Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

Naval architecture and marine engineering is the discipline that designs, builds, and maintains ships, submarines, offshore platforms, and other marine structures and systems. It combines the principles of structural engineering, fluid dynamics, hydrodynamics, propulsion, and materials science with the specific demands of the marine environment, where structures must withstand the forces of waves, wind, and sea pressure while remaining safe, efficient, and economically viable. As one of the oldest engineering disciplines, naval architecture has shaped global trade and defence for centuries, and today it is being transformed by demands for cleaner propulsion, autonomous vessels, and renewable energy platforms at sea.

At the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, you will study Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering over three years, full time, with a sandwich year and work placement opportunities embedded in the programme. Newcastle has been one of the leading centres for naval architecture education and research in the UK for over a century, with close ties to the maritime and offshore industries of the North East and beyond. You will develop knowledge of ship design and structural analysis, hydrodynamics, propulsion systems, ship stability, marine machinery, and the regulatory frameworks governing vessel design and certification.

The sandwich year gives you extended professional experience in industry, which is highly valued by maritime employers and can significantly shape your graduate career direction.

Graduates of naval architecture and marine engineering programmes are in demand in shipbuilding, offshore oil and gas, marine consultancy, defence, and the growing offshore renewable energy sector. Professional bodies including the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology provide the framework for professional development and chartership. Further study options include postgraduate degrees in naval architecture, ocean engineering, offshore engineering, and related disciplines, as well as research degrees for those pursuing academic or advanced technical careers.