Ship Science

Ship science, or naval architecture and marine engineering as it is known in its professional form, is the discipline responsible for designing and building ships, submarines, offshore structures and other marine vessels. It combines the principles of mechanical engineering with specialist knowledge of hydrodynamics, structural mechanics, stability and propulsion systems, applied to one of the most demanding engineering environments imaginable: the open sea. Ships must be structurally sound, stable, efficient and safe across a huge range of sea states and conditions, and the engineers who design them need a thorough command of all of these requirements.

At the University of Southampton, the three-year full-time degree reflects the city's history as one of Britain's most important naval and maritime centres. You will study the core principles of mechanical engineering alongside the specialist knowledge that naval architecture requires: ship hydrodynamics, resistance and propulsion, structural design, stability, seakeeping and manoeuvring. The degree develops both analytical and design skills, giving you the ability to model ship behaviour mathematically and to translate that analysis into practical engineering decisions.

Southampton's proximity to the Solent and to major shipping and offshore engineering employers enriches the professional context of the degree.

Graduates work in shipbuilding, yacht and leisure marine design, offshore oil and gas engineering, naval defence, port and harbour engineering, and classification societies. The maritime sector is genuinely global, and ship science graduates often work internationally. Many pursue professional accreditation through the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

Postgraduate study in naval architecture, ocean engineering or offshore engineering is a natural next step for those who want to specialise in research or advanced design.