Marine Engineering with Foundation Year BEng Honours

Course overview

Our professionally accredited Marine Engineering degrees provide a pathway to becoming a Chartered Engineer and prepare you to face challenges associated with the various specialisms.

This foundation year will help you build the base knowledge you need to progress to any of our marine engineering BEng degrees.

This is a full-time programme of study covering core mechanical engineering topics, including:

• foundation mathematics
• applied mechanics
• material science

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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 2022-23.

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.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

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

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

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

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

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.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

You'll take just over half your modules in mathematics, mechanical sciences and applied mechanics. The remainder of your modules covers a range of engineering and science topics and includes a project, as well as laboratory work related to the Marine Technology.

Modules

Compulsory Modules

Basic Statistics (10 credits)

Foundation Year Project (10 credits)

Mechanical Science (20 credits)

Applied Mechanics O (10 credits)

Electrical and Electronic Engineering O (10 credits)

Materials Science O (10 credits)

Foundation Mathematics (30 credits)

 

Optional Modules

Computer Applications (10 credits)

Foundation of Chemistry (10 credits)

Applications of Chemistry (10 credits)

Foundation Physics A2 (10 credits)

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2020-21.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

You'll learn from staff across various departments of our engineering and science schools.

You'll spend approximately 20 hours per week in taught classes. You'll also spend a further 20 hours attending tutorials and completing laboratory reports.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assessments

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Reports

Skills and experience

Practical skills

As you progress onto your target Marine Technology degree you'll gain hands-on experience using our diesel engine research laboratories, where you can produce prototype equipment in-house. You'll have access to state-of-the-art labs and fantastic facilities, many of which are unique to Newcastle University.

We recognise the importance of first-hand experience and organise a variety of visits. This ensures that you see the application of marine technology in a range of organisations, including local and national marine production facilities, offshore rigs and platform-building sites.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

You'll be part of the School of Engineering and you'll learn in state-of-the-art labs and fantastic facilities, many of which are unique to Newcastle University. You'll have access to our:

• unique large-scale laboratories to help you learn and understand concepts taught in class
• £1m Research Vessel, The Princess Royal
• cavitation tunnel to test models of propellers, submarines and more
• towing tank to conduct ship model experiments
• combined wind, wave and current tank to experience modelling of the full offshore environment
• hydrodynamics laboratory with wave-making and electronic recording equipment
• engineering laboratories, which include facilities to test diesel engines
• dedicated computer cluster running specialist marine design software
• specialist technical library and archive

Support

You'll be supported by a personal tutor (an academic member of staff) throughout your degree. They can help you with academic and personal issues.

You'll also have access to a peer mentor (a fellow student) in your first year. They can help you settle in and answer any questions you have.

Your future

Join a thriving sector

The marine technology sector is currently thriving worldwide and in many areas there are acute shortages of skilled personnel.

UK-based and multinational companies have a demand for degree-qualified:

• marine engineers
• naval architects
• experts in computer-aided design
• engineering specialists
• production specialists and managers
• surveyors
• research and policy development

A large proportion of Marine Technology graduates find employment in:

• the ship and offshore construction industry
• shipping and offshore companies
• government departments
• classification societies
• regulatory agencies and consultancy firms
• offshore renewable energy generation

The development of deep-water oil and gas recovery has increased demand for specialists in the design and operation of offshore vessels and processing plants.

An increasing number of graduates enter careers in the design and manufacture of yachts, luxury cruisers and high-speed passenger craft.

A number of our students also go on to postgraduate study and research into new technologies.

Employability at Newcastle

96% of Newcastle University graduates progressed to employment or further study within six months of graduating, with 85.5% in graduate-level employment or further study.

Take a look at the most recent data available for our graduates. See what they have gone on to achieve and be inspired to follow in their footsteps.

Statistics are based on what graduates were doing on a specific date, approximately six months after graduation (Destinations of (undergraduate and postgraduate UK domiciled) Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2016/17).

Make a difference

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Careers support

You'll be given networking opportunities through our close connections to industry and professional marine organisations.

We also organise a marine careers fair every year, attracting graduate recruiters such as:

• Lloyd’s Register
• Babcock
• BP
• BAE Systems
• the Royal Navy

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

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

Additional information

Advice on maths and science requirements

If you don’t think you will have the exact mathematics and science qualifications referred to in our entry requirements by the time you need them, you may not be sure what to do.

• If you have a maths qualification but will not have it at A Level (or equivalent) when you start your degree, you should apply for the relevant degree with Foundation Year. We may give you the opportunity to take the Newcastle University Pre-Entry Maths Course* and the option to start in Year 1 if we think that this will be the best route for you.
• If you have A Level Maths (or equivalent) already but not at the required grade, you should contact us for advice. We may decide that you could be considered for Foundation Year entry, or it may be that this course is not the best option for you.
• If you will not have the equivalent of an A Level in the science subject (if any) required, you should apply for the relevant degree with Foundation Year.

If you are still not sure, don’t worry. Whatever you apply for, our Admissions Tutors will help you decide which is the best route for you. They may, therefore, make you an offer for a different course from the one you apply for (eg Foundation Year entry instead of Year 1 entry).

*The Newcastle University Pre-Entry Maths Course aims to provide the requisite mathematical skills and concepts needed on our engineering, maths and physics degree courses and to prepare students for the modes of learning they will encounter. The materials for the course are delivered electronically and include opportunities to practise your skills. You study the materials in your own time and, when you are ready, you book your exam with the Engineering School to which you have applied. A fee of £150 is payable at the time of booking the exam or shortly before the date set for examination.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2023 entry (per year)

Qualification: BEng Honours
Home students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 9250
International students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 26400

Home Fee Students

The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

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.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

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

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

• different tuition fees
• additional costs

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages