Description

The Purser Program is going on tour!

We're excited to announce that from autumn 2025, our Residential Purser program will take place at luxury villas across the world. Find out more about this below.

Whether you’re looking to progress into the Purser role or you already occupy the position and would like to formalise your existing experience, our GUEST-accredited Purser Program is for you.

Our Purser Program was the first of its kind when we created it 15 years ago, and it continues to lead the industry with more than 1,000 graduates having passed through the courses. 

Whether you choose:

• The Purser Online - Sign on to one of our Online Purser dates. Study from wherever you are in the world. Join each lecture online via zoom. 
• The Purser Residential - Study in-person at luxury villas across the world. Here you will train, study, eat and live with fellow students and your trainer for a truly immersive experience.
• The Purser Residential (Live out)- Live locally? Join in-person for our 2 weeks of lectures . You will be able to stay in your own accommodation and travel to the villa each morning for training.
• The Purser Flexible - Study at your own pace. Once booked, you have 12 months to complete studies and can sign up to join any of our 2-week cohorts on the Online Purser program.

Whichever way you choose to study, the program has been designed to fit around your current work and life schedule.

The program provides an understanding of a vast range of practical skills that may be required of pursers in their role on board including yacht operations, destination management, VAT, accounting, crew management, HR and more.

 

The Details

The first sessions of our global Residential Purser course, will take place this October & November just outside of Palma on the island of Mallorca.

Sessions will also take place:

Mallorca, Spain:

• 20 October to 3 November 2025
• 10 to 24 November 2025

Training takes place on-site and there are all the facilities for your stay to be wonderfully comfortable with multiple living and working areas, plus a kitchen and dining room, private gardens, and a swimming pool. 

Accommodation is also provided throughout the 12-day stay along with healthy chef-prepared meals, for breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays.

Please note: we have a limited number of places available for students local to the area to attend the program in person in a non-residential format (no accommodation or evening meal provided).

Students who live locally to to any of the venues are able to attend the program with the option to be a residential (live out) student. 

For more information on our Residential (Live out) option, email info@yachtcrew.uk.

 

Whether you choose:The Purser Online - Sign on to one of our Online Purser dates. Study from wherever you are in the world. Join each lecture online via zoom. The Purser Residential - Study in-person at luxury villas across the world. Here you will train, study, eat and live with fellow students and your trainer for a truly immersive experience.The Purser Residential (Live out) - Live locally? Join in-person for our 2 weeks of lectures . You will be able to stay in your own accommodation and travel to the villa each morning for training. Whichever way you choose to study, the program has been designed to fit around your current work and life schedule.

 

Modules

The Purser course is broken down into eight modules over 2 weeks which cover the core GUEST / IAMI learning outcomes. 

Our program contains Units 18 - 21 GUEST Purser Program.  

1. The Role of the Purser

Administration, Port Bookings, Port Agents, Yacht and Crew File Management, Software Systems, Introduction to Checklists/Templates.

2. Destination Management

Research & Reconnaissance, Itinerary Planning, Event Planning, Safety & Security considerations, Guest logistics.

3. Maritime Organisations

MARPOL, STCW, MLC 2006, SOLAS: (ISPS & ISM), Crew: (POEA, Visas, Discharge Books), Medical.

4. Port Clearances

Certificates/Documentation, Immigration & Customs, Sanitation, Port State Control.

5. Charter & VAT

Types of Charter Contracts, Responsibilities of owner and client, APA Management, European VAT legislation.

6. Legal Framework

United Nations, IMO, ILO, Flag States, Port States.

7. Muster duties & Ops

Destinations (Culture, Safety, Provisions), Muster Duties, Guest Safety Inductions, Pre-Departure Checks, PWC Operations, Diving Operations.

8. Accounting & Budgeting

Terminology, Management/Owner Expectations, Bookkeeping & Payroll, Purchase Procedure Systems, CC, Cash, Float and Receipt Management.

 

Key Takeaways

You will leave the course with all the knowledge and tools to launch or progress your career as a Purser, as well as your IAMI GUEST Units 18-21.

After completing the course, you will officially be part of our Alumni community and will have free access to our Mental Health courses as well as discounts on other courses such as Management & Leadership for Crew.

If you would like to obtain your GUEST Purser Certificate of Competence, we recommend also taking our Advanced Leadership Program to fulfil the IAMI GUEST requirements for this certification.

 

Testimonials

"I would absolutely recommend the course to a friend! I have left with such a good foundation of knowledge and resources to make the transition into the purser role and that the learning environment was perfect. Being surrounded by other people in the yachting industry who are looking to go down the same path, all in different stages and positions also was really helpful."

- Lola, Residential Purser Graduate

 

"Being in residence was really fun and beneficial, we studied together, and had the chance to ask Julia questions outside of the live sessions. Dining with our lovely hosts, trainer, (and hounds), and sharing stories was also really lovely."

- Kate, Residential Purser Graduate 

 

"What are you waiting for! Sign up - This course is well worth it! BUT it does require 100% commitment - you can't just show up and wing it. I would strongly advise stews to put in the hours of work ahead of the start of the course."

- Geraldine, Residential Purser Graduate

Who is it for?

This program is aimed at existing or aspiring HODs.

Course Format

Monday to Friday - held over 2 weeks

• 6 hours of daily lectures Monday-Friday
• 3 hours of self-study per day through the VLE
• 10 day course
• 3 written assessments
• Maximum 10 students per course
• Online format allows students to join from any time-zone and location

 

 

Equipment needed

To participate in the Purser course, and successful complete your assignments, you will need the following equipment:

• Laptop
• Access to the desktop version of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.