Master’s in Naval & Submarine Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in naval and submarine engineering, structured in 12 modules covering naval architecture, hydrodynamics, naval structures, submarine principles, propulsion and energy, survivability, combat systems overview, shipbuilding and life-cycle sustainment, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Naval & Submarine Engineering — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a established defence industry centred on companies such as Denel and Paramount Group, with capabilities in land systems, armoured vehicles and munitions. The sector supports engineering roles in systems integration, vehicle design and test and evaluation. Defence procurement and export controls are overseen by government bodies, and the industry works closely with the South African National Defence Force. Engineers in this field typically combine mechanical, electrical and systems skills.
Fees for South Africa: R 185 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African bodies regulate or recognise defence and military engineering professionals?
Engineers in South Africa are registered through ECSA under the Engineering Profession Act, and defence programmes are guided by institutions such as the South African National Defence Force and Armscor, which set their own requirements. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by these bodies and your employer, so confirm with them first.
Would this qualification help me find work in South Africa's defence or land systems sector?
South Africa has a defence industry with state-linked entities and private contractors, and employers usually require security clearances, relevant experience and recognised qualifications. A private online programme may support your application but does not guarantee employment or clearance. Check requirements with prospective employers, as roles in this sector can be sensitive and tightly controlled.
Can I study alongside a job, and are there funding options?
The course is 100% online and taught in English, so you need strong English, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, each with an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, so ask whether your employer would fund part of the training.
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
Analyse warships and submarines within their legal and ethical context.
Apply naval architecture to stability and compartmentation.
Evaluate ship hydrodynamics and propulsion.
Design naval structures in accordance with naval codes.
Understand the design principles of submarines.
Integrate platform systems at a high level.
Manage the construction and life cycle of naval platforms.
Who it's for
- Naval engineers working in defence shipbuilding.
- Naval architects focusing on stability, hydrodynamics and general arrangement.
- Naval structures engineers dealing with scantlings and class rules.
- Marine propulsion engineers working on CODAD, CODLAG or electric plants.
- Naval sustainment engineers planning maintenance and upgrades.
- Naval systems integration engineers working across platform and combat systems.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the shipbuilding industry.
What you'll work with
- ANEP-77 (NATO Naval Ship Code)
- UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)
- SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea)
- MARPOL 73/78 (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships)
- AQAP 2110 (NATO quality assurance requirements for design, development and production)
- Regulation (EU) 1257/2013 (ship recycling)
- MIL-STD-882E (system safety)
- Maxsurf
- NAPA
- ShipConstructor
- Ansys Fluent
- MSC Nastran
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Types of surface ships1.2Types of submarines1.3Naval missions and state services1.4Life cycle of a naval programme1.5Defence shipbuilding in Europe1.6Law of the sea and UNCLOS1.7International humanitarian law at sea1.8Ethics of defence naval engineering1.9Export controls1.10Case study: requirements analysis of a public frigate programme
2.1Hull geometry2.2Hydrostatics and stability2.3Warship stability criteria2.4Damage stability2.5Subdivision and compartmentation2.6Freeboard and tonnage2.7Weight and centre of gravity calculation2.8General arrangement2.9Naval design tools2.10Lab: stability calculation with Maxsurf
3.1Resistance3.2Resistance estimation methods3.3Propulsors and propellers3.4Hull-propeller interaction3.5Seakeeping3.6Manoeuvrability3.7Cavitation3.8Towing tank testing3.9Naval CFD3.10Practical exercise: resistance estimation with the Holtrop method
4.1Hull loads4.2Longitudinal strength4.3Scantlings4.4Materials: naval steels and aluminium4.5Structural fatigue4.6Shock and vibration: requirements4.7Classification society rules for naval ships4.8ANEP-77 Naval Ship Code4.9Finite element analysis4.10Case study: scantlings of a midship section
5.1Submarine buoyancy principles5.2Pressure hull and outer hull5.3Surfaced and submerged stability5.4Ballast and trim systems5.5Submerged hydrodynamics5.6Diesel-electric and AIP propulsion5.7Habitability and atmosphere5.8Submarine safety and escape5.9Safety regulations5.10Lab: submerged hydrostatic equilibrium
6.1CODAD, CODOG and CODLAG configurations6.2Naval gas turbines6.3Marine diesel engines6.4Integrated electric propulsion6.5Electrical generation and distribution6.6On-board energy storage6.7Alternative fuels6.8Efficiency and emissions6.9Platform automation6.10Practical exercise: electrical load balance of a ship
7.1Firefighting systems7.2Damage control7.3HVAC systems7.4Collective CBRN protection7.5Water and fuel systems7.6Crew safety systems7.7Signatures: general concepts7.8Ship survivability7.9Applicable maritime safety standards7.10Case study: damage control plan
8.1High-level combat system architecture8.2Combat management systems (CMS): concepts8.3Naval sensors: overview8.4Communications and data links8.5On-board systems integration8.6Naval open architectures8.7Human factors in operations centres8.8Human oversight8.9Naval cybersecurity8.10Practical exercise: high-level functional architecture model
9.1Naval design process9.2Model-based design9.3Modular construction9.4Shipyard planning9.5Production management9.6AQAP quality in shipbuilding9.7Harbour and sea trials9.8Delivery and acceptance9.9Ship digital twin9.10Workshop: modular construction sequence
10.1Naval maintenance10.2Dry-docking and repair periods10.3Condition-based maintenance10.4Integrated logistics support10.5Configuration management10.6Mid-life upgrade10.7Life-cycle cost10.8Ship dismantling and recycling10.9EU Ship Recycling Regulation10.10Case study: upgrade plan for a frigate
11.1Applicable IMO conventions11.2MARPOL on state-owned ships11.3Ballast water management11.4Underwater noise and marine fauna11.5Law of the sea11.6International humanitarian law11.7Naval export controls11.8Professional ethics11.9Occupational safety in shipyards11.10Workshop: underwater noise impact assessment
12.1Requirements definition12.2Conceptual design12.3Hydrostatic and hydrodynamic analysis12.4Preliminary structural design12.5Propulsion plant and energy12.6Safety analysis12.7Life-cycle plan12.8Conclusions12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 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 the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Maxsurf, NAPA, ShipConstructor, Ansys Fluent and MSC Nastran, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for intact and damage stability calculation, resistance and propulsion estimation and hull structural design. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ANEP-77, UNCLOS, SOLAS, MARPOL 73/78, AQAP 2110, Regulation (EU) 1257/2013, MIL-STD-882E.
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.
- 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.
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 Maxsurf, NAPA, ShipConstructor, Ansys Fluent and MSC Nastran, 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 degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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.
Related programmes
Master’s in Submarine Engineering: Pressure Hull and Acoustic Stealth
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in submarine engineering focused on the pressure hull and acoustic stealth, structured in 12 modules covering hydrostatics, pressure hull mechanics,…
Master’s in Resilient and GPS-Denied Autonomy
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in resilient and GPS-denied autonomy. 12 modules covering inertial navigation, sensor fusion, visual odometry and SLAM, navigation by external references,…
Master’s in Directed Energy Systems (Laser/Microwave)
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in directed energy systems (laser/microwave). 12 modules covering electromagnetic radiation physics, high-power laser and microwave sources, atmospheric propagation, adaptive optics,…
More in Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems
All Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships