BEng (Hons) Marine Technology

If you are yet to make an enquiry to study with the University of Plymouth and are interested in securing a place for September 2020, you can pre-register for Clearing to receive priority treatment on results day.

Read our Clearing advice

• Join the upper ranks - in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), also known as the Shanghai Ranking, we are eighth out of 50, and the highest ranked UK university, for Marine/Ocean Engineering.
• Open the door to a successful future - with starting salaries from £23,000, our graduates have gone on to work for Hoare Lea, Babcock Marine, Becton Dickinson, e2v, Edwards, the Shaw Group and the Ministry of Defence.
• Define yourself with an accredited degree – the course has been designed to fully satisfy the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially satisfy the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and is accredited by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
• Be flexible – our combined first year allows you to switch to mechanical engineering or civil engineering in line with your career ambitions.
• Be unique – our courses are the only ones in the country to have a named with composites pathway; choosing this will allow you to stand out in the job market.
• Learn hands-on with the latest industry-standard software, laboratory sessions and practical classes.
• Aim higher – you may progress onto the MEng course at the end of your second year if you are doing well.
• Put learning into practice by taking a paid year in industry - many of our students receive job offers or sponsorship as a result of their placements.
• Go on to thrive in sectors as diverse as vessel design, naval architecture, ship safety, propeller design and manufacturing or engine energy efficiency.

• Year 1

• In the first year of your marine technology course, you will study alongside other engineering students to learn about the fundamental principles underpinning the subjects studied throughout the course. You will develop your mathematical skills and study engineering materials, structural mechanics and fluid mechanics. You will learn about generic design processes and computer-aided design, and work in a team to undertake a real-world design challenge. Laboratory sessions will form an important part of your learning.

  Core modules

  BPIE115 Stage 1 Mechanical Placement Preparation

  This module is aimed at students who may be undertaking an industrial placement in the third year of their programme. It is designed to assist students in their search for a placement and in their preparation for the placement itself.

  ENGR101 Engineering Design

  This module introduces students to engineering design practice appropriate to civil, marine and mechanical engineering disciplines. Students will develop sketching and technical drawing skills and use computer-aided design (CAD) tools to create digital models of technical systems. Working in a team, students will be tasked to create sustainable solutions to real-world technical design challenges.

  ENGR102 Engineering Practice and Experimental Techniques

  The mainly experimental basis of this module allows students to extend their engineering knowledge and practical competence using a guided, student-centred, and laboratory-based approach to develop fundamental understanding of a range of engineering topics. The module will help students acquire good study skills and competency in technical communication.

  ENGR103 Engineering Science

  This module introduces students to the fundamental scientific principles of fluid mechanics appropriate for civil, marine and mechanical engineering applications; the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics relating to the interaction between systems and their surroundings, including both flow and non-flow processes, heat engines, and mechanisms of heat transfer; and the fundamental principles of electrical engineering.

  ENGR104 Engineering Mathematics

  This module provides students with a number of fundamental mathematical skills, and techniques, which are essential for the analysis of engineering problems.

  ENGR105 Mechanics and Structures

  This module introduces students to the fundamental scientific principles of engineering mechanics and structures appropriate for civil, marine and mechanical engineering applications. Deeper understanding of these scientific principles will be developed through practical applications using hand calculations and computer software tools as appropriate.

  ENGR106 Engineering Materials

  This module introduces students to a broad range of engineering materials appropriate for civil, marine and mechanical engineering applications. The module will consider the relationship between structure, manufacture and properties, presenting practical applications wherever appropriate. Students will also be introduced to standard material test methods.
  

• Year 2

• The second year introduces you to naval architecture and control systems engineering while further developing your thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, mathematics and design skills. These subjects are explored in lectures, in laboratory sessions and workshops. At this point, it you can opt in to the 'with composites' pathway.

  The placements module will develop your professional and transferable skills for the workplace and support you in finding an appropriate placement.

  Core modules

  MATS235 Materials & Structural Integrity

  This module’s study of design is based upon principles of engineering mechanics and application of finite element analysis (FEA). We will utilise appropriate software tools e.g. Solid-works, ANSYS etc. in a practical mechanical design context. Students will learn to follow a structured design process to enhance creativity, logical analysis and commercial awareness then apply this process to solve a design challenge.

  MECH233 Manufacturing Processes

  This module provides students with a comprehensive introduction to manufacturing. It will cover both the fundamentals of forming, shaping, joining and traditional machining processes in relation to a range of engineering materials and the relationship between structure, manufacture and properties. It will also include hands-on workshop activities to reinforce understanding and to develop additional engineering competences

  CONT222 Engineering Mathematics & Control

  This module provides engineering mathematical techniques and methods (Laplace transform and linear algebra) for the analysis of practical engineering problems and introduces classical control systems theory.

  MARN221 Marine Engineering Design & Commercialisation

  Students will develop and apply engineering knowledge in a practical marine design context, under-pinned by elements of naval architecture and hydrodynamics using appropriate software tools e.g. computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and MAXSURF. Students will learn to follow a structured design process to enhance creativity, logical analysis and commercial awareness to solve a marine design challenge.

  MARN220 Naval Architecture 1

  This module examines the principles of floating and the stability of marine vessels in their environment and deals with the prediction of the resistance of vessels in motion and the selection and design of suitable propellers.

  MECH234 Thermo-Fluids

  This module will introduce student’s key concepts in thermodynamics and fluids mechanics theory (1st and 2nd laws) pertaining to mechanical engineering. It will also include an introduction to heat transfer and its application in design and performance of heat engines and other applications.

  BPIE215 Stage 2 Mechanical Placement Preparation 
  

• Optional placement year

• By taking the opportunity to spend an optional year in paid employment whilst still a student engineer, you will obtain recordable professional experience, build a network of industry contacts and often obtain offers of summer work, sponsorship or employment on graduation. Our placements team will support you in finding a placement, and we have an extensive network of employers across all sectors.
  

  Optional modules
  
  BPIE335 Engineering Related Placement
  

• Final year
• In your final year, you will deepen your understanding of naval architecture and marine engineering. You will also focus your specialism choosing to further your understanding of computer aided engineering tools and systems design or choosing to study the theoretical and practical aspects of composites engineering on the 'with composites' pathway. Your dissertation project enables you to research the topics that interest you and will allow you to bring together all you have learnt so far.

  
  

  Pure marine technology pathway
  Core modules

  PRME307 MT Honours Project

  In this module you will carry out Independent project work closely aligned to their programme of study. This will be carried out under the guidance of an appointed supervisor. 

  MARN342 Naval Architecture 2

  This module places engineering principles in the context of a hull and its features. The hull and the structural design concepts which are particularly applicable to marine crafts are developed, applied and analysed. Various types of marine vessels’ fitness for purpose are studied for the design drivers used and the operational aspects considered.

  MARN341 Marine Engineering

  The module covers Marine Engineering including marine power plant, transmission, system efficiency and environmental factors, and Marine Systems Engineering exploring the aspects of marine engineering dynamic systems, design and analysis.

  MECH341 Computer Aided Engineering (FEA/CFD)

  In this module, students learn to use two of the Computer Aided Engineering methods that are most commonly used in industry; finite volume Computational Fluid Dynamics (to solve fluid flow problems) and Finite Element Analysis (to solve structural problems). Students gain an overview of the theory that underpins these methods, and learn how to use a validation process to assess reliability of simulation results.

  CONT317 Control and Intelligent Systems Design

  This module explores the application of control engineering and artificial intelligence techniques in the design of engineering control systems.

  
  Marine technology with composites pathway
  Core modules

  PRME307 MTC Honours Project

  In this module students will carry out Independent project work closely aligned to their programme of study. This will be carried out under the guidance of an appointed supervisor.

  MARN342 Naval Architecture 2
  

  This module places engineering principles in the context of a hull and its features. The hull and the structural design concepts which are particularly applicable to marine crafts are developed, applied and analysed. Various types of marine vessels’ fitness for purpose are studied for the design drivers used and the operational aspects considered.

  MARN341 Marine Engineering
  

  The module covers Marine Engineering including marine power plant, transmission, system efficiency and environmental factors, and Marine Systems Engineering exploring the aspects of marine engineering dynamic systems, design and analysis.

  MATS347 Composites Design and Manufacture

  The module provides an integrated approach to design, materials and processing selection for engineering composite materials.

  MATS348 Composites Engineering

  This module introduces stress analysis and appropriate numerical methods in the context of composite materials and integrates the learning in a practical assignment to produce a prototype composite component.
  

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BEng Marine Technology Programme Specification 1836

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

UCAS tariff

104 - 120

A level: Typical offer will be 112 points including Grade C at Maths (or Mathematics MEI) and Grade C at second relevant subject: Applied ICT, Applied Science, Applied Business, Biology, Business/Business Studies, Chemistry, Computing, Computer Science, DT (Product Design Resistant Materials), DT (systems and Control Tech), DT Product Design (Textiles Tech), Economics, Economics and Business, Electronics, Engineering, Environmental Science, Design and Technology, ICT, Physics, Science, Statistics, Further Maths, Use of Maths, Pure Maths. Excluding General Studies.