MSc Marine and Offshore Engineering

Entry year:
2025/26
Start date:
September, January
Study mode:
Full-time
Course duration:
1 year
Campus:
City
99% of graduates are in full-time work within a year
Study abroad at 100+ partner universities worldwide
2,000+ PCs and loan laptops on campus

About this course

LJMU's long history of high quality masters teaching in Marine and Offshore Engineering will ensure you are prepared for a successful career in this growing industry.

  • Study at one of the UK's leading Maritime Schools
  • Follow a curriculum accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
  • Meet Chartered Engineer requirements
  • Benefit from close industry links and excellent career prospects

This MSc programme provides the engineering skills and techniques you need to work as a specialist in the marine and offshore engineering field. On graduation you will be able to make an immediate contribution to a company's capability and operation, and progress into senior management positions.

The course combines substantial marine modules with mechanical engineering options to produce a bespoke skills learning set. It capitalises on the demand for highly qualified postgraduates and maintains LJMU's longstanding reputation for meeting the needs of the maritime industry.

Studying alongside students from all over the world you will learn about: safety analysis, design engineering, structural analysis, maritime law and regulation, quality systems and alternative energy systems. Two pathways offer the ability to tailor the degree depending on the preferred industry sector.

Our highly qualified and respected academic team combine specialist knowledge with relevant industrial experience. This combination of academic and professional expertise, as well as our well-established links with the industry and the worldwide maritime research sector, will help to ensure that you are well prepared to meet the opportunities and challenges of this vibrant and expanding sector.

For those with existing industry experience and relevant qualification, the programme provides the further learning requirement to obtain Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration via an appropriate Professional Engineering Institution.

Course modules

Discover the building blocks of your programme

This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the university 's approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.

Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.

Some of the new module content that is being considered, and is subject to approval, may include Renewable energy and alternative fuels, Finite Element Analysis, Professional Leadership, and Maritime Legal principles.

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

MSc Marine & Offshore Engineering Project
60 credits

The main aims of the project module are to allow a student to demonstrate an ability to drive their own deep/thorough investigation, undertake high quality academic research and demonstrate critical evaluation of their results.

This module aims to develop the student's ability to independently undertake, investigate and critically evaluate high quality academic research. It:

  • enables development of a high level of subject knowledge and associated skills
  • helps to demonstrate an ability to drive, thorough investigation, a demonstration of critical skills

Marine Maintenance and Asset Management
20 credits

The aim of this module is to provide knowledge about how the maintenance and repair of an offshore installation, vessel or a fleet of vessels is managed. In particular, it is intended to consider the lifecycle of a vessel and how maintenance is planned, scheduled and executed.

Research Methods
10 credits

The aims of this module are to develop the students’ ability to formulate a coherent and well- designed research project and associated proposal. The module also aims to develop the skills required to critically analyse and evaluate research findings and the effective presentation of the results.

Project Management
10 credits

The central theme of this module is the management of projects using known standards and methodologies. It aims to develop a sound understanding of the fundamental concepts of managing projects.  You are given the opportunity to develop your skills in a practical and theoretical context.  

Marine Design Engineering
10 credits

The aim of the module is to provide you with the appropriate level of marine engineering knowledge and expertise required of an effective member of a marine engineering design team.

Offshore Engineering
10 credits

This module provides an advanced understanding of offshore installation types and knowledge of offshore installations from an operational and safety aspect.

 

Maritime and Offshore Safety Analysis
20 credits

This module aims to enable you to understand and implement the requirements of formal safety design, assessment and review in marine, offshore and port areas.

Marine Technology Management
20 credits


Optional Modules

Advanced Finite Element Analysis
10 credits

The module extends your existing knowledge of the finite element method to an advanced level. Whilst the theoretical aspects of the method will be covered in lectures, the module is intended to be practical in nature to give you the opportunity to practice via a range of tutorials and assignments using industry standard software.

 

Professional and Leadership Skills
10 credits

This module will help you to develop an awareness of the legal and ethical framework surrounding the activities of a professional engineer. You will also gain an awareness of the Emotional Competence Framework for a professional engineer. This will help you to develop a specific set of personal and social competency skills appropriate for a professional engineer, such as adaptability, creativity diversification, leveraging diversity, political awareness, leadership and team capabilities.

Renewable Electric Power Systems
10 credits

This module builds upon the knowledge you have already gained at levels 5 and 6 with regard to renewable energy systems, electric machines and power electronics. It aims to develop your knowledge of wind energy converters and photovoltaic energy conversion technologies and their connection to the power grid.

Conventional Fuels and Alternative Energy Sources
20 credits

This module recognises that the ways in which the maritime industry fuels vessels and the wider maritime sector is changing. In the light of rapidly shifting regulation and stringent goals for decarbonisation, the module will consider what the prospects are for new alternative fuels and how the maritime industry will adapt.

Marine Legal Practice
10 credits

This module introduces students to contemporary issues of admiralty law that serve to demonstrate how civil and criminal liabilities can arise from the shipping and offshore business and the respective available remedies. The module focuses on the practical application of English law, covering the areas of Collision, Salvage, Towage and Wreck. Current industry commentary and cases provide exploration of the workings of the Admiralty Court and UK Supreme Court.

Your Learning Experience

An insight into teaching on your course

Study hours

Teaching takes place throughout the week. Exact timetabled hours depend on the option modules selected.

Teaching methods

On this course you will be taught by academics active in industrially-oriented research and scholarship, via lectures and directed student-centred learning, such as case studies.

Applied learning

Industrial visits are an important part of the course enabling you to understand developments in the market. They typically include: ports, ship visits, insurance underwriters (usually in London).

How learning is monitored on your programme

To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.

Where you will study

What you can expect from your School

The Department of Maritime and Mechanical Engineering is located in the Byrom Street site of LJMU 's City Campus. In addition to specialist engineering facilities, Byrom Street has high quality lecture theatres, meeting and seminar rooms plus a large café and social spaces. The Avril Robarts Library is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.

Course tutors

Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning

Career paths

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

With an increasing demand for qualified experts in the field, you will be highly sought after by employers and you will have the skills to enter senior positions with major UK and international companies. Marine and Offshore Engineering graduates are employed in a varied range of areas such as Class and Flag Surveyors, Technical Superintendents, Project Engineers, Offshore Field engineers, the options are endless,. The programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills  to be adaptable and a problem solver..

The Programme is accredited as meeting the Further education requirements for registration as Chartered Engineer. 

Fees and funding

Tuition Fees:

Home fee:
£10,415

There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students

Fees

The fees quoted at the top of this page cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:

  • library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
  • access to programme-appropriate software
  • library and student IT support
  • free on-campus wifi via eduroam

Additional costs

Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:

  • accommodation and living expenditure
  • books (should you wish to have your own copies)
  • printing, photocopying and stationery
  • PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
  • mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
  • field trips (travel and activity costs)
  • placements (travel expenses and living costs)
  • student visas (international students only)
  • study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
  • academic conferences (travel costs)
  • professional-body membership
  • graduation (gown hire etc)

Funding

There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages.

Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.

International fee:
£18,250

International Scholarships and payment plans

Liverpool John Moores University is committed to supporting international students by providing a range of scholarships and flexible payment plans to help students manage their tuition fees.

Scholarships

LJMU provides a variety of scholarships to support international students. Scholarships are available to self-funded students who have accepted their offer and met all the conditions outlined in their offer letter. Students must also demonstrate that they can cover living costs, travel, and other expenses associated to studying at the university. Postgraduate scholarships include tuition fee reductions and are often offered in partnership with external funding organisations.

All self-funded international students are eligible for an automatic scholarship worth up to £4,000. For more details and to view our full list of scholarships, visit the international scholarship webpages.

Deposit

All students must pay a £5,000 deposit before they can receive their CAS letter.

For more information view our deposit page.

Tuition Fee Payment Plan

After paying their £5,000 deposit, students have the option to pay their fees in full or in three equal instalments minus any internal scholarships and discounts. There are two payment options available for international students. You can either pay your tuition fees in full before enrolment or opt for a payment plan. With the payment plan, you can pay your fees in three instalments after making your £5,000 deposit. The first instalment is due before enrolment.

All payments should be made through Flywire. Full details can be found in the How to Pay Guide.

Early Bird Tuition Fee discount

We are excited to introduce a £500 Early Payment Discount to all self-funded international students. Eligible self-funded students who pay their fees by the required deadlines will get a discount which will be automatically deducted from the 1st year of tuition fees.

To see the required deadlines please visit the webpage

Entry requirements

You will need:

Qualification requirements

Undergraduate degree

  • A lower second class (2:2) or higher honours degree in an engineering discipline.

or

  • A lower second class (2:2) or higher honours degree in mathematics or a physical science, together with experience in a field relevant to engineering.

Alternative qualifications considered

  • A Chief Engineers or 2nd Engineers certificate of competency.
  • Graduate or corporate membership of a suitable engineering professional body. For example the IMarEST, The Institute of Mechanical Engineers, The Institution Engineering and Technology or the Institute of Measurement and Control,
  • Other qualifications or experience deemed to be equivalent. In particular, mature students must provide evidence of adequate educational and/or industrial experience to assure a reasonable chance of success on the award programme.

Further information

  • Extra Requirements
    • References will normally be required for all candidates.

International requirements

IELTS

All applicants must provide evidence of competence in English. The level of English language required should be equivalent to 6.0 for IELTS within the previous 24 months. Equivalents to this score are:

  1. UK GCSE English grade C or above
  2. Cambridge Examination Board: Advanced Certificate of English, grade C or above.

Applicants who have studied and successfully achieved a UK Degree programme within the previous 24 months are exempt from the requirements to produce evidence of competence in English.

Other international requirements

Please note that this programme requires offer holders to apply for ATAS. For more information please visit https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/international/holding-offer-of-study/atas-guidance

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.

Your student experience

There's so much more to university than just studying for a degree.

Talk to our students

Connect with a current LJMU student through Unibuddy for insights and advice on university life, courses, and more.

See what our students are saying

At LJMU we want you to know you’re making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:

The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.

Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.