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Marine Engineering MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Design, analyse and operate systems for merchant and naval ships, on the same Master’s degree the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence use to train their advanced marine engineers.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£18,400
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£36,500
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

An upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university in a suitable engineering subject or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Candidates with qualifications in other subjects such as physics, professional engineering qualifications, etc, will be considered. Knowledge of fluids and thermodynamics is essential together with an understanding of basic electrical engineering. Ideally candidates will have had some experience of the maritime sector.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance. This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The UCL Marine Engineering MSc is the advanced training programme of choice for the naval forces of many of the world’s major maritime nations, including the Royal Navy (UK), the Royal Canadian Navy and the Ministry of Defence (UK). 

With this comprehensive MSc, you’ll master the analysis and design of propulsive systems and auxiliary equipment for the latest marine vessel designs. 

Through industrial lectures, a group ship design project, individual research and practical activities, you’ll learn to apply marine engineering knowledge systematically and effectively in any given maritime context. 

Covering a wide range of specialisms relevant to marine engineering, this Master’s also provides optional modules in vibrations and acoustics or control and robotics, allowing you to follow your own marine engineering interests. 

By the time you graduate, you’ll have worked alongside a broad spectrum of naval and commercial shipping industry partners – and you’ll have all the engineering knowledge and necessary experience you need to flourish as a leading member of the maritime professional and research community.

Who this course is for

This programme is for students with a relevant first degree - for example, in engineering, physics or applied mathematics – who want to enhance their technical skills, knowledge, and understanding in this maritime field. It will prepare you either for further research or for roles as Chartered Professional Engineers or in higher levels of management and procurement in the marine engineering sector.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities. 

  • A postgraduate degree from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2025), providing you with a prestigious qualification that is highly regarded by employers worldwide. 
  • The chance to study at UCL Mechanical Engineering, a university department with an international reputation for excellence in maritime disciplines.
  • Access to extensive, world-class facilities, including engine labs, a coastal flume and a wave tank. 
  • A Master’s degree accredited by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), which means that completion of this MSc allows you to meet the further learning requirements to register as a Chartered Engineer.
  • Skills towards your chosen marine engineering specialism with an individual research project, learning to plan research, monitor progress and adapt your strategies to meet changing situations and needs. 
  • Collaboration in parallel with Naval Architecture MSc students on a shared ship design exercise, specifying propulsive machinery and auxiliary equipment to meet a customer’s outline requirements. 
  • A university experience in the world's best city for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2024). UCL’s Bloomsbury campus is in the heart of a London district famous for its cultural and educational institutions. 
  • Regular collaboration and access to research and industry leaders with close links to UCL Mechanical Engineering, such as US Naval Research (ONR), Leverhulme Trust, the Royal Society, BMT, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, UK Ministry of Defence, and various commercial shipping companies.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme
Making an impact
UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Case study: Marine Research Group Wins 2023 Maritime Safety Award

A fishing boat stability app developed by our Marine Research experts was honoured with the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) 2023 Maritime Safety Award.

The foundation of your career

The skills you will learn on this Master's will be immensely valuable across many sectors and industries, including but not limited to, maritime careers.

Employability

By choosing this Master’s, you'll help meet the global shortage of qualified marine engineers and benefit from a wide range of exciting positions and careers. Marine engineers are in very high demand across many sectors and industries (including non-maritime industries). 

Recent graduates from this Master’s are now working at organisations such as BAE Systems, BMT, Houlder, Lloyd’s Register and the Royal Navy (UK).

Networking

You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your Master’s. 

  • Explore a wealth of tailored events at both the faculty and departmental level facilitated by UCL Careers, UCL’s alumni team, and UCL Innovation and Enterprise. 
  • Attend student-led events, such as industry visits or guest lectures, with a focus on specific industrial sectors. 
  • Take part in regular seminars, to hear from expert academic speakers from different universities around the world talking about topical maritime research issues, and network afterwards.

Accreditation

The Marine Engineering MSc has been accredited by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) as meeting the further learning requirements, in full, for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

Teaching and learning

This programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratory and project work, workshops and problem classes, which draw upon real-life industry case studies.

This programme is assessed through examinations, coursework, reports, presentations, the ship design exercise, and the individual research project.

Full-time students on this programme can expect approximately 12-16 hours of contact hours per teaching week. The exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the terms depending on the module choices of the student. A full-time weekly schedule will amount to 35-40 hours a week, which comprises contact time, self-directed study, and preparing for assessments.

Your project module will see you conduct research, write up your final report, and engage in regular contact with your project supervisor(s), who will guide and support you throughout your project.

Modules

You will undertake six taught modules, involving lectures and tutorials, assessments and case studies.

Having completed the taught modules, you have the opportunity to practice your newly acquired skills and to study the implications of interdisciplinary interactions in the programme's second phase: the Ship Design Exercise.

Finally, you have the opportunity to hone your research skills in an individual project, undertaken in July, August and September.

Compulsory modules









Optional modules




Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Marine Engineering.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is incorporated into this MSc programme, where possible.

For example, students have previously had the opportunity to conduct field trials on marine vessels (part-funded and in collaboration with the Department's industry partner, BMT). These field trials often formed the basis of students' research projects. These projects have led to the publication of a journal paper in Ocean Engineering, with several more in progress. 

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Where you'll study

Five students in mechanical engineering lab housing multiple computers and technical equipment on tables

UCL Mechanical Engineering’s facilities are fundamental to our students’ studies and research. From a Thermofluids Laboratory focusing on fuels and emissions, and our Fluids Laboratory, to MechSpace, a large, dedicated teaching lab that sees students design and build prototypes, honing practical engineering skills. The Department also offers excellent resources in our Advanced Propulsion Lab (APL), the Advanced Characterisation Laboratories for Materials & Manufacturing (ACLMM), and now UCL East’s state-of-the-art Manufacturing Futures Lab (MFL), where we take a multidisciplinary approach to the creation of next generation sustainable manufacturing technologies, supported by a Precision Fabrication Workshop (PFW).

Find out more

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £18,400
Tuition fees (2025/26) £36,500

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There may occasionally be small, incidental expenses which can be reimbursed by the department once claimed.

Marine Engineering students are normally invited on several short, optional field trips. For these trips, travel to and from UCL campus is usually paid by the department. Some meals and drinks are at the expense of the student.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 26 June 2025
Value: Tuition fees plus £16,000 stipend ()
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Marine Engineering at graduate level
  • why you want to study Marine Engineering at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and/or professional background meets the demands of a challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

graduate-info@meng.ucl.ac.uk

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