HMS Ranger

The URNU operates from a shore headquarters on the Falmer campus of the University of Sussex. The Officer-in-Charge is a full time Royal Navy Officer, who is also Commanding Officer of HMS Ranger, and is assisted by the Unit Coxswain (a Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer), a part time civilian secretary and by four Training Officers who are all Royal Naval Reserve Officers.

Sussex URNU holds a weekly "drill" evening (on a Thursday) at the shore headquarters, spends weekends at sea and longer deployments away during the vacations when the students undergo training and receiving instruction whilst undertaking practical exercises in leadership, navigation, seamanship, maritime operations, meteorology and communications.

Opportunities also exist to gain Royal Yachting Association theory and practical seamanship qualifications (up to the RYA Powerboat Yachtmaster), and a City and Guilds award in Leadership.

Other lectures aim to develop understanding of the UK's national requirement for naval forces and the role of such forces in sustaining the national interest and in worldwide peacekeeping.