MEng (Hons) Marine Technology

If you haven’t applied to the University of Plymouth for September 2019 entry, prior to the UCAS deadline, there may still be vacancies on your chosen course.

It’s not too late to apply

• 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.
  
• The integrated MEng degree is re-accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)  on behalf of the Engineering Council to provide the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) up to  and including 2021 entrants. The BEng (Hons) Marine Technology is also accredited by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST).
  
• Increase your opportunities with a solid base in mechanical engineering and an emphasis on design, opening up a variety of possible careers.
• Lay strong foundations for a successful career using our extensive industry links to secure a paid, one-year work placement. Gain the confidence, real-world know-how and vital industry experience employers are looking for.
• Work with the latest industry-standard software, in our high specification laboratories. Both will help you develop a strong understanding of fundamental principles, while honing your skills at the same time.
• Access the support you need. The Women in Technology Network (WiTNet) is a support network for all female students in technology and science subjects where women are in a minority.

• Year 1
• Year 1 shares modules with the MEng courses in mechanical engineering. You’ll study design, a central theme of the course, introduced through case-study and problem-based learning, materials, mechanics, thermo-fluids, electrical principles, business and mathematics. You’ll also gain practical experience through a hands-on module in manufacturing methods.

  Core modules

  • A5MFT1 Mech BEng 1 MFT Session

    The course provides a basic practical workshop experience that enables students to appreciate the cutting of metals. This is achieved by the manufacture of a specific test piece using lathes and milling machines and includes the use of Computer Aided Manufacture / Machining.

  • 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.

  • MATH189 Engineering Mathematics

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

  • MATS122 Manufacturing and Materials

    This module introduces students to a range of engineering materials and the relationship between structure, manufacture and properties. Standard methods of testing are covered, presenting practical applications wherever appropriate. An introduction to manufacturing covers both the fundamentals of forming and shaping and traditional machining processes.

  • MECH117 Mechanics

    The module introduces the basic concepts relating to the interaction between systems and their surroundings.

  • MECH118 Basic Electrical Principles

    This module introduces the basic concepts of electrical principles and their applications.

  • MECH119 Skills for Design and Engineering (Marine)

    An introduction to the forms and role of engineering drawings and CAD in engineering design. Basic engineering drawing procedures, basic 2-D CAD and 3-D parametric associative CAD.

  • MECH121 Team Engineering (Engineering Design in Action)

    This module helps students foster a technology-based, innovative and creative design identity. This is achieved through development of critical skills coupled with professional, multi-disciplinary teamwork. A practical focus is provided by a range of multi-facetted group design and engineering science projects based upon open-ended, real-world problems.

  • THER104 Introduction to Thermal Principles

    This module introduces the basic concepts of thermal concepts relating to the interaction between systems and their surroundings.

• Year 2
• In your second year you’ll study structures, fluids and thermodynamics, control, mathematics and business. You’ll learn about the stability and propulsion of marine craft, and about the marine environment. You’ll advance your existing design skills through application within a marine context.

  Core modules

  • BPIE215 Stage 2 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 build on the Level 1 module (BPIE111) and to assist students in their search for a placement and in their preparation for the placement itself.

  • CONT221 Engineering Mathematics and Control

    This module provides mathematical techniques and methods for the analysis of practical engineering problems and an introduction to classical control systems theory.

  • HYFM230 Fluid Mechanics 1

    Fluid mechanics for engineering applications (everything from water pipes to airliners)

  • MARN203 Stability and Hydrodynamics

    This module examines the static behaviour of marine vehicles and structures in their environment and deals with the prediction of the resistance of vessels in motion and the selection and design of suitable propulsors.

  • MECH232 Engineering Design

    This module focuses on development and application of engineering science knowledge in a practical design context. It also aims to develop a structured approach to engineering design work. Initial focus is on parametric design of engineering components, optimising for a specific set of design constraints. The module then moves on to develop creativity and design logic/process in a practical design project.

  • STO208 Business for Engineers

    The module will enable participants to explore management techniques in an engineering context. The module will engage participants in managerial decision making and project management. Legal, HR and risk and ethical frameworks will be introduced as foundations for the practice of management. These perspectives will be considered theoretically and within practice contexts.

  • STRC203 Engineering Structures

    This module covers basic theories of structures and their applications in mechanical and marine engineering. Contents include the bending and shear of beams, torsion of shafts, buckling of struts, stress and strain analysis, and structural dynamics. Design of structural components using strength theories will also be introduced.

  • THER207 Applied Thermodynamics

    This module provides the application of thermodynamics theory (1st and 2nd laws) to a range of applications pertaining to mechanical engineering. Extension and application of the thermodynamic theory to IC engines including design and performance; Gas Turbines; Reciprocating Compressors; Refrigeration and Heat Pump systems. Introduction to heat transfer and its application in the design and performance of heat exchangers.

• Optional placement year
• Taking an optional placement year will provide you with valuable, paid, professional experience. A placement could lead to a company sponsoring your final year project and provide opportunities for your future employment. We’ll support you in finding a suitable position.

  Core modules

  • BPIE335 Mechanical Engineering Related Placement

    A 48-week period of professional training spent as the third year of a sandwich programme undertaking an approved placement with a suitable company. This provides an opportunity for the student to gain relevant industrial experience to consolidate the first two stages of study and to prepare for the final stage and employment after graduation.

• Year 3
• During this year you’ll use industry typical software and use design and computational methods to further develop your design skills. You’ll specialise in your chosen discipline of naval architecture, marine engineering and marine systems. Finally, you’ll carry out an in-depth investigation into a specialist topic of personal interest as part of your individual honours project.

  Core modules

  • HYFM322 Computational Fluid Dynamics

    Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) focuses on practical use of CFD to complement experimental methods and/or empirical/analytical calculations in predicting the behaviour of flowing fluids. The module also provides an overview of the theory that underpins a typical Finite Volume CFD code.

  • MARN306 Marine Engineering

    The module covers marine power plant, transmission, system efficiency and environmental factors.

  • MARN338 Naval Architecture

    This module places engineering principles in the context of a vessel and its systems. The structural design concepts which are particularly applicable to marine craft are developed and applied. Vessels' fitness for purpose and the design drivers used to realise a vessel are considered and operations aspects of various vessel types are studied.

  • MARN340 Marine Systems Engineering

    Marine Systems Engineering explores the aspects of marine engineering dynamic systems design and analysis.

  • MECH340 Engineering Design

    This module continues the theme of a structured, logical process for conducting engineering design work. It focuses on the latter stages of the design process. Emphasis is placed on the importance of aspects such as material, manufacturing process, tolerances, structural performance, cost, assembly, maintenance and sustainability. The module also considers ethical issues.

  • PRME307 Honours Project

    Independent project work.

• Final year
• Your final year refines the skills you have developed over the course of your studies, and includes additional technical modules. Finally, you'll work on an interdisciplinary project, drawing on your design and engineering abilities.

  Core modules

  • MAR528Z Mechanics of MRE Structures

    This module will cover engineering aspects of marine renewable energy conversion. The module comprises lectures and tutorials, invited industry lectures, a field trip visit to a marine engineering company and a wave energy converter performance experiment in the COAST lab.

  • MECH532 Applied Computer Aided Engineering

    Finite Element Analysis (FEA) develops an understanding of the underlying concepts of the FEA method and its application in the analysis of structures. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) develops skills required to apply appropriate CFD techniques in a typical industrial project. Existing CFD skills are expanded to cover cases such as conjugate heat transfer or transient behaviour.

  • MECH534 Product Development and Evaluation

    In this module, students bring engineering design work to life. The emphasis is on practical realisation of a product/device. Students will evaluate an existing CAD model and revise it if necessary, build a prototype and then test its performance. The prototype is then iteratively improved. This gives students first-hand experience of identifying and overcoming the inevitable unforeseen problems in CAD design.

  • MECH544 Data Processing, Simulation and Optimisation of Engineering Systems

    Data Processing part of the module explores the benefits and limitations of data processing in engineering practice. State of the art tools and techniques will be introduced in this module. Simulation and Optimisation of Engineering Systems part will provide the tools to enable the students to develop dynamic simulation of engineering systems, predict their behaviour and optimise their performance using MATLAB/Simulink.

  • PRCE513 Interdisciplinary Design

    This module enables students to undertake a major project to solve an Interdisciplinary Design Problem. Students, working in groups will select and implement a design project from initial concept to a fully documented, planned, and costed proposal for potential stakeholders. Students are expected to address a broad spectrum of design outcomes (infrastructure, structures, integrated systems etc).

  • ROCO505Z Fundamentals of Robot Manipulators

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:

MEng Marine Technology programme specification 4452

UCAS tariff

120 - 136

Applicants exceeding our entry requirements may be eligible for an offer under our Engineering and Navigation Excellence Scheme.

A level: Typical offer will be 128 points including Grade C at Maths 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.

International Baccalaureate: 32 overall to include 5 at Higher Level mathematics and 5 at Higher Level science/technology subject. English and mathematics must be included. 

GCSE: mathematics and English language grade C or above is required.

All BTEC courses: Not accepted for MEng, unless the applicant has additional qualifications or experience.

BTEC National Diploma modules
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.

All Access courses: Not accepted for MEng, unless the applicant has additional qualifications or experience.

Other qualifications also considered, please enquire.

English language requirements

For a full list of all acceptable qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

Please note: We understand that many applicants remain anxious about meeting the exact terms of our standard conditional offers. We will look again at your application and revise our offer for those applicants who we continue to believe are a good match to our courses, once we have the certainty of your actual results in August.