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Careers / Joining options
Funding and scholarships
Careers / Joining options

Funding and scholarships

Want to be a leader in your field? Choose a Royal Navy scholarship or supported degree scheme and you’ll get to work at the leading-edge of your profession as soon as you’re qualified.

Life as a student is more expensive than ever, with tuition fees rising and the cost of living increasing. However, the Royal Navy can assist financially at the important stages of education from A-level to degree. There are a range of funding options available through the Royal Navy that mean you can get paid to study and have a full-time job waiting at the end.

We offer the chance to get financial support while you study because we want officers from diverse backgrounds, and for our potential leaders to have the opportunity to gain the right qualifications.

It’s also important to us that those joining through a degree-level scholarship schemes have the necessary Royal Navy knowledge before they start their career. That’s why we provide evening, weekend and Summer Naval training courses that run alongside academic studies. This extra-curricular activity is designed to challenge you and to be fun while preparing you for your Naval career in a non-academic way.

Please note that funding and scholarships are not available for entry as a Royal Marines Commando Officer.

Our schemes

Engineers working on a wildcat.

A-Level scholarships

About to sit your GCSEs? Hungry to become a Royal Navy Engineer Officer? You can apply for financial support towards achieving the further qualifications you need.
A-level scholarships
Engineers at work

University Cadetship Entry (UCE)

Streamline your route to a world-class engineering career. Apply for UCE, our dedicated scheme for high achievers.
University cadetship entry
Defense STEM Undergraduate Scheme

Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (DSUS)

Planning to attend university before starting life as an engineer? You can apply for the Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (DSUS) with the Royal Navy. 

Defence STEM undergraduate scheme
Ships company of HMS Albion in the Ops Room as they run through an air defence exercise (ADEX) with the French maritime forces.

In-Service Degree

Finished sixth form or college? Got your sights on a Royal Navy Officer career? You can get a fully funded foundation degree at the same time as earning a salary.
In-service degrees
Medical specialists onboard include dental, biomedical scientists, radiographers, surgeons, nursing staff and the RM Band service.

Medical and Dental Cadetship

Studying a science-based subject at A-Level? You could get your medical or dental school fees paid, as well as a salary, for the final three years of your degree.
Medical & dental cadetship
Royal navy medical personnel. Casualties received from HMS Albion including mass casualty scenario to test the capability to its limit.

Student Medical Technicians and Nurses

An incredible opportunity for fully paid sponsorship through university. We’re looking for nurses, mental health workers, operating department practitioners, biomedical scientists and radiographers.
Medical technicians and nurses
Three Royal Navy personnel working. University Royal Naval Unit (URNU's) onboard HMS Archer for sea training.

University Royal Naval Units (URNU)

Offering you the chance to gain transferable skills, from public speaking to organisation. You’ll be exposed to excellent leadership and management opportunities.
University Royal Naval Units

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