Distance Learning

MCA Certificate Courses

Marine Engineering
Faculty of Nautical Studies

August 2015 - July 2016

Distance Learning - MCA Certificate Courses 1
 DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES AVAILABLE:
• Chief Engineer MCA Certificate of Competency- III/3
• Second Engineer MCA Certificate of Competency-III/2
• Second Engineer <3000 kW MCA Certificate of Competency -III/1 (Also known
as Class 3, Class 1 Fishing Engineer, Yacht Chief Engineer)

CHIEF ENGINEER MCA CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY

Subjects available:
• Applied Heat
• Applied Mechanics
• Electrotechnology
• Naval Architecture
Full syllabus is available on the MCA website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/
file/340674/Chief_Engineer_STCW_Reg.pdf
DISTANCE LEARNING PROVISION
General
Our distance learning courses are devised to satisfy demand from potential SECOND ENGINEER MCA CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY
students of the college, who for whatever reasons are unable to attend full-time, Subjects available:
college based courses.
• Mathematics
Benefits of Distance Learning; • Applied Mechanics
• Fit your learning around your work and home life • Applied Heat
• Progress at your own pace • Drawing
• It costs less than traditional learning - no travel or accommodation costs • Naval Architecture
• Electrotechnology
Although distance learning students will not have the advantage of the social • Engineering Knowledge – General
interaction with the lecturer and other students in a classroom environment, you • Engineering Knowledge – Motor
will have access to lecturers via email, telephone and skype, and there will be
online discussion forums where you can ‘chat’ to other students. In addition a • Engineering Knowledge – Steam
one-to-one discussion is arranged with your assigned lecturer prior to sitting your Full syllabus is available on the MCA website:
exams. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/
Students can study any number of subjects simultaneously, however you should wfile/325913/Second_Engineer_STCW_Reg.pdf
take into consideration other work and family commitments.

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SECOND ENGINEER < 3000 KW MCA CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY
Subjects available:
• General Engineering Science I (Maths & Mechanics)
• General Engineering Science II (Heat & Electrotechnology)
• Engineering Knowledge I
• Engineering Knowledge II
Full syllabus is available on the MCA website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/
file/386903/General_Science_I___II.PDF
SENIOR MARINE EXAMINATIONS
Successful completion of the distance learning material will allow candidates to
sit the SQA/MCA written exam for the corresponding subject area. Four diets take
place each year in March/April, July, October and December.
Further information on the MCA/SQA Examinations can be found on our website:
https://www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk/mca/sqa-engineering-examinations
Please note that the engineering knowledge exams for Motor (or Steam) and
General Engineering Knowledge, are treated as one exam by the MCA. Both must
be taken, and passed, at the same time. You will require a Notice of Eligibility to sit
any of the Engineering Knowledge exams.

Each candidate will receive a login to MyCity, the college Virtual Learning
Environment (VLE), allowing access to course handouts, assessments and CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY
discussion forums. Dedicated lecturer support will be available via skype lectures, If this is your first attempt to obtain a United Kingdom Certificate of Competency
email and telephone. you must obtain a ‘Letter of Initial Assessment (LIA)’ from the Maritime and
Each subject requires the submission of an assignment via MyCity. This Coastguard Agency. This will inform you of the certificate level, which the MCA will
assignment will be reviewed and feedback provided. allow you to sit, based on your previous education, training and qualifications held.
For candidates living in the vicinity of the college a student card will be provided, LIA information’s is available here:
allowing access to college facilities such as the library. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-lia-or-college-letter-to-train-as-an-
engineer-officer
The address to which you must send your qualifications etc to is:
COURSE FEES SESSION 2015 – 2016
The cost per subject is £460.00. This allows access to the full distance learning SEAFARER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION BRANCH,
service for that subject for a period of 1 year. MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY
SPRING PLACE, 105 COMMERCIAL ROAD
COURSE COMPLETION CERTIFICATE SOUTHAMPTON, SO15 1EG
Before you can sit an MCA exam, you must hold a course completion certificate
for that subject. To comply with the provision of STCW10 students must pass at More information can be found at the MCA website at https://www.gov.uk/
least 70% of the Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) within each unit. A Course government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency
Completion Certificate will be issued for each subject as part of the course fee. Contact MCA if you have any queries:
Tel: +44 (0) 23 8032 9231
Email: engineering@mcga.gov.uk
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4 Distance Learning - MCA Certificate Courses Distance Learning - MCA Certificate Courses 5
 “ I found the lecturers to be helpful when I became
stuck with particular problems and the administration staff
really exceeded my expectations through their obvious
APPLICATION PROCESS
passion and commitment to helping students and ensuring To apply for any of our distance learning programmes please complete the

“
everything goes smoothly for them. I was so satisfied that I Application Form, indicating the subjects you require, and return it to
enrolled again to study towards my Chiefs CoC. marine@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk

JEREMY VICKERS
CONTACT US:
If you have any questions regarding the distance learning programmes please do
not hesitate to contact us. Our preferred method of contact is by email, and we
will attempt to answer all email enquiries within two working days, or sooner if
possible.

Tel: +44 (0)141 375 5240

Email: marine@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk

Address: Distance Learning-Marine Engineering, City Enterprises,

City of Glasgow College, Riverside Campus, 21 Thistle Street, Glasgow G5 9XB

Distance Learning Manager - MR DHRUVA KUMAR

OTHER FEES
• Courier Fees £30 per package. Please note that ALL visa correspondence will be
sent by courier. This must be paid for before the correspondence is dispatched.

• Duplicate Course Completion Certificates, if required, are charged at £25 per

certificate.

• The SQA charge an exam fee for each exam on behalf of the MCA, this will vary
from £85 to £280 for each exam depending on the subject. Please check with the
college for the up-to-date prices.

• Transfer/refund fees will apply if you change your mind after applying for an
exam.

• Late enrolment fee £25/subject (Though the college may close the applications
three weeks before the exam to allow for rooms to be set up and invigilators to be
organised).

For further details, please visit our website at:

https://www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk/mca/sqa-engineering-examinations

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 JOURNEY OF DL STUDENTS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are there any qualifications needed before I can take a distance learning
subject?
Eligibility Check
No. You can take these subjects any time and for any reason. You can go straight
to the class 1 without covering the class 2 (except for EKs) though that would not
be advisable unless you have a good foundation knowledge of the subject.
Payment & Enrolment
Can I study more than one subject at a time?

Yes. You can take as many subjects as you feel able to work on. It would not be
advisable to do more than two subjects at a time otherwise it may become a bit
DLP Enquiry too much.

Can CoGC tell me which subjects I need to study?

No. Only the MCA can tell you which subjects you need to obtain in order to get
Welcome to DL
your Certificate of Competency.
Learning Platform:
MyCity, Ebook, Library Can CoGC confirm my exemptions?
Course Material No. Only the MCA can confirm if you have any exemptions for previous
qualifications.

What help will I get from the Lecturer?

Dedicated Lecturers
There are nominated lecturers for each subject. You can contact them if you need
support, Skype Lectures, any help. Skype chat can also be provided if the nominated lecturer is available.
Full academic support
How long does it take to study one subject?

The average time taken is around 1 month while a student is on leave. If you are
working it may take 2 or 3 months to complete a subject.
Course Completion,
Issuance of Certificates, Is there a minimum amount of time I need to take for a subject?
SQA Exam Bookings No. If you are capable of completing it within a few days that will be fine.
& Exams
Can CoGC provide a Visa support letter to help me get to the UK?

Yes. Though there are some restrictions. A visa support letter cannot be given for
the study time (it is Distance Learning, which can be done from your home). We
Issuance of Visa can however give visa support letters for the exam time. This will be a student
letter if required visitor visa and will be for a period of 6 months starting two weeks before the
exams. Please note that these visas cannot be extended or modified once
issued. Also note that CoGC will only send visa correspondence by courier and
this carries a fee of £30 per package.
Assignment Submission
& Feedback

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 Can CoGC provide a Visa support letter for accompanying family? How do I enrol for the exams?

Yes. Just let us know the details of the family members and we can add them
into the support letter.
How long do I have to study a subject?
You will have at least one year from the time of registration to return your
assignments. If you take longer than this, you may be asked to re-register and
this may incur an additional charge.
Can I study at the college and do distance learning at the same time?
Yes. You can be studying either at CoGC or any other College and take the
distance learning at the same time.
Is there any web based study material?
Yes. All of our course material is available on MyCity, the college Virtual Learning
Environment. In exceptional circumstances paper copies can be issued by
courier for an additional fee.
Where does CoGC send the Completion Certificate?
On the application form there is a space for your “Correspondence Address”
this is where we will send any correspondence, including the course completion
certificate. It is very important to keep us informed should this change at any
time.
Having successfully completed your assignments, you will be issued with a
Course Completion Certificate which will allow you to apply for the exams. The
exam application form, along with a payment form and a timetable for the exam
week, will be enclosed with your certificate.
Please do not send an application form for the exams until your course
completion certificate has been issued.
What happens if I need to cancel or postpone my exams?
You need to contact City Enterprises at least 5 working days prior to the exam.
You can transfer to an alternative date (within 10 months), however a transfer fee
will apply.
Are there any assignments for the units?
There are Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA) for each unit. You must submit a
TMA before you complete the course. You will be given the feedback on your
submission. If you pass in more than 70%, you will receive the course completion
certificate.
How do I submit a TMA ?
All TMA’s should be submitted online through MyCity.

How do I enrol?

Complete the application form and send it with your payment to City Enterprises
at marine@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk

Who do I call if I have problems with my studies?

You can send specific questions to the nominated lecturer of your subject, or
you can send your questions to the Distance Learning Manager or the admin
team who will pass them on to a specialist lecturer and get an answer for you as
quickly as possible.

What happens if I need to cancel my application?

Refunds are not normally given for distance learning, though we may be able to
hold your application when requested to do so in writing.

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www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk Scottish Charity Number SC036198