MSc/MA Professional Practice Maritime

Overview & facilities

The MSc/MA Professional Practice (Maritime) is a flexible postgraduate programme designed for seafarers and shore based maritime professionals who are looking to use their industry qualifications such as the Class 1 Certificate of Competence towards a masters degree. It has been developed especially to allow you to integrate your existing qualifications and professional experience with academic learning while you work.

Using Middlesex’s innovative work based approach to learning you can tailored your programme to fit around your current role, and study without having to come to campus. Unlike other distance learning course, you don’t even need access to the internet as materials can be supplied by CD and contact with tutors can be by phone as well as email. 

The Marine Society handles all of the administration on your behalf, leaving you free to complete your studies. Additionally, the Marine Society provides financial support for UK domiciled students.

Benefits:

• Use your existing qualifications towards a masters
• The course dovetails with your current role, reducing study time
• Its is possible to complete in as little as 8 months
• No internet access required

Award title

The title of your qualification, MSc or MA in Professional Practice  or  Work Based Learning Studies,  will  largely be determined by your choice of professional focus. This process, which includes negotiation with your academic advisor,  will form part of your  Professional Development module.   For example,  MSc in Work Based Learning Studies (Marine Accident Management)

Content & modules

 Recognition of prior experience and qualifications

Work based learning coursers are based on the principle that all learning which can be judged to be at higher education level can be quantified in terms of academic credit.  A masters degree requires 180 credits.

Middlesex University recognises the rigor of traditional maritime professional qualification, as well as the skills and knowledge you will have built up on the job. Therefore your HND or Class 1 CoC and the tasks and responsibilities of your current role will be assessed and acknowledge through the award of academic credits which will contribute to your final qualification.

Your  Class 1 Certificate of Competency may be worth up to 60 credits and a further 20 credits if a HND is held as part of your Class 1 CoC. This may amount to up to 80 credits towards the full 180 credits needed to gain the postgraduate degree.

Course content

The course is delivered through the following modules(assuming you hold a class one CoC):

Professional Development - 10 credits

Professional Development modules are designed to both introduce and develop the knowledge and skills required to engage in the work-based learning process. You will put together a professional development plan and learning agreement. This will define the focus of your studies including your proposed work-based projects. It will be agreed in negotiation with your employer and the University.

Practitioner Inquiry – 30 credits

This module enables you to learn about, and experiment with, methods of inquiry to inform your own work or professional practice. Module activities will enable you to gain inquiry-related skills including critical analysis, evaluation and appraisal. These skills help you to select, develop and apply appropriate methods of inquiry for your work-based projects.

This could include:

• Analysis of the context in which a project is being undertaken including your role and position as worker/researcher and the ethical implications that arise from this
• Devising and applying real-time work-based activity development processes
• Critical appraisal of research/professional literature, organizational or national policy, professional standards or directives
• Appropriate inquiry methodologies and approaches to data in relation to the specific contexts of your work/practice
• Engagement with professional practice networks to inform the development and application of inquiry methods

Negotiated Work Based Learning Projects – 60 credits

Negotiated Work Based Learning Project modules are designed to improve or inform areas of your own or others’ work or practice. For example, managing personnel, health and safety, safe cargo storage etc. The work undertaken can take a variety of forms relevant to your work. 

All modules are usually delivered over a 12 week teaching period starting in either January or September of each year. The course can be completed in a minimum of 8 months or up to 16 months and involves studying throughout two semesters or three trimesters.

Changing Circumstances

What happens if my circumstances alter and I need to change my programmed?
Each programmed includes a programmed planning module which allows you to negotiate the content, pace and target qualification of your programmed.  If your circumstances change you have the option of re-negotiating your programmed.

Entry & applying

To join this masters programmed you should normally have held a Class 1 Certificate of Competency for three years or hold an equivalent qualification in a related subject, and be working in the maritime sector.

If you have been working in a management role within the maritime sector for five or more years but don’t hold a Class 1 Certificate of Competency it may be possible to join the programmed by taking an additional Review of Learning module.

To discuss an aspect of the programmed or to make an application contact the Marine Society

Phone: 020 7654 7050
Email: Marine Society education

Fees & funding

January 2012

These fees assume that candidates hold a Class one CoC.

UK/EU

Fees with a Marine Society scholarship - £4000

Fees without a Marine Society scholarship - £4500

International

Marine Society scholarship not available- £6600

The fees for September 2012 will be published shortly.

Careers & placements

The MSc/MA  Professional Practice (Maritime) builds upon your existing qualifications, skills and knowledge.  The programmed has been designed to further your career within the maritime industry whether this is in a seafaring or shore based role.

It is likely to be of particular use to seafarers who are looking for a qualification that will allow them to transfer to shore based roles or into different industries.   As well as shore based professionals looking to further their careers.