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CourseNaval, Offshore & Sports Nautical Applications open

Course in Psychology of Space in Marine Interiors

Online course of 300 hours in spatial psychology for marine interiors: 6 modules covering environmental psychology applied to ships, sensory stimuli, crew wellbeing, biophilic and restorative design, evaluation of spatial experience, and a psycho-spatial design project, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the principles of environmental psychology in marine spaces.

02

Analyse the effect of sensory stimuli on passengers and crew.

03

Design spaces that support crew wellbeing.

04

Apply biophilic and restorative design strategies.

05

Evaluate the spatial experience using research methods.

06

Integrate regulatory comfort criteria into the design.

07

Develop a psycho-spatial design proposal for a ship.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Marine interior designers.
  • User experience researchers.
  • Onboard wellbeing consultants.
  • Crew welfare managers.
  • Accommodation architects.
  • Environmental psychologists.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to join cruise and ferry operators.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • MLC 2006 Title 3 (accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering for seafarers)
  • EN 17037 (daylight in buildings)
  • ISO 7730 (ergonomics of the thermal environment)
  • IMO Resolution MSC.337(91) (Code on noise levels on board ships)
  • ISO 6385 (ergonomic principles in the design of work systems)
  • WELL Building Standard v2 (health and wellbeing in built spaces)
  • ISO 9241-210 (human-centred design for interactive systems)
  • depthmapX
  • Unity
  • Qualtrics
  • SPSS
Syllabus

6 modules · 300 h

  1. 1.1Classic theories of environmental psychology
  2. 1.2Spatial perception and scale
  3. 1.3Confined spaces and the feeling of enclosure
  4. 1.4Territoriality and privacy
  5. 1.5Crowding and perceived density
  6. 1.6Wayfinding and mental maps
  7. 1.7Attention restoration and nature
  8. 1.8Stress and recovery on board
  9. 1.9Cultural differences in perception
  10. 1.10Case study: perceptual analysis of a cruise ship corridor
  1. 2.1Colour and emotions
  2. 2.2Daylight and windows
  3. 2.3Sea views and connection with the outside
  4. 2.4Sound, silence and background noise
  5. 2.5Smell and ambient scents
  6. 2.6Textures and touch
  7. 2.7Ship motion and perception
  8. 2.8Temperature and the sensation of comfort
  9. 2.9Risks of sensory overload
  10. 2.10Workshop: sensory palette for a lounge
  1. 3.1Extended life on board
  2. 3.2Isolation and mental health
  3. 3.3Crew cabins and rest
  4. 3.4Common spaces and socialising
  5. 3.5Separation between work and leisure
  6. 3.6Fatigue and circadian rhythms
  7. 3.7ISWAN wellbeing guidelines
  8. 3.8MLC 2006 requirements
  9. 3.9Designing for coexistence
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: redesign of a crew mess
  1. 4.1Principles of biophilic design
  2. 4.2Plants and gardens on board
  3. 4.3Use of natural materials
  4. 4.4Water and dynamic elements
  5. 4.5Circadian lighting on board
  6. 4.6Fractal patterns and natural geometries
  7. 4.7Prospect and refuge
  8. 4.8Calm and meditation spaces
  9. 4.9Scientific evidence for biophilic design
  10. 4.10Lab: biophilic proposal for an atrium
  1. 5.1User research methods
  2. 5.2Validated psychometric questionnaires
  3. 5.3Observation and behaviour mapping
  4. 5.4Virtual reality for testing
  5. 5.5Physiological measures of stress
  6. 5.6Space syntax analysis
  7. 5.7Post-occupancy evaluation of spaces
  8. 5.8Research ethics
  9. 5.9Recommendations report
  10. 5.10Case study: post-occupancy evaluation of a ferry
  1. 6.1Selecting the space
  2. 6.2Identifying users
  3. 6.3Perceptual diagnosis of the space
  4. 6.4Defining the sensory strategy
  5. 6.5Design proposal
  6. 6.6Evaluation plan
  7. 6.7Wellbeing indicators
  8. 6.8Final design recommendations
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The course is taught 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is depthmapX, Unity, Qualtrics and SPSS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: post-occupancy evaluation of passenger spaces, space syntax analysis of a deck and a biophilic design proposal for a common area. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: MLC 2006 Title 3, EN 17037, ISO 7730, IMO Resolution MSC.337(91), ISO 6385, WELL Building Standard v2, ISO 9241-210.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of MLC 2006 Title 3, EN 17037 and ISO 7730 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:depthmapX, Unity, Qualtrics and SPSS, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete psycho-spatial design proposal for a space on board, from user identification and perceptual diagnosis to sensory strategy and evaluation plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Space and users
Select the space on board and identify its users.
Perceptual diagnosis
Diagnose how the space is currently perceived and used.
Sensory strategy and design
Define the sensory strategy and develop the design proposal.
Evaluation and indicators
Plan the evaluation and set the wellbeing indicators.
Final project
Present the final design recommendations and report for final review with your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Marine interior designerUser experience researcherOnboard wellbeing consultantCrew welfare managerAccommodation architectEnvironmental psychologist
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with depthmapX, Unity, Qualtrics and SPSS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

No prior qualification is required; you need a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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