Naval Architecture MSc

Overview

Newcastle University is home to the largest dedicated marine technology research group in the UK. You'll learn from leading academics who hold international recognition within the maritime industry. You'll also have access to our cutting-edge experimental facilities. 

Our Naval Architecture degree is for both practising professionals and graduates in:

• naval architecture
• marine technology/engineering
• offshore engineering
• mechanical engineering
• related disciplines

Our strong industrial engagement means our courses are shaped by industry and government policy. You'll experience engagement through:

• industry guest lectures
• study tours
• site visits
• projects
• placements
• employment opportunities with added support from the careers service

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

The course develops your practical skills to become a technically proficient, forward-thinking Naval Architect. This MSc will accelerate your career in maritime or associated industries.

You'll be conversant in the theory that underpins modern Naval Architectural practice. You'll also be competent in the application of specialist software and analysis techniques to predict the performance of marine vehicles.

You'll have a wide appreciation of the latest technological developments and global trends in the shipping industry. These include aspects of energy efficiency, autonomous operations and new markets.

Subjects are delivered in a modular format designed to provide a broad spectrum of knowledge in naval architecture practice.

On successful completion of this course, you'll be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• methods for analysing the environmental impact of a ship when operating in a seaway
• special hydrodynamics and stability phenomena that dominate the design and performance of Planing Craft
• how to analyse the design and performance of Surface Effect Ships and Hydrofoil based craft
• strip theory, wave diffraction theory, and their applications
• computational fluid dynamics
• vortex induced vibration
• the concepts behind Goal Based Design for Naval Architecture
• how safety issues can be modelled and implemented both into the design and regulatory framework
• key business, financial and management concepts
• sustainability issues

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Naval Architecture MSc modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Ship Performance at Sea	10
High Speed and Advanced Craft	10
Advanced Hydrodynamics	10
Advanced Naval Architecture	10
Advanced Marine Structures	20
Commercial Awareness and Sustainable Business	10
Dissertation	60
Research Skills	10
Group Project	20
Fundamentals of Marine Technology	20

Naval Architecture MSc (with preliminary year) modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Marine Transport Business	10
Future Marine Projects	10
Ship Design	20
Marine Structures II	10
Further Ship Hydrodynamics	20
Project and Report in Naval Architecture	40
Marine Production Management	10
Ship Performance at Sea	10
High Speed and Advanced Craft	10
Advanced Hydrodynamics	10
Advanced Naval Architecture	10
Advanced Marine Structures	20
Commercial Awareness and Sustainable Business	10
Dissertation	60
Research Skills	10
Group Project	20
Fundamentals of Marine Technology	20

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

We have a multidisciplinary approach to teaching and you'll engage with students across all key marine technology disciplines. This offers a rich and diverse learning experience.

Our teaching method consists of:

• lectures
• seminars
• industry guest lectures
• practical sessions
• group work
• personal supervision

Modules are taught by block delivery, allowing you to immerse yourself and understand the subject in more depth.

The course is also available with a preliminary year if you do not meet the entry criteria for the one year MSc course.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Design or creative project
• Essay
• Oral examination
• PC examination
• Problem-solving exercises
• Report
• Research proposal
• Research paper
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Additional assessment information

Dissertation

You'll choose an individual dissertation project, with guidance provided by academics who are at the forefront of international research in aspects of naval architecture.

We expect your work to address global challenges for the maritime industry including:

• climate change
• automation
• security and sustainability

The dissertation may involve desk-based research, computational analysis and/or model scale experimentation within our laboratories.

Recent projects which reflect the research expertise of our academic team include:

• predicting the drag on ships caused by biofouling using our hydrodynamic flumes and the University research vessel, The Princess Royal
• estimating the performance of wind assistance technologies such as Flettner rotors and kites
• analysing catastrophic failure mechanisms of ship structures in extreme weather conditions
• researching the technical and environmental challenges for arctic shipping routes
• investigating future concepts for sustainable and culturally appropriate fishing boats in the global south
• modelling the coupling between motion and power output for floating offshore wind turbines

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Our staff

Dr Simon Benson
Lecturer
Areas of expertise:

• naval architecture
• marine structures

Professor Zhiqiang Hu
Professor of Offshore Engineering
Areas of expertise:

• numerical hydrodynamics
• floating offshore wind turbines
• collision and grounding of ships

Professor Richard Birmingham
Professor of Small Craft Design
Areas of expertise:

• small craft design
• ecologically sustainable recreational craft
• design for safety

Professor Pengfei Liu
Professor of Marine Hydrodynamics
Areas of expertise:

• experimental hydrodynamics
• propellers and propulsion
• novel technologies

Your development

We believe the difference at Newcastle is in the broad expertise and industrial connections that are held by our academic staff. This is whilst retaining a friendly and supportive atmosphere for our students.

You'll have the opportunity to learn from and work with academics who are research leading in many aspects of ship performance. They work regularly in collaborative projects with leading maritime companies.

Our research portfolio is highly diverse. This gives you a broad choice of directions to take your studies, with recent industry collaborations including:

• work on search and rescue craft with Lloyds Register and the Royal National Lifeboat Association
• measuring marine coating drag with Akzo Nobel
• designing lightweight ship structures with the US Navy
• predicting engine performance with Royston Marine Engines

Our core academic team of naval architects work alongside colleagues across the School of Engineering. This interdisciplinary environment is also reflected in the project work you will undertake which often involves aspects of mechanical, electrical and civil engineering.

Your future

Graduate destinations

Graduates on this MSc are prepared for a wide range of careers across the globe in the maritime and wider engineering sectors. Graduate destinations include the most recognised UK maritime companies such as:

• Babcock
• British Maritime Technology
• BAE Systems
• Lloyds Register

Our graduates are highly respected by industry across the world. They are following exciting careers in many global companies including:

• DNV-GL in Norway
• Keppel Marine in Singapore
• Shell in Nigeria
• Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea
• The American Bureau of Shipping in Houston, USA

Graduates also find excellent opportunities in specialist maritime firms throughout the UK and around the world. Our MSc also provides a route into further study at PhD level.

Industry links

Our close links within the maritime industry enable us to host guest lectures, run site visits and involve you in events with our professional institutions including:

• Royal Institute of Navigation (RINA)
• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)
• Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (SNAME)
• the SUT

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

Throughout your degree, you'll have access to a range of dedicated facilities that will support your studies and enhance your learning experience, including:

• a student common room
• a computer laboratory
• the Henri Kummerman Marine Resource Centre
• Jones Engineering laboratory

You'll also have access to a set of excellent testing facilities:

• Newcastle Towing Tank
• Wind, Wave and Current (WWC) Tank
• Flow cell
• Emmerson Cavitation Tunnel
• the School's research vessel, The Princess Royal

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

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How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• campus tours
• on-campus open days
• virtual open days
• webinars

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events