Maritime Engineering

The Nordic Master in Maritime Engineering is based on the expertise of the participating universities within naval architecture, offshore engineering and maritime engineering. The programme targets international students wishing to profit from the Nordic Five Tech universities' long standing tradition and competence in the field and Nordic students wishing to specialize in a specific area of expertise offered within the alliance.

Structure of studies

The programme is structured in two parts:

1. In the first year, you learn topics of maritime engineering, naval architecture and offshore engineering on Master level: stability, resistance and propulsion, seakeeping, manoeuvring and ship and ocean structures. If you did not have naval architecture as part of your bachelors’ programme, you will also have basic introductory courses in naval architecture. In addition to maritime engineering courses, you must do courses on general and special engineering competences, such as CFD, structural analysis, composite materials etc. The emphasis on each subject will depend on the entrance university and your entrance qualifications.

2. In the second year, you specialize in one of the five subjects: ocean structures, passenger ships, ship design, ship operations and small craft. Each of the subjects defines a study track.

It is required that you start at one of the partner universities for part 1 and finish your studies at another university for part 2.

Study tracks

Each of the five study tracks is defined below, with the partner university responsible for the track given in parenthesis:

Ocean Structures (NTNU)

This study track gives you a strong foundation for design of any type of ocean structure, from conventional ships to offshore structures. It also deals with marine operations like pipelaying, towing and use of cranes on mobile platforms for installation of subsea modules. The study track is discipline based and includes groups of courses within marine environment, environmental loads, effects of loads, structural capacity and marine cybernetics.

Passenger Ships (Aalto) 

This study track gives comprehensive overview of the different aspects related to the design, analysis and optimization of passenger ships. The conflicting interests of various stakeholders (passenger, ship owner, shipyard) will be addressed during the studies, and you will be forced to create a solution that satisfies the stakeholder's preferences.

Ship Design (Chalmers)

In this study track, you will be part of a project team and work with a problem oriented and realistic ship-design project with a company from the maritime industry as the “customer”. You will be part of a student team guided by professional engineers from industry and faculty members from Chalmers. The initial design process prior to an order of a new ship is covered during the project following the demands of the customer. The project will take place during the second year and you will utilize and link together knowledge from all the marine engineering courses of the first year.

Ship Operations (DTU)

In popular terms the definition of this study track is that it mainly deals with naval architecture and maritime engineering from the point of view of the ship owner, i.e. it deals with ships at sea. You will learn to apply rational methods in analysing and optimizing the performance of ships (container ships, tankers, bulk carriers, ro-ro ships etc.) with respect to safety, efficiency, economics and environmental considerations.

Small Craft (KTH)

The Small Craft track is designed to prepare you for the engineering challenges of the design and engineering of the group vessels often called small craft. The group includes fast rescue boats, patrol boats, pilot vessels and other similar vessels. Also yachts are dealt with in the track. These craft must be able to carry out their vital operations safely and efficiently during the toughest weather conditions. Also yachts must sail safely – and win their races. You will learn to apply rational methods for innovative design, including for instance advanced materials. Moreover, methods for efficient design processes and system engineering aspects related to small craft design are also taught in this track.

Programme-specific requirements

In order to apply for the Nordic Master programme in Maritime Engineering (NMME), you have to fulfill a number of requirements. The requirements apply to all applicants for the programme regardless of where you decide put in your application.

Degree Requirements:

• A BSc degree corresponding to a minimum 180 ECTS credits in:
  • Naval Architecture for start at Aalto, Chalmers, DTU, KTH and NTNU,
  • Mechanical engineering for start at Aalto, Chalmers and KTH
• A BEng in Mechanical Engineering is accepted for start Aalto, Chalmers and KTH.
• Applicants with a BEng in Naval Architecture, or a BSc or BEng in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, in Ocean Engineering, in Civil Engineering or in Engineering Physics will be considered on an individual basis.
• The applicant’s qualifications must include a strong working knowledge of mathematics and mechanics and applicants must document that they have fulfilled the following minimum requirements:
  • Mathematics: 25 ECTS including linear algebra, calculus and differential equations.
  • Statistics and probability theory: 5 ECTS. Students without this qualification must be prepared to complete their curriculum during the first year.
  • Statics, mechanical vibrations, and strength of materials: 10-15 ECTS
  • Fluid mechanics: min. 5 ECTS    Moreover, the applicant must have sufficient qualifications within numerical methods and elementary programming using e.g. MATLAB or a similar programming language.* Applicants with a Polytechnic (FI), Högskoleingeniör (SE) and Diplomingeniør (DK) degree may be expected to do extra course work to qualify for the programme.