Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

Naval architecture and marine engineering are disciplines at the heart of how ships, offshore structures, and marine systems are designed, built, and operated. Naval architecture is concerned with the form, stability, hydrodynamics, and structural integrity of vessels, asking how a hull can be shaped to move efficiently through water and withstand the forces of the sea. Marine engineering addresses the propulsion systems, mechanical and electrical machinery, and control systems that make vessels function.

Together, the two disciplines produce engineers who can design and deliver the ships, submarines, offshore platforms, and marine renewable energy structures that global trade, defence, and the blue economy depend on.

At the University of Strathclyde, which has a world-renowned reputation in naval architecture and ocean and marine engineering, this five-year programme provides a comprehensive education in both disciplines. You will study hydrodynamics, structural design, marine propulsion, electrical and control systems, and offshore engineering, developing the technical depth that professional naval architecture and marine engineering requires. The programme includes a year abroad, broadening your perspective on how these disciplines are practised in different maritime nations and industries.

Strathclyde's connections with the marine industry are extensive, and the programme benefits from relationships with shipbuilders, classification societies, and defence and offshore organisations.

Graduates work in shipbuilding, defence, offshore oil and gas, marine renewable energy, naval design, classification societies, and maritime consultancies. Roles include naval architect, marine engineer, design engineer, and project manager across all marine sectors. The integrated masters qualification supports progression towards chartered engineer status with the Royal Institution of Naval Architects or the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.

Some graduates pursue doctoral research in hydrodynamics, structural mechanics, or marine technology.