted for completion within two years and must be completed within four years.
Course content
Of the 180 credits at the required level required for a masters degree, the majority of these credits will come from successful completion of the PWO course (and the training leading up to this course). 120 credits is the maximum that can be gained as recognised prior learning (RPL) from completing the above naval course, and this is achieved by almost all UK Royal Navy PWO officer applicants. However, the level of credit awarded can be influenced by a number of factors, notably on how recently the course has been completed, and the level of relevant experience gained by an individual since completion. A short written assignment may be required from applicants in support of their request for RPL to gain credits towards this course. Royal Australian Navy (RAN) principal warfare officers, in general, need to undertake this extra assignment.
The remaining credits required to complete the masters degree are gained through work-based assignments whilst registered for this MSc at Kingston University. Such study is fully work based and attendance at the University is not required, except for a final presentation and oral examination (viva). In some cases the viva may be permitted by video link, for example, the vivas of RAN officers, but these are exceptions. Gaining the remaining credits requires the candidate to write an academic paper and a final reflective summary, and to undertake a presentation and oral examination (this will include critical reflection on their naval career to date). If the full 120 credits for prior learning are not awarded, the balance is made up by the completion of additional work-based assignments, agreed between the candidate and the University.
Full access to online library and literature database resources is available to all students remotely. University supervisors, with experience of working with the Royal Navy, provide support by tutoring and advising you throughout your programme. This may be provided face to face, via Skype or FaceTime, over the telephone or via email exchanges. Every effort is made to accommodate your working patterns, where possible.
Course structure
There are three stages to this programme:
- Stage one: assessment of prior learning
- Stage two: an academic paper on a topic related to maritime operations
- Stage three: a reflective summary, presentation and oral examination (viva voce)
For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments.
Career opportunities
This course can help to prepare you for more senior positions in the RN or RAN and for civilian posts when retiring from the RN or RAN.
This course is supported by both the RN and RAN. This award has now been in place for more than 15 years and has been supported throughout that time by the RN.
Teaching and assessment
This course is fully work-based, with no campus based contact with the students. There are no typical modes of teaching on this course, such as lectures, seminars or workshops. Teaching is done by Skype sessions and feedback is provided through email.
When not attending timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
You will be part of an intimate cohort of students which provides dedicated academic guidance and advice as well as the opportunity to build a life-long network of colleagues. Some modules are common across other postgraduate programmes therefore you may be taught alongside students who are on these courses within the School.
How this course is delivered
A masters degree by learning agreement recognises the learning involved in completing work-based projects and awards learning that takes place at work. This allows you to be credited for what you are already learning and the contribution you are making to your organisation's success.
Each learning goal will have allocated point scores associated with it. Successful completion of each learning goal will result in these points being awarded to you. A master’s degree will be awarded when 180 points are accumulated. Of the 180 credits at the required level required for a master's degree, the majority of these credits (usually 120) will come from successful completion of the PWO course (and the training leading up to this course).
This points-based method of evaluating the value of student work is standard across the academic sector, and so provides a clear indication that work-based learning meets the criteria of a national standard.
Experience has shown that a large proportion of learning undertaken by working professionals holding a PWO qualification is at masters level. The majority of a Technology (Maritime Operations) MSc programme can therefore be constructed from a set of goals linked to the work activities of officers enrolling on the course. This means each officer can have their own unique programme content.
Fees and funding
| Fee Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | MSc part time distance learning £4,200 |
| International | MSc part time distance learning £6,425 |
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Technology (Maritime Operations) MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
The Inspire the Future Scholarship offers a 40% reduction in fees for taught masters or postgraduate diploma courses with September start dates. 20 scholarships are available for progressing Kingston University graduates.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Inspire the Future Scholarship page.
International postgraduate students could receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in their first year of study.
For more information on how to apply for these scholarships, visit the International Scholarship page.
If you are a Kingston University 2024/25 undergraduate progressing to a 2025/26 postgraduate degree (taught or research), you could get a 15% reduction in tuition fees.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Postgraduate Progression Scholarship page.
Kingston University offers a 10% discount on full and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees to our alumni.
For more information on how to apply for this discount, visit our alumni discount page.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
How to apply
Before you apply
Before you submit your application, please read through our entry criteria carefully to ensure you meet our requirements. All communications after your application should include your full name and your Kingston University ID number, which can be found in your offer letter.
Request an application pack
Please contact secpgstudentoffice@kingston.ac.uk to request an application pack for this course, marked for the attention of the postgraduate work-based learning course administrator. You will receive your pack via email and also have a contact for any questions.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
How to apply online
We will require the following pieces of information to allow us to confirm your place on the course. These can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application:
- Evidence of successful completion of your PWO officer training qualification, if not already submitted with your application.
- Two references, at least one of which should be from a professional who can comment on your suitability for the course you have applied for.
These can be scanned and attached to the online application. Alternatively, you can email your referees' details to secpgstudentoffice@kingston.ac.uk and we will send them a reference form to complete and return.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
