Maritime Engineering Science: Marine Engineering and Autonomy (MSc)

On this Marine Engineering and Autonomy MSc degree you'll learn about component and systems engineering for ships. You’ll also gain an understanding of the fixed and offshore structures that help them to function. Learn the skills you need to become a specialist in the marine sector. You'll graduate with the design and analysis skills for a maritime sector career, or for continued study at PhD level.

This Maritime Engineering Science: Marine Engineering and Autonomy MSc is one of 5 maritime engineering science specialisms you can study at the University of Southampton.

On this UK master’s course you’ll gain an advanced understanding of the fundamental principles, methods and applications of maritime engineering science.

This pathway focuses on the analysis and specification of marine engineering and autonomous systems used on board ships and other marine structures. You’ll study topics like electrical theory, thermodynamics, and engine and machine tribology.

You’ll explore the marine engineering systems found on board merchant and naval vessels and their importance to ship design. This includes performance characteristics of diesel engines, steam and gas turbines and electric propulsion. The course covers the dynamic response of the main shaft and associated components.

An introduction to auxiliary systems includes:

• heating
• ventilation and air-conditioning
• refrigeration
• the main fuel system

You’ll also learn about propeller-engine matching and a selection of appropriate machinery configurations.

Your optional study topics include a chance to study the principles of photovoltaics, fuel cells and batteries, where you’ll learn about:

• electrochemical routes to energy conversion
• the relative merits of batteries, fuel cells and redox flow cells
• solar radiation as an energy source
• solar cell operation and manufacture
• design and operation of a photovoltaic system

Throughout your studies, you’ll learn how to solve engineering problems by taking account of social, technical, economic and environmental constraints.

Course lead

Your course leader is Dr Gabriel Weymouth, an associate professor for the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute at the University of Southampton. His main areas of interest are mechanics and maths. He is currently working on unsteady fluid dynamics and nonlinear fluid/structure interaction. Read Dr Weymouth’s staff profile to find out more about his work.

Related pathways

If you'd prefer to study a different specialism, you can apply for one of our other MSc Maritime Engineering Science pathways:

• Advanced Computational Engineering
• Naval Architecture
• Ocean Energy and Offshore Engineering
• Yacht and High Performance Craft

You’ll need a 2:1 degree in:

• marine engineering
• naval architecture
• ship science
• aerospace engineering
• mechanical engineering
• general engineering
• electrical engineering
• physics
• mathematics
  

We may also consider applicants with undergraduate degrees in oceanography or architecture, or applicants from marine academies.
Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.

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