Study Marine Engineering, why & how to study

CONTENTS

1. What’s Marine Engineering?

2. What Marine Engineering degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto a Marine Engineering degree?

4. What topics does a Marine Engineering degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Marine Engineering?

7. Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying a Marine Engineering degree?

8. What do Marine Engineering graduates earn?

9. What jobs can you get as a Marine Engineering graduate?

10. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

11. Similar subjects to Marine Engineering

12. Have any questions?

What’s Marine Engineering?

Marine engineering covers all the different systems and equipment found on different marine vehicles. This includes their design, build, installation and maintenance. Propulsion mechanics, power generated systems, fuel systems and lighting and air conditioning are just some of the aspects that this subject covers.  

Some marine focused degrees also explore offshore platforms and drilling equipment.  

What Marine Engineering degrees can you study?

Undergraduate Marine Engineering degrees on offer in the UK include: 

• Marine Engineering BEng 
• Marine Technology BEng 
• Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering BEng 
• Mechanical & Offshore Engineering BEng 

Options may include an integrated foundation year, professional placement year or year abroad. 

What do you need to get onto a Marine Engineering degree?

Must have

Most undergraduate Marine Engineering degrees ask for between 80–160 UCAS points. Qualifications may include: 

• A Levels: A*AAA–CCD 
• BTECs: D*D*D*–MMM 
• Scottish Highers: AAAAA–BBBC (Advanced Highers: AAA–AB) 
• International Baccalaureate: 40–26 
• Universities will usually ask that you have studied: maths and a science (often physics) at A Level, or equivalent 

Good to have

• Work experience or shadowing in an engineering company 
• Got involved in boat handing or sailing activities with a youth organisation like the Sea Cadets or Ocean Youth Trust or volunteering with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution  
• Entered competitions or challenges to develop your problem-solving abilities 
• Researched topics of interest in marine engineering journals, TED talks, podcasts or online courses/MOOCs 
• STEM summer schools such as with the Sutton Trust or UNIQ

What topics does a Marine Engineering degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include: 

• General engineering  
• Mechanical engineering  
• Principles of marine design and production 
• Hydrostatics and stability of marine vehicles  
• Marine engineering systems  
• Marine electronics and control systems  
• Marine electro-technology  
• Marine propulsion systems  
• Marine refrigeration and air conditioning  
• Naval architecture  
• Leadership and management  
• Principles of accident investigation  
• Marine environment

How will you be assessed?

Depending on your modules, you could be assessed through: 

• Coursework  
• Essays  
• Placement assessment 
• Exams  
• Group work  
• Oral presentations  
• A dissertation is usually a final year option

Why study Marine Engineering?

Career-specific skills: 

• Knowledge that crosses other areas like mechanical, electronic and electrical engineering  
• Understanding specific technical processes like propulsion mechanics 
• Design, development, testing, constructing and maintenance of a wide range of systems 
• Learning and using computer programmes 

Transferable skills: 

• Collaboration 
• Communication 
• Creative problem solving 
• Critical thinking and analysis 
• Decision making 
• Innovative thinking 
• Numeracy and data handling 
• Project management 
• Working under pressure

Professional accreditations: 

• Degrees may be accredited by the Institution of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)
• May include registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng), and partial registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) 

Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying a Marine Engineering degree?

Some universities offer students specific scholarships, bursaries, or grants so it’s worth checking if you are eligible, how to apply and what it covers such as materials, tuition fees and/or living costs.

What do Marine Engineering graduates earn?

Your starting salary will vary depending on the industry you work in, but could be around £27,000. If you become a marine engineer for the Royal Navy, you could start on £34,500 on the fast-track engineering officer programme, earning £42,800 after two years. A chief engineer in the Merchant Navy may earn around £70,000, with potential for higher salaries.

Other career paths could include project management (salary of £40,000–£80,000 with experience) or lecturer in higher education (£35,000–£60,000).

Read more on what graduates do and earn.  

What jobs can you get as a Marine Engineer graduate?

A degree in marine engineering is a vocational one, here are some roles that might appeal:

• Marine engineer 
• Marine technician  
• Ship fitter  
• Naval Architect  
• Project engineer  
• Mechanical engineer

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Examples of postgraduate courses available at universities in the UK: 

• Marine Engineering and Autonomy MSc 
• Marine Engineering and Autonomous Marine Vehicles MSc 
• International Marine Science MSc 
• Marine Science and Sustainable Development MSc 
• Maritime Logistics and Business MSc 
• Maritime Law LLM 
• Maritime History MA 

Find postgraduate courses for Marine Engineering  
Types of postgraduate degrees  

Similar subjects to Marine Engineering

Other subject areas that might appeal to you include: 

• Marine Biology
• Geography and Environmental Science
• General Engineering
• Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Have any questions?

Get in touch with our experts by emailing ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk.

We’ll be happy to hear from you! 

The shortcut to your uni shortlist

Make your university search faster and less stressful.
Get a personalised shortlist by selecting what matters to you.

GET STARTED