Find your course

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Royal Navy | Serve & learn


If you’re looking to enhance your Navy career or planning for the future then our flexible online courses could help you achieve your goals.

We offer a range of courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate level across a variety of subject areas.

Building on your previous learning from your Navy service, we’ve identified some advanced entry routes if you’ve achieved certain ranks and experience. We’re also an approved provider for the Ministry of Defence Learning Credit Scheme (ELCAS) so you can use your ELCAS credits to help fund your studies.


Education for career development

We appreciate that working in the Royal Navy is more than just a job and that’s why our flexible online degrees are designed to be studied around the demands of Navy life. Changes in location and non-standard working hours are no barrier for distance learning and actually empower you to fit your studies around your other commitments.

Flexible online study

Study from anywhere at any time with ARU’s world class online Learning Management System, Canvas. Canvas provides everything you need to successfully complete your studies online providing you have a reliable internet connection. You’ll be able to access your course materials, submit assignments, receive tutor support, engage with other students and have a wealth of relevant resources at your fingertips. You’ll also be able to apply what you’re learning directly to your work place and use you’re on the job experience to help support your studies.

We have a dedicated team to get you set up and ensure a smooth start to your studies as well as continued support to graduation and beyond.


Armed Forces Covenant GOLD Award Logo

Designed for you

At ARU we acknowledge the training and qualifications you achieve during your Navy service as well as the skills and experience you acquire. Where possible we apply this to the course you apply for to see if you are eligible for what we call Accredited Prior Learning (APL). In some cases APL can help you meet the entry requirements for the degree and depending on the level of APL you can also reduce the cost and time of studying with us.

ARU is an approved provider for the Ministry of Defence Learning Credit Scheme (ELCAS) so you can use your ELCAS credits to help finance your studies. ELCAS credits can be used towards the course fees for our wide range of qualifications.


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Advanced entry

We’ve identified some specialist pathways for service personal who have achieved certain ranks and experience during Navy service. We’d be happy to talk through your qualifications and see if your prior learning and training can benefit you. Please contact us for more information.

Royal Navy Personal on HMS Albion

Royal Navy Medical Services

Our relationship with The Institute of Navel Medicine has allowed us to provide higher education courses specifically for Royal Navy or Royal Marine Medical Assistants and Officers. We offer a range of Health and Social Care Management and Leadership courses and if you have completed relevant training such as LRLC, SRLC, SRPQC or INT(O) then you can expect to benefit from Accredited Prior Learning and be exempt from certain modules on our courses.

Royal Navy ICSC (M)

If you’re a Warrant Officer then we recognised that your training and operational experience at WO level meets the general entry requirements of our internationally recognised Master of Business Administration (MBA).

If you have successfully completed the Navy’s ICSC (M) or ICSC (L), or equivalent, then you can expect to benefit from some credit exemption from our MBA degree. This means you can reduce the amount of time it takes to study the MBA and the tuition fees.

Benefits for Navy personnel

  • Serve and learn
  • Get recognised for the work that you do and earn credit exemptions towards university qualifications (where relevant)
  • Enhance your career and personal development
  • Flexible online study puts you in control – study when it suits you
  • Access our full range of university resources, high quality teaching and support.
  • Use ELCAS credits to help fund your qualification

Our online degrees in detail

As well as the courses detailed below, you can also use you ELCAS funding for our complete range of online undergraduate and postgraduate courses.


Management & Leadership in Health & Social Care BSc (Hons) Top-up (Armed Forces)

You'll gain a full honours degree if you’ve already completed our foundation course or have an equivalent qualification. The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredited top-up expands on your prior learning, enhances personal and professional development and provides the tools you need to achieve your career potential.


Healthcare Management MSc (Armed Forces)

This Master’s course is a good fit if you’re a leader or manager in a health or social care setting and want to polish the relevant skills for progression. You’ll explore the key factors which influence managing and leading individuals and organisations.


MBA (Armed Forces)

With a strong entrepreneurial and innovative focus, our online MBA uses our unique expertise to ensure you’ll be well prepared for your future in a management role. Ideal if you planning for a leadership role, enhancing an existing role or developing your own business or team. 


Get in touch

If you’d like to talk to our experienced team about our Armed Forces degrees, ARU or any aspect of studying via distance learning then please do not hesitate to contact us.