University of Strathclyde

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced structural mechanics, modern computational methods and applied design practice to prepare students to assess and design ship hulls and offshore platforms. Core themes include elastic and plastic structural behaviour, fatigue and fracture mechanics, buckling, and hydrodynamic loading of slender and flexible structures.

• Advanced Structural Analysis – continuum mechanics, stress analysis and structural stability applied to marine structures.
• Finite Element Methods for Marine Structures – practical FEA modelling, numerical convergence, nonlinear analysis and dynamic response.
• Ship Structural Design and Assessment – classification rules, scantling principles, structural arrangement and topside design considerations.
• Offshore Structural Engineering – fixed and floating platform concepts, load combinations for offshore environments and installation/operational considerations.
• Fatigue, Fracture and Corrosion – damage tolerance, fracture mechanics principles and degradation mechanisms relevant to ships and offshore structures.
• Hydrodynamic Loads and Wave-Structure Interaction – wave loading, slamming, green water and fatigue-inducing load spectrums for both ships and offshore units.
• Materials and Joining Technologies – selection of steels and alloys, welding, inspection and maintenance strategies for marine applications.
• Research Project / Dissertation – an individual research or design project supervised by academic staff, often conducted with industry partners or research centres.

Students can usually tailor their studies through optional modules and laboratory/computational workshops. Practical training emphasises hands-on FEA practice, tank or wave basin data where available, and project work that addresses real-world industry problems.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a good honours degree in naval architecture, marine, mechanical or civil engineering, or a closely related discipline. Candidates with relevant industrial experience in shipbuilding, offshore engineering or structural design may also be considered, typically alongside a lower second-class honours degree plus professional experience.

All applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English through a recognised test or equivalent evidence of prior study in English, where applicable. Selection is based on academic record, references and the suitability of prior learning or experience for advanced study in ship and offshore structures.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for technical and leadership roles across the maritime and offshore sectors. Typical career paths include:

• Structural design and analysis engineer in shipyards and design consultancies
• Offshore structures engineer for oil & gas and offshore wind developers
• Engineering roles in classification societies and regulatory authorities
• Specialist consultancy in fatigue, fracture and structural integrity
• Research and continuing academic study leading to PhD-level work
• Project and asset integrity management roles in marine operations and renewables

Employers commonly value the combination of computational skills, practical design knowledge and understanding of marine loading environments developed on this MSc.

Why study at University of Strathclyde

Strathclyde has a long-established reputation in naval architecture and marine engineering, with a dedicated department that combines academic research with strong industry engagement. Students benefit from teaching delivered by experienced academic staff and researchers who collaborate with shipyards, offshore operators and testing facilities.

The university’s location in Glasgow places students in close proximity to a vibrant marine and offshore engineering community, providing opportunities for industrial projects, placements and networking. Facilities supporting the programme typically include specialist computing resources for structural analysis and access to experimental and validation data through departmental research projects and industry partnerships.

Overall, the programme is designed to equip graduates with the technical judgement, computational capability and practical design experience sought by employers across the global shipbuilding and offshore energy sectors.