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Naval Architecture MSc

London, Bloomsbury

There’s a global shortage of well-qualified naval architects. Join us on this one-year Master’s to help fill this gap, and equip yourself to build a successful career in this specialist, fast-evolving field.  

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£18,400
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£36,500
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
5 calendar years
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

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

If you’re interested in working as an architect for naval or merchant ships, this course gives you a solid foundation in the theory, analysis and design expertise you’re going to need. 

Study ship dynamics and hydrodynamics, learn about ship structures, and get plenty of hands-on experience in the software and systems used to conduct advanced engineering analysis. 

Working as part of multidisciplinary teams, alongside marine engineers from UCL’s Marine Engineering MSc, you’ll build teamworking skills on a comprehensive group ship design exercise. 

You’ll also carry out your own research, working with UCL’s renowned academics, through project work undertaken in the specialist fields of hydrodynamics, ship dynamics, structures and design. 

By the end of this Master’s, you’ll be in a strong position for securing jobs as a naval architect – with the expertise and skills to be able to integrate easily into industrial ship design teams.

Who this course is for

This programme is for students with a relevant first degree - preferably in mechanical, aeonautical, civil or naval engineering -  who want to enhance their technical skills, knowledge, and understanding in naval architecture. It will prepare you for a career as a Chartered Professional Engineer 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

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. 
  • UCL’s close links with both the defence and commercial marine sectors. Access to Industry experts, with many lectures delivered by marine architects, staff seconded from the UK Ministry of Defence with recent experience of leading ship design teams, and world-leading specialists in the sector.
  • The chance to build your network during your design reviews and final VIP presentation, where industry experts provide external challenge, advice and guidance. 
  • The skills needed to go straight into employment in the industry.
  • 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.
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

With a global demand for well-qualified naval architects, this programme is particularly beneficial for anyone looking to tap into the many employment opportunities in this sector. 

The large majority of students of this MSc go onto directly work in the industry. 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.

  • Benefit from extensive networking events, talks and training facilitated by UCL Careers, UCL’s alumni team, and UCL Innovation and Enterprise. 
  • Attend tailored events at department level, including a Mechanical Engineering Careers Fair, take part in student-led events with guests from industry, often featuring UCL alumni, and tap into events from dedicated UCL student societies, focused on specific industrial sectors, as well as entrepreneurship. 
  • Join a range of organised industry visits. 
  • Build your network during your design review and final VIP presentation, where industry experts provide external challenge, advice and guidance – while also taking the opportunity to talent spot.

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 programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, 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

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. 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 optional module. 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.

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.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

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.

Naval Architecture 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 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.

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

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.