Ocean Exploration Skills Accelerator terms and conditions

Terms and conditions for the academic year 2026–2027

1. Introduction

The Ocean Exploration Skills Accelerator ("the Award") is offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the °µÍø½âÃÜ (Institution code: P60). It is intended to support the development of specialist marine survey, ocean technology and related technical skills amongst selected new students enrolled on stage 1 of the University’s BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying (UCAS course code: F731). 
Ocean Exploration and Surveying has been identified for this Award as it links directly into °µÍø½âÃÜ's National Centre for Marine Autonomy and will support graduate skills development relevant to the marine autonomy, hydrographic survey, ocean mapping and applied ocean technology sectors, including activity associated with the University’s marine autonomy and ocean technology capabilities to support the University in meeting national and local objectives.
The Award is intended to support graduate skills development to promote growth in the region in the marine autonomy sector, including:
  • Hydrographic surveying;
  • Marine autonomy and uncrewed systems;
  • Seabed mapping;
  • Coastal and ocean observation;
  • Marine geospatial data analysis;
  • Ocean data and environmental intelligence;
  • Offshore survey operations; and
  • Professional engagement with the marine technology sector.
The Award is offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering to all home fee paying students enrolled on stage 1 of BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying, for academic year 2026-2027, subject to these Terms and Conditions. 
The Award is intended to provide financial support to eligible students during their studies to enable them to engage in programme-related and industry-facing skills-development activities, such as fieldwork, sector events, professional body engagement, software or data-skills development and placement- or project-related opportunities.
The Award is discretionary, subject to these Terms and Conditions, and does not form part of any contract for educational services between the University and an applicant or student. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions varies or amends the Student Contract between the University and Students. 
The University reserves the right to amend, suspend or withdraw the Award scheme where necessary due to matters outside of its control, including but not limited to where required by law, regulatory requirements or funding conditions.

2. Eligible courses

The Award is available only to new Stage 1 entrants commencing their studies on the BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying at the °µÍø½âÃÜ in September 2026 and who have enrolled on, or before, the final enrolment deadline of 3 October 2026. 
Students enrolled on other programmes, including BSc (Hons) Ocean Science and BSc (Hons) Ocean Science and Marine Conservation, are not eligible for the Award unless they elect to transfer into Stage 1 of BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying before the final enrolment deadline of 3 October 2026 and are specifically confirmed as eligible (refer to section 3) by the University in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
For the purposes of this Award, ‘new Stage 1 entrant’ includes students entering Stage 1 of BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying in September 2026, including eligible °µÍø½âÃÜ Foundation-year students who successfully progress and transfer into Stage 1 of BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying in September 2026. Students already enrolled on Stage 1 or above of BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying, students repeating a year of the Programme, and/or students transferring into BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying at Stage 2 or above are not eligible (including students who transfer directly into stage 2 or above via a progression or articulation arrangement).

3. Eligibility

To be eligible, students must:
  • Be enrolled on stage 1 of BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying commencing in September 2026 by the final enrolment deadline of 3 October 2026. 
  • Remain enrolled on BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying at the point when eligibility is verified (1 December 2026) and the Award payment is made before the end of the first semester (22 January 2027). 
  • Be a home fee paying student. International fee-paying students are not eligible for this award.
  • Not have previously received the Award. 

4. Award value and details

The Award value is £1,500.
The Award is a one-off first-year Award and is not renewable in later stages or years of study.
The Award is intended to support professional industrial skills development and student engagement opportunities connected with the programme.
The Award is a cash award and is not a tuition fee discount.
The Award may be used at the student's discretion. Examples of activities that the Award may help support include:
  • Fieldwork-related travel and subsistence;
  • Specialist equipment and PPE;
  • Attendance at sector events and conferences;
  • Professional body membership;
  • Industry networking activities;
  • Software and technical skills training;
  • Dissertation, internships or placement-related activities; and
  • Practical engagement with survey vessels, autonomous platforms, hydrographic equipment, geospatial data, ocean mapping, or marine technology.
Although not a condition of the Award, students may be asked to provide feedback via testimonials or videos on how the spend helped them.

5. Payment arrangements

Payment will be made after:
  • Confirmation that the student enrolled on the eligible programme prior to the final enrolment deadline of 3 October 2026 and remains enrolled at the relevant University eligibility checkpoint (being 1 December 2026);
  • Completion of the provision of any required bank details or administrative information requested by the University; and
  • Confirmation that the student has not transferred to a non-eligible programme before the eligibility checkpoint (1 December 2026).
Payment will be made:
  • By bank transfer;
  • In pounds sterling (GBP); 
  • To a UK bank account nominated by the recipient that is in the name of the recipient; and
  • After the 1 of December 2026 but before the 22 of January 2027.
Students must provide valid bank account details as requested by the University and such evidence as shall be reasonable requested by the University to verify their eligibility and banking details.
The University reserves the right to delay payment where:
  • Student academic enrolment status cannot be verified;
  • Student is not attending teaching sessions or engaging with the programme;
  • Required information has not been provided;
  • The student is subject to an active conduct, fitness to study, fraud or disciplinary investigation; or
  • There is reason to believe that eligibility criteria have not been met.
The Award is non-transferable, and no alternative or equivalent award or payment will be made. 

6. Withdrawal, Suspension of studies and programme changes

The Award is conditional upon enrolment on Stage 1 BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying at the relevant eligibility/payment checkpoint (1 December 2026).
The University reserves the right to withhold the payment the Award where:
  • The Award has been granted based on incorrect, incomplete or misleading information; or
  • There has been a material breach of these Terms and Conditions or the Student Contract.
Students retaking a year will not be eligible for a repeat Award.

7. Transfer between programmes

The University recognises that students within the Marine Science undergraduate scheme may be permitted to transfer between Marine Science courses
subject to the University’s Academic Regulations and standard procedures for internal programme transfers, including approval by the relevant programme teams, confirmation that the student meets any applicable entry or progression requirements, and confirmation that places are available on the receiving programme.
Arrangements regarding transfers are set out in section SRE2 (Student transfers) of the Academic Regulations.
The Award is made in relation to the Stage 1 BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying and is not made personally to the student irrespective of programme.
Students who transfer from BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying to another programme, including BSc (Hons) Ocean Science or BSc (Hons) Ocean Science and Marine Conservation, before the eligibility checkpoint of 1 December 2026 will not be eligible to receive the Award. 
Students who are initially holding an offer for, or enrolled on, another programme but subsequently transfer to Stage 1 BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying before the final enrolment deadline of 3 October 2026 will be eligible for the award.
Students who transfer to stage 1 BSc (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying after the final enrolment deadline but before the University eligibility/payment checkpoint (1 December 2026) may be considered for the Award, subject to:
  • The transfer being approved and fully recorded by 1 December 2026;
  • Meeting the published Award criteria;
  • Capacity on the programme;
  • The receiving programme to confirm that the timing of the transfer would not create academic disadvantage;
  • The transfer to be approved through the University’s standard internal programme-transfer process;
  • Funding remains available; and
  • The Award eligibility to be confirmed in writing.
Approval of the transfer itself should not automatically guarantee the Award.
***Whilst these terms and conditions lay out the potential eligibility of the Award, there is a financial limit on the number of Awards that can be made.
This limit takes into account and allows for an Award to be granted to every student who enrols on, or by, the 3 October 2026 but may not be sufficient to cover every student who transfers onto the Programme after the 3 October 2026 but before the 1 December 2026. There is therefore no guarantee that students who transfer after the 3 October 2026 will receive the Award, and where funds remain available for this group, they will be awarded on a time basis i.e. priority will be given to those who transferred first.

8. Deferrals

Applicants who defer their entry to 2027 onwards will not be entitled to the Award. This Award is for 2026-2027 Academic Year only.

9. Repeat study

Students repeating a year will not be eligible to receive a repeat Award.

10. Interaction with other scholarships, bursaries and discounts

Students are only entitled to be awarded one °µÍø½âÃÜ scholarship or tuition fee discount for the highest value in any given academic year. 
***Excluding the TOTUS scholarship which can be awarded in addition to the Ocean Exploration Skills Accelerator Award, if applicable.

11. Complaints

Students may make a complaint where they consider that the Award process has not been administered in accordance with the published Terms and Conditions.

12. Award publicity and testimonials

Award recipients may be invited to contribute to case studies, testimonials, photographs, videos or promotional activities relating to the Award and its impact.
Participation will be entirely voluntary and is not a condition of eligibility or payment.

13. Data Protection

The University will process personal data in accordance with UK data protection legislation and the University's Privacy Notice.