12 monthsProgramme duration
18 Aug, 2027Application Deadline
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
Engineering - General
Degree
MSc
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
On Campus
Course summary
What makes a ship efficient, stable and safe at sea? How do you predict the forces acting on a vessel before it’s built? And how can smarter design reduce environmental impact without compromising performance?
If you want to understand how marine craft and structures are designed, analysed and improved, MSc Maritime Engineering Science: Naval Architecture is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll combine the core principles of maritime engineering with specialist knowledge in naval architecture. Explore resistance and propulsion, maritime structures, manoeuvring, hydrodynamics and materials, building an understanding of how these areas come together in vessel design and performance.
You’ll investigate the interaction between ships and the marine environment, from the forces created by waves and fluid flow to the structural demands placed on vessels throughout their working lives. You’ll also consider how better propulsion and hydrodynamic performance can improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
This is engineering you’ll put into practice. Through lectures, tutorials, coursework and individual and group projects, you’ll apply theory to challenging maritime problems and develop the analytical judgement expected of professional engineers.
You don’t need specialist knowledge of maritime engineering before you start. If your background is in engineering, science or mathematics, the Fundamentals of Maritime Engineering module will give you the grounding needed to progress into more advanced naval architecture.
Your studies culminate in an original experimental or numerical research project, giving you the opportunity to investigate a maritime engineering question in depth with one-to-one academic supervision.
Find your place where engineering meets the ocean, and develop the specialist knowledge to design and analyse the marine craft and structures of the future.
Key features of this course
**Understand how ships perform in the water.** Explore marine hydrodynamics, resistance and propulsion, building the knowledge to analyse how vessel form and fluid behaviour affect performance and efficiency.
**Design for demanding environments.** Investigate maritime structures and the effects of fluid-structure interaction, developing insight into how vessels respond to the forces they experience at sea.
**Explore how vessels move and respond.** Develop your understanding of manoeuvring and control and consider the hydrodynamic principles behind the movement of marine vehicles.
**Work with specialist maritime facilities.** Study within Southampton’s maritime engineering environment, with access to facilities including the UK’s largest university towing tank for testing ship design and performance.
**Shape your specialist direction.** Choose optional study in areas including computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, maritime robotics, offshore engineering, renewable energy, design optimisation and high-performance craft.
**Take on your own research challenge.** Complete an independent experimental or numerical project, developing your research skills and specialist knowledge before communicating your findings through a dissertation.
Your future career
Naval architecture needs engineers who can see the whole vessel – understanding how hydrodynamics, structures, materials and propulsion interact rather than treating them as separate problems.
You’ll graduate with specialist naval architecture knowledge alongside skills in engineering analysis, research, problem-solving and technical communication.
The programme is designed to prepare you for a career as a naval architect or for wider professional opportunities across the maritime sector.
You’ll also develop experience of approaching engineering problems within their wider technical, environmental and safety context, helping you make informed decisions as maritime technologies and expectations evolve.
If you want to continue into research, the MSc also provides a foundation for PhD study.
Whether you move into vessel design, analysis, marine engineering or further research, you’ll leave Southampton better equipped to understand how ships work, question how they could work better and contribute to what gets designed next.
Student support
You’ll learn through lectures, classes and tutorials, coursework, independent learning and individual and group projects.
You’ll be assigned a personal academic tutor during your studies and will also have access to a senior tutor.
During your research project, you’ll have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor to discuss your progress and develop your work.
Further information
This is a 1-year, full-time MSc based at Boldrewood Campus.
The first 8 months focus on taught core and optional modules. During the final 4 months, you’ll work independently on your research project and dissertation.
Core study includes Fundamentals of Maritime Engineering, Marine Hydrodynamics, Marine Structures in Fluids, Maritime Safety: Risk, Environment and Law, Professional Development for Maritime Engineers, Zero Carbon Ship Resistance and Propulsion, and the MSc Research Project.
The programme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) as meeting the academic requirement for Further Learning towards Chartered Engineer and Chartered Marine Engineer registration.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree in a relevant subject including marine or maritime engineering, naval architecture, ship science, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, general engineering, electrical engineering, physics or mathematics. You’ll also need appropriate study in mathematics and mechanics.
What makes a ship efficient, stable and safe at sea? How do you predict the forces acting on a vessel before it’s built? And how can smarter design reduce environmental impact without compromising performance?
If you want to understand how marine craft and structures are designed, analysed and improved, MSc Maritime Engineering Science: Naval Architecture is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll combine the core principles of maritime engineering with specialist knowledge in naval architecture. Explore resistance and propulsion, maritime structures, manoeuvring, hydrodynamics and materials, building an understanding of how these areas come together in vessel design and performance.
You’ll investigate the interaction between ships and the marine environment, from the forces created by waves and fluid flow to the structural demands placed on vessels throughout their working lives. You’ll also consider how better propulsion and hydrodynamic performance can improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
This is engineering you’ll put into practice. Through lectures, tutorials, coursework and individual and group projects, you’ll apply theory to challenging maritime problems and develop the analytical judgement expected of professional engineers.
You don’t need specialist knowledge of maritime engineering before you start. If your background is in engineering, science or mathematics, the Fundamentals of Maritime Engineering module will give you the grounding needed to progress into more advanced naval architecture.
Your studies culminate in an original experimental or numerical research project, giving you the opportunity to investigate a maritime engineering question in depth with one-to-one academic supervision.
Find your place where engineering meets the ocean, and develop the specialist knowledge to design and analyse the marine craft and structures of the future.
Key features of this course
**Understand how ships perform in the water.** Explore marine hydrodynamics, resistance and propulsion, building the knowledge to analyse how vessel form and fluid behaviour affect performance and efficiency.
**Design for demanding environments.** Investigate maritime structures and the effects of fluid-structure interaction, developing insight into how vessels respond to the forces they experience at sea.
**Explore how vessels move and respond.** Develop your understanding of manoeuvring and control and consider the hydrodynamic principles behind the movement of marine vehicles.
**Work with specialist maritime facilities.** Study within Southampton’s maritime engineering environment, with access to facilities including the UK’s largest university towing tank for testing ship design and performance.
**Shape your specialist direction.** Choose optional study in areas including computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, maritime robotics, offshore engineering, renewable energy, design optimisation and high-performance craft.
**Take on your own research challenge.** Complete an independent experimental or numerical project, developing your research skills and specialist knowledge before communicating your findings through a dissertation.
Your future career
Naval architecture needs engineers who can see the whole vessel – understanding how hydrodynamics, structures, materials and propulsion interact rather than treating them as separate problems.
You’ll graduate with specialist naval architecture knowledge alongside skills in engineering analysis, research, problem-solving and technical communication.
The programme is designed to prepare you for a career as a naval architect or for wider professional opportunities across the maritime sector.
You’ll also develop experience of approaching engineering problems within their wider technical, environmental and safety context, helping you make informed decisions as maritime technologies and expectations evolve.
If you want to continue into research, the MSc also provides a foundation for PhD study.
Whether you move into vessel design, analysis, marine engineering or further research, you’ll leave Southampton better equipped to understand how ships work, question how they could work better and contribute to what gets designed next.
Student support
You’ll learn through lectures, classes and tutorials, coursework, independent learning and individual and group projects.
You’ll be assigned a personal academic tutor during your studies and will also have access to a senior tutor.
During your research project, you’ll have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor to discuss your progress and develop your work.
Further information
This is a 1-year, full-time MSc based at Boldrewood Campus.
The first 8 months focus on taught core and optional modules. During the final 4 months, you’ll work independently on your research project and dissertation.
Core study includes Fundamentals of Maritime Engineering, Marine Hydrodynamics, Marine Structures in Fluids, Maritime Safety: Risk, Environment and Law, Professional Development for Maritime Engineers, Zero Carbon Ship Resistance and Propulsion, and the MSc Research Project.
The programme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) as meeting the academic requirement for Further Learning towards Chartered Engineer and Chartered Marine Engineer registration.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree in a relevant subject including marine or maritime engineering, naval architecture, ship science, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, general engineering, electrical engineering, physics or mathematics. You’ll also need appropriate study in mathematics and mechanics.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Engineering - General
Degree
MSc
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
On Campus
Course summary
What makes a ship efficient, stable and safe at sea? How do you predict the forces acting on a vessel before it’s built? And how can smarter design reduce environmental impact without compromising performance?
If you want to understand how marine craft and structures are designed, analysed and improved, MSc Maritime Engineering Science: Naval Architecture is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll combine the core principles of maritime engineering with specialist knowledge in naval architecture. Explore resistance and propulsion, maritime structures, manoeuvring, hydrodynamics and materials, building an understanding of how these areas come together in vessel design and performance.
You’ll investigate the interaction between ships and the marine environment, from the forces created by waves and fluid flow to the structural demands placed on vessels throughout their working lives. You’ll also consider how better propulsion and hydrodynamic performance can improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
This is engineering you’ll put into practice. Through lectures, tutorials, coursework and individual and group projects, you’ll apply theory to challenging maritime problems and develop the analytical judgement expected of professional engineers.
You don’t need specialist knowledge of maritime engineering before you start. If your background is in engineering, science or mathematics, the Fundamentals of Maritime Engineering module will give you the grounding needed to progress into more advanced naval architecture.
Your studies culminate in an original experimental or numerical research project, giving you the opportunity to investigate a maritime engineering question in depth with one-to-one academic supervision.
Find your place where engineering meets the ocean, and develop the specialist knowledge to design and analyse the marine craft and structures of the future.
Key features of this course
**Understand how ships perform in the water.** Explore marine hydrodynamics, resistance and propulsion, building the knowledge to analyse how vessel form and fluid behaviour affect performance and efficiency.
**Design for demanding environments.** Investigate maritime structures and the effects of fluid-structure interaction, developing insight into how vessels respond to the forces they experience at sea.
**Explore how vessels move and respond.** Develop your understanding of manoeuvring and control and consider the hydrodynamic principles behind the movement of marine vehicles.
**Work with specialist maritime facilities.** Study within Southampton’s maritime engineering environment, with access to facilities including the UK’s largest university towing tank for testing ship design and performance.
**Shape your specialist direction.** Choose optional study in areas including computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, maritime robotics, offshore engineering, renewable energy, design optimisation and high-performance craft.
**Take on your own research challenge.** Complete an independent experimental or numerical project, developing your research skills and specialist knowledge before communicating your findings through a dissertation.
Your future career
Naval architecture needs engineers who can see the whole vessel – understanding how hydrodynamics, structures, materials and propulsion interact rather than treating them as separate problems.
You’ll graduate with specialist naval architecture knowledge alongside skills in engineering analysis, research, problem-solving and technical communication.
The programme is designed to prepare you for a career as a naval architect or for wider professional opportunities across the maritime sector.
You’ll also develop experience of approaching engineering problems within their wider technical, environmental and safety context, helping you make informed decisions as maritime technologies and expectations evolve.
If you want to continue into research, the MSc also provides a foundation for PhD study.
Whether you move into vessel design, analysis, marine engineering or further research, you’ll leave Southampton better equipped to understand how ships work, question how they could work better and contribute to what gets designed next.
Student support
You’ll learn through lectures, classes and tutorials, coursework, independent learning and individual and group projects.
You’ll be assigned a personal academic tutor during your studies and will also have access to a senior tutor.
During your research project, you’ll have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor to discuss your progress and develop your work.
Further information
This is a 1-year, full-time MSc based at Boldrewood Campus.
The first 8 months focus on taught core and optional modules. During the final 4 months, you’ll work independently on your research project and dissertation.
Core study includes Fundamentals of Maritime Engineering, Marine Hydrodynamics, Marine Structures in Fluids, Maritime Safety: Risk, Environment and Law, Professional Development for Maritime Engineers, Zero Carbon Ship Resistance and Propulsion, and the MSc Research Project.
The programme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) as meeting the academic requirement for Further Learning towards Chartered Engineer and Chartered Marine Engineer registration.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree in a relevant subject including marine or maritime engineering, naval architecture, ship science, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, general engineering, electrical engineering, physics or mathematics. You’ll also need appropriate study in mathematics and mechanics.
What makes a ship efficient, stable and safe at sea? How do you predict the forces acting on a vessel before it’s built? And how can smarter design reduce environmental impact without compromising performance?
If you want to understand how marine craft and structures are designed, analysed and improved, MSc Maritime Engineering Science: Naval Architecture is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll combine the core principles of maritime engineering with specialist knowledge in naval architecture. Explore resistance and propulsion, maritime structures, manoeuvring, hydrodynamics and materials, building an understanding of how these areas come together in vessel design and performance.
You’ll investigate the interaction between ships and the marine environment, from the forces created by waves and fluid flow to the structural demands placed on vessels throughout their working lives. You’ll also consider how better propulsion and hydrodynamic performance can improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
This is engineering you’ll put into practice. Through lectures, tutorials, coursework and individual and group projects, you’ll apply theory to challenging maritime problems and develop the analytical judgement expected of professional engineers.
You don’t need specialist knowledge of maritime engineering before you start. If your background is in engineering, science or mathematics, the Fundamentals of Maritime Engineering module will give you the grounding needed to progress into more advanced naval architecture.
Your studies culminate in an original experimental or numerical research project, giving you the opportunity to investigate a maritime engineering question in depth with one-to-one academic supervision.
Find your place where engineering meets the ocean, and develop the specialist knowledge to design and analyse the marine craft and structures of the future.
Key features of this course
**Understand how ships perform in the water.** Explore marine hydrodynamics, resistance and propulsion, building the knowledge to analyse how vessel form and fluid behaviour affect performance and efficiency.
**Design for demanding environments.** Investigate maritime structures and the effects of fluid-structure interaction, developing insight into how vessels respond to the forces they experience at sea.
**Explore how vessels move and respond.** Develop your understanding of manoeuvring and control and consider the hydrodynamic principles behind the movement of marine vehicles.
**Work with specialist maritime facilities.** Study within Southampton’s maritime engineering environment, with access to facilities including the UK’s largest university towing tank for testing ship design and performance.
**Shape your specialist direction.** Choose optional study in areas including computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, maritime robotics, offshore engineering, renewable energy, design optimisation and high-performance craft.
**Take on your own research challenge.** Complete an independent experimental or numerical project, developing your research skills and specialist knowledge before communicating your findings through a dissertation.
Your future career
Naval architecture needs engineers who can see the whole vessel – understanding how hydrodynamics, structures, materials and propulsion interact rather than treating them as separate problems.
You’ll graduate with specialist naval architecture knowledge alongside skills in engineering analysis, research, problem-solving and technical communication.
The programme is designed to prepare you for a career as a naval architect or for wider professional opportunities across the maritime sector.
You’ll also develop experience of approaching engineering problems within their wider technical, environmental and safety context, helping you make informed decisions as maritime technologies and expectations evolve.
If you want to continue into research, the MSc also provides a foundation for PhD study.
Whether you move into vessel design, analysis, marine engineering or further research, you’ll leave Southampton better equipped to understand how ships work, question how they could work better and contribute to what gets designed next.
Student support
You’ll learn through lectures, classes and tutorials, coursework, independent learning and individual and group projects.
You’ll be assigned a personal academic tutor during your studies and will also have access to a senior tutor.
During your research project, you’ll have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor to discuss your progress and develop your work.
Further information
This is a 1-year, full-time MSc based at Boldrewood Campus.
The first 8 months focus on taught core and optional modules. During the final 4 months, you’ll work independently on your research project and dissertation.
Core study includes Fundamentals of Maritime Engineering, Marine Hydrodynamics, Marine Structures in Fluids, Maritime Safety: Risk, Environment and Law, Professional Development for Maritime Engineers, Zero Carbon Ship Resistance and Propulsion, and the MSc Research Project.
The programme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) as meeting the academic requirement for Further Learning towards Chartered Engineer and Chartered Marine Engineer registration.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree in a relevant subject including marine or maritime engineering, naval architecture, ship science, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, general engineering, electrical engineering, physics or mathematics. You’ll also need appropriate study in mathematics and mechanics.
Admission Requirements
67+
92+
6.5+
120+
You'll need a 2.1 degree in marine/maritime engineering, naval architecture, ship science, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, physics or maths, yacht or powercraft design. Specific module requirements are also required, please check the website for further details.
18 Aug 2027
1 Year
Sep
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