Master’s in Submarine Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in submarine engineering. 12 modules covering submarine architecture, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics and manoeuvrability, pressure hull structure, propulsion and energy, signatures, platform systems, sensors, safety, construction and through-life support, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Submarine Engineering — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom maintains a substantial defence industry, with prime contractors such as BAE Systems and Babcock, and a wide supply chain across the Midlands, the North West, Bristol and Scotland. Land systems, armoured vehicles, munitions and military engineering programmes provide long-term employment for engineers in design, integration, test and sustainment. The Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory oversee procurement and research. Security clearance requirements shape recruitment, and professional standards are maintained through UK defence engineering frameworks.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £7,440 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies and regulators are relevant to defence and military land systems engineering?
In the UK, the Ministry of Defence sets its own engineering standards and the Engineering Council regulates professional registration. Professional bodies such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Royal Engineers' professional structures are relevant. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so recognition for security-cleared or MOD roles is decided by the employer and the relevant authority.
Will a private qualification help with UK defence industry careers?
UK defence employers, including primes and suppliers, often prioritise security clearance eligibility, relevant experience and formal qualifications recognised by the MOD or industry bodies. A private qualification may support your profile but is unlikely to replace these requirements. Ask prospective employers how they would assess it before enrolling.
Is it practical to study this online while working in the UK, and what about language and funding?
Online study means you can continue working in the UK, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Teaching is in English, so good technical English is essential. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers offer training sponsorship, though policies vary. Each programme has a fixed number of hours and an assigned technical tutor. Confirm the workload and costs before enrolling.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the architecture and design requirements of a submarine.
Perform hydrostatic and trim calculations on the surface and submerged.
Analyse the hydrodynamics and manoeuvrability of submerged hulls.
Size the pressure hull against external pressure.
Evaluate submarine propulsion plants and energy systems.
Integrate stealth, safety and habitability criteria into the design.
Develop a submarine preliminary design in the Master's Thesis.
Who it's for
- Submarine design engineers.
- Naval structures engineers.
- Platform systems engineers.
- Acoustic signature specialists.
- Sea trials engineers.
- Naval programme managers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the shipbuilding sector.
What you'll work with
- Lloyd's Register Rules for the Classification of Naval Submarines (classification of naval submarines)
- ANEP-77, Naval Ship Code (NATO safety framework for naval ships)
- MIL-DTL-901E (shock testing of shipboard equipment)
- MIL-STD-167-1A (mechanical vibrations of shipboard equipment)
- MIL-STD-461G (electromagnetic interference control)
- MIL-STD-1399 (interface standard for shipboard systems)
- DNV Rules for Naval Vessels (classification of naval vessels)
- ANSYS Mechanical
- Abaqus
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+
- Rhinoceros
- MATLAB
12 modules
1.1Pressure hull and outer hull1.2General arrangement and compartmentation1.3Types: conventional, AIP and nuclear1.4Mission requirements and concept of operations1.5The naval design spiral1.6Weights, volumes and centres1.7Classification rules for submarines1.8Life cycle of a submarine programme1.9The S-80 programme as a reference1.10Case study: general arrangement of a conventional submarine
2.1Equilibrium on the surface and submerged2.2Transverse and longitudinal stability2.3Main ballast tanks2.4Compensating and trim tanks2.5The submerged weight triangle2.6Variations in seawater density2.7Reserve buoyancy2.8Evolution of the weight balance2.9Inclining experiment2.10Workshop: submerged trim calculation
3.1Submerged resistance3.2Axisymmetric hull forms3.3Appendages and sail3.4Cruciform and X-form rudders3.5Six-degree-of-freedom equations of motion3.6Hydrodynamic derivatives3.7Manoeuvrability in the vertical plane3.8Captive model testing3.9CFD applied to submerged hulls3.10Lab: CFD simulation of a hull
4.1Cylinders under external pressure4.2Buckling of frames and plating4.3Test depth and collapse depth4.4HY-80 and HY-100 steels4.5Welding of the pressure hull4.6Penetrations and openings4.7Finite element analysis4.8Fatigue from diving cycles4.9Geometric imperfections and their measurement4.10Practical exercise: FEM analysis of a hull ring
5.1Diesel-electric propulsion5.2Lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries5.3AIP systems: an overview5.4Electric propulsion motors5.5Low-noise propellers5.6Onboard electrical distribution5.7Energy management and endurance5.8Snorkelling and battery charging5.9Lithium battery safety5.10Case study: energy balance of a patrol
6.1Sources of radiated noise6.2Resilient mounts and vibration isolation6.3Propeller cavitation6.4Flow noise6.5Magnetic signature and degaussing6.6Infrared and pressure signatures6.7Anechoic coatings6.8Signature measurement on a range6.9Managing stealth from the design stage6.10Workshop: radiated noise budget
7.1High-pressure air7.2Hydraulics and actuators7.3Atmosphere regeneration and control7.4Fresh water and services7.5Air conditioning and refrigeration7.6Bilge and ballast systems7.7Integrated platform management7.8Automation and reduced crewing7.9Maintenance of auxiliary systems7.10Practical exercise: diagram of a compressed air system
8.1Hull-mounted and towed sonar8.2Periscopes and optronic masts8.3Passive electronic warfare sensors8.4Submarine inertial navigation8.5Submarine communications8.6Combat management system8.7Sensor integration8.8Onboard data networks8.9Onboard cybersecurity8.10Case study: integration of an optronic mast
9.1Rescue and escape9.2Fire prevention and fire fighting9.3Flooding and damage control9.4The SUBSAFE programme as a reference9.5Platform risk analysis9.6Safety of high-pressure systems9.7Habitability and human factors9.8Ergonomics in confined spaces9.9Crew health and wellbeing9.10Workshop: safety analysis of an emergency manoeuvre
10.1Modular construction by sections10.2Dimensional control of the hull10.3Outfitting and systems installation10.4Harbour acceptance trials10.5Sea and diving trials10.6Depth certification10.7Configuration management10.8Shipyard quality10.9Planning and cost control10.10Case study: sea trials plan
11.1Condition-based maintenance11.2Major refits and upgrades11.3Obsolescence management11.4Integrated logistics support11.5Operational availability11.6Digital twin of the platform11.7Decommissioning and recycling11.8Life-cycle costs11.9Experience of European fleets11.10Practical exercise: maintenance plan for a system
12.1Definition of platform requirements12.2Proposed design concept12.3Hydrostatic and weight calculations12.4Structural sizing12.5Propulsion and energy plant12.6Systems and signatures12.7Construction and trials plan12.8Conclusions and future work12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, Rhinoceros and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: finite element structural analyses of the pressure hull, hydrodynamic simulations of submerged hulls and harbour and sea trials plans. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Lloyd's Register Rules for the Classification of Naval Submarines, ANEP-77 (Naval Ship Code), MIL-DTL-901E, MIL-STD-167-1A, MIL-STD-461G, MIL-STD-1399 and DNV Rules for Naval Vessels.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, Rhinoceros and MATLAB, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent demonstrable professional experience), a suitable computer 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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