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Naval Architecture MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The Naval Architecture MSc is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills in naval architecture theory, analysis and design procedures for both naval and merchant ships. The knowledge gained on the programme should enable graduates to easily integrate into industrial ship design teams.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£17,300
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024

Applications closed

Find similar courses still open

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university in a suitable engineering subject or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

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.

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

Students study ship dynamics, ship hydrodynamics, ship structures and the use of computers in advanced engineering analysis. They work in multidisciplinary teams with marine engineers (from the Marine Engineering MSc) on a comprehensive group ship design exercise. Research skills are honed through project work undertaken in the specialist fields of hydrodynamics, ship dynamics, structures and design.

Who this course is for

The programme is particularly suitable for graduates with a first degree in engineering, preferably mechanical, aeonautical, civil or naval architecture. Graduates from the programme will have developed the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in this field, as Chartered Professional Engineers or at high levels of management and procurement in naval architecture.

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

What this course will give you

Students benefit from the close association with both the defence and commercial marine sectors.Many lectures are delivered by industry, staff seconded from the UK Ministry of Defence with recent experience of leading ship design teams and world-leading experts in the sector. Networking opportunities are further enhanced during the design reviews and final VIP presentations, where industry experts provide external challenge, advice and guidance to students while also taking the opportunity to talent-spot.

The large majority of students of this MSc continue directly to employment in the industry.

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

Engineering graduates with good analytical abilities are in high demand and graduates from this programme have a range of employment opportunities across many sectors and industries, including but not limited to, maritime careers. Recent graduates have gone on to work in organisations such as:

  • BAE Systems
  • BMT
  • Houlder
  • Lloyd’s Register
  • The Royal Navy (UK)

Employability

There is currently a global demand for well-qualified naval architects. As a result, graduates from the programme should have a range of employment opportunities in this sector. 

Networking

All postgraduate students have access to a rich ecosystem of opportunities to enrich their study and future career prospects by networking. These include a range of networking events, talks and training facilitated by UCL Careers, UCL Engineering Careers, the Office of Vice Provost Advancement (OVPA) and UCL Innovation and Enterprise, with tailored events at department level, including a Mechanical Engineering Careers Fair.  These are complemented by student-led events with guests from industry, often featuring UCL alumni, industry visits and a range of events from dedicated UCL student societies, focussed on specific industrial sectors, as well as entrepreneurship.

Accreditation

The course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and the Institute for Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer, and by the Ministry of Defence for its Graduate Engineer scheme.

Teaching and learning

This dynamic programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, project work (including group projects), workshops and problem classes, which frequently draw upon real-life case studies.

Assessment is through a combination of courseworks (including the evaluation of technical reports, problem solving exercises, project reports, computational and modelling skills, and oral presentations), examinations and the submission of technical project reports, design reports and oral examinations.
 

In the group Ship Design exercise, the assessment is based on the final report and an oral examination. Likewise for the individual research project.
 

Practical and transferrable skills are evaluated from the assessment of technical reports, problem solving exercises, assessment of computational skills, tests and oral presentations .

Contact time takes a variety of forms, including lectures, tutorials, project supervision, demonstrations, student feedback and consultation hours (where staff are available for consultation), email, and situations where feedback on assessed work is given. This is supplemented by self-directed learning to build up knowledge and skills.

Each module has a credit value that indicates the average learning hours you will spend on the required content. One credit typically equates to 10 hours of learning, which includes all contact time, self-directed study and assessment.

The contact time for each of your 15 credit taught modules will typically include 20-30 hours of teaching activity over the term of its delivery, with the balance then comprised of self-directed learning and working on your assessments. You will have ongoing contact with teaching staff via each module’s online discussion forum, which is typically used for discussing and clarifying concepts or assessment matters, and will have the opportunity to access additional support via regular student feedback and consultation hours with module leaders and programme directors.

Your project module will include regular contact with your project supervisor(s), who will guide and support you throughout your project. You will dedicate most of your time on this module to carrying out research in connection with your project and writing up your final report.

Modules

The taught part of the programme is comprised of six subject modules: five compuslory modules and one further module chosen from a list of optional or elective modules. The degree is divided into three major elements. Initially students are provided with the necessary advanced analytical skills by a series of lecture courses covering the naval architectural disciplines of ship structures, ship dynamics and ship hydrodynamics, with modules in each..

Having studied these specific subjects, students have the opportunity to practice their newly acquired skills and to study the implications of interdisciplinary interactions in the second phase of the programme, a Ship Design Exercise. Finally, students are given the opportunity to hone their research skills in an Individual Project.

The taught part of the programme is comprised of six subject modules: five compulsory modules and one further module chosen from a list of optional or elective modules. The degree is divided into three major elements. Initially students are provided with the necessary advanced analytical skills by a series of lecture courses covering the naval architectural disciplines of ship structures, ship dynamics and ship hydrodynamics.

Students on the modular/flexible programme select how many of these modules they wish to take in each year of study. The individual project must be taken in your last year of study.

Having studied these specific subjects, students have the opportunity to practice their newly acquired skills and to study the implications of interdisciplinary interactions in the second phase of the programme, a Ship Design Exercise. Finally, students are given the opportunity to hone their research skills in an Individual Project.

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 Naval Architecture.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. 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

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Mechanical Engineering (morning)

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Join programme directors, administrators and current students for an online session about the varied MSc programmes offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UCL. You will hear a short overview of our programmes, meet key people and have the chance to ask any questions you may have about course content, student experience and future career prospects. The two sessions are exactly the same and repeated for people in different time zones.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Mechanical Engineering (afternoon)

—

Join programme directors, administrators and current students for an online session about the varied MSc programmes offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UCL. You will hear a short overview of our programmes, meet key people and have the chance to ask any questions you may have about course content, student experience and future career prospects. The two sessions are exactly the same and repeated for people in different time zones.

Roberts Cafe, Roberts Engineering Building, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE - Open day

Graduate Open Events: UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences

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At UCL Engineering, our graduates turn discoveries into solutions - improving medical treatments, housing, transportation, the products, processes and students we produce change the world. Visit us on campus and get your questions about postgraduate study at UCL answered by our leading academics, current students, and admissions advisors. You'll also take part in Bloomsbury campus tours, and enjoy department-specific demos, visits, taster lectures, and facility tours!

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £17,300
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400

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

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

Naval Architecture students are normally invited to an optional, annual extended field trip.

Travel for the trip is paid for by the department from departure at UCL to arrival back at UCL. Some meals and drinks are at the expense of the student.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

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

NOW CLOSED FOR 2024/25 ENTRY
Value: Tuition fees plus £15,700 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 and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Naval Architecture at graduate level
  • why you want to study Naval Architecture 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.

Got questions? Get in touch

Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

graduate-info@meng.ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.