Maritime engineers are the driving force behind the maritime industry. They design, build and maintain ships, submarines and other marine vessels and structures – ensuring they’re safe, sturdy and efficient.
South Australia has a world-class maritime industry base, and the global sector is growing rapidly. Delivered in collaboration with ASC – Australia’s builder and sustainer of the Navy’s fleet of Collins Class submarines – our Master of Engineering (Maritime) combines advanced theory with countless opportunities to hone your skills in professional settings.
Whether you’re looking to upskill or change careers, we’ll help match your professional goals to industry objectives.
Our Master of Engineering (Maritime) is designed to challenge and extend, elevating you to take your engineering career to the next level.
You’ll study higher-level courses in advanced systems engineering, submarine design, naval architecture and shipbuilding programs – building a formidable knowledgebase. Deepen and formalise your project management expertise in engineering management and data analytics courses.
Our wide range of electives give you the freedom to tailor your studies to your specific interests and career goals. Whether that’s defence leadership, autonomous robotic systems or advanced mechanics and materials - you’ll explore a range of disciplines.
Put your learning into practice through our hands-on curriculum. Complete a capstone design project, major research project and up to 450 hours of professional industry placement.
These experiences combine to ensure you graduate with the advanced technical and professional skills necessary to achieve your career goals.
Extend your knowledge in higher-level courses in advanced systems engineering, submarine design, defence leadership and more. Choose specialised electives aligned to your specific interests and career goals. Collaborate and apply your skills in industry with up to 450 hours of professional placement. Build your project management skillset through courses in engineering management and data analytics. Develop your research skills through capstone design and research projects in your final year. Commit to your studies at a pace that suits you – taking advantage of our stackable qualifications. Our Master of Engineering (Maritime) is structured with both a foundation and extension year. Depending on previous professional experience and completed qualifications, you may be eligible to receive credit for the first year and progress straight into year two of the degree.
The first year of this degree covers essential maritime engineering knowledge and theory in acoustics and vibration, submarine design and systems engineering. You’ll also complete courses in engineering data analytics and engineering management.
You’ll also undertake professional industry placement from your first year of study, aligning your practice to career goals. Throughout your degree, you’ll complete up to 450 hours of placement in a relevant industry setting.
In second year, you’ll take advanced courses in naval nuclear propulsion and stewardship, shipbuilding programs for industry and defence managers and submarine naval architecture.
You can also choose to complete two elective courses from the following:
In your final year, you will complete both a major research project and a capstone engineering design project.
Assessments for this degree include reports, case studies, examinations, industry-relevant research projects and team-based projects.
You’ll be able to complete majority of first year common courses at either our Adelaide City or Mawson Lakes Campus with some potential cross-campus study required. Throughout your degree, you’ll gain access to cutting-edge facilities across both campus locations to enhance your overall learning experience.
The Master of Engineering is also available with specialisations in the following:
This degree is part of a stackable set of qualifications, meaning your study choices are flexible. If your goals shift, you can exit after six months of study with a standalone Graduate Certificate or after one year with a Graduate Diploma qualification.
You can also begin your studies with a shorter qualification like the six-month Graduate Certificate and continue on to complete the Graduate Diploma (one year) or full master’s degree.
Complete 96 units comprising:
Complete 78 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Professional Engineering Management
|
Course code
ENGI5003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Engineering Data Analytics
|
Course code
ENGI5006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Submarine Design and Construction
|
Course code
ENGI5015
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Engineering Systems Design Project
|
Course code
ENGI6001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Submarine Naval Architecture Maritime Engineering
|
Course code
ENGI6011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Shipbuilding Programs for Industry and Defence Managers
|
Course code
ENGI6012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Naval Nuclear Propulsion and Stewardship
|
Course code
ENGI6018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project A
|
Course code
ENGI6900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project B
|
Course code
ENGI6901
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Principles of Submarine Design
|
Course code
ENGIX501
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Acoustics and Vibrations
|
Course code
ENGMX300
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Principles of Systems Engineering
|
Course code
ENGP5004
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
Engineering Data Analytics
|
Course code
ENGI5006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Principles of Systems Engineering
|
Course code
ENGP5004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Acoustics and Vibrations
|
Course code
ENGMX300
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Career Preparation
|
Course code
ENGI5900
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Engineering Management
|
Course code
ENGI5003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Submarine Design and Construction
|
Course code
ENGI5015
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Principles of Submarine Design
|
Course code
ENGIX501
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Engagement with Professional Practice
|
Course code
ENGI5901
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project A
|
Course code
ENGI6900
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Engineering Systems Design Project
|
Course code
ENGI6001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Submarine Naval Architecture Maritime Engineering
|
Course code
ENGI6011
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project B
|
Course code
ENGI6901
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
Shipbuilding Programs for Industry and Defence Managers
|
Course code
ENGI6012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Naval Nuclear Propulsion and Stewardship
|
Course code
ENGI6018
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Career Preparation
|
Course code
ENGI5900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Engagement with Professional Practice
|
Course code
ENGI5901
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Engineering Data Analytics
|
Course code
ENGI5006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Principles of Systems Engineering
|
Course code
ENGP5004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Acoustics and Vibrations
|
Course code
ENGMX300
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Career Preparation
|
Course code
ENGI5900
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Engineering Management
|
Course code
ENGI5003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Submarine Design and Construction
|
Course code
ENGI5015
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Principles of Submarine Design
|
Course code
ENGIX501
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Engagement with Professional Practice
|
Course code
ENGI5901
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project A
|
Course code
ENGI6900
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Engineering Systems Design Project
|
Course code
ENGI6001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Submarine Naval Architecture Maritime Engineering
|
Course code
ENGI6011
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project B
|
Course code
ENGI6901
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
Shipbuilding Programs for Industry and Defence Managers
|
Course code
ENGI6012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Naval Nuclear Propulsion and Stewardship
|
Course code
ENGI6018
|
Units
6
|
Complete exactly 6 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Control
|
Course code
ENGEX401
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Industrial Automation
|
Course code
ENGEX413
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Defence Leadership
|
Course code
ENGIX404
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Fluid Mechanics
|
Course code
ENGMX401
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Vibrations
|
Course code
ENGMX402
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Autonomous Robotic Systems
|
Course code
ENGMX403
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Computational Fluid Dynamics
|
Course code
ENGMX404
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Engineering Acoustics
|
Course code
ENGMX405
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Finite Element Analysis
|
Course code
ENGMX406
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
|
Course code
ENGMX407
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Mechanics of Materials
|
Course code
ENGMX411
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Renewable Power Technologies
|
Course code
ENGMX412
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage
|
Course code
ENGPX401
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Model-Based Systems Engineering
|
Course code
ENGIX405
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Engineering Data Analytics
|
Course code
ENGI5006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Principles of Systems Engineering
|
Course code
ENGP5004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Acoustics and Vibrations
|
Course code
ENGMX300
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Career Preparation
|
Course code
ENGI5900
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Engineering Management
|
Course code
ENGI5003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Submarine Design and Construction
|
Course code
ENGI5015
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Principles of Submarine Design
|
Course code
ENGIX501
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Engagement with Professional Practice
|
Course code
ENGI5901
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project A
|
Course code
ENGI6900
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Engineering Systems Design Project
|
Course code
ENGI6001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Submarine Naval Architecture Maritime Engineering
|
Course code
ENGI6011
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project B
|
Course code
ENGI6901
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
Shipbuilding Programs for Industry and Defence Managers
|
Course code
ENGI6012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Naval Nuclear Propulsion and Stewardship
|
Course code
ENGI6018
|
Units
6
|
Maritime engineers work on a wide range of projects and have the expertise to take on roles at any stage of the marine project lifecycle. From ship design and construction to safety testing and compliance, maintenance and repair.
You could lead development of modular shipbuilding techniques, enhancing flexibility and reducing construction timelines. Maybe you’ll implement predictive maintenance technologies, identifying potential equipment failures before they occur to improve safety. Or perhaps you’ll pioneer new approaches to ship construction that minimise the impact of maritime activities on marine ecosystems.
Whatever your area of interest, career paths are available in a wide range of sectors including:
Rapid advancements in technology, environmental regulations and the evolving needs of the maritime industry are driving transformation across the sector. Projects focused on autonomous and unmanned vessels, advanced materials and construction techniques, renewable energy integration, predictive maintenance and resilient design. All will require the expertise of maritime engineers to bring to fruition.
The World Economic Forum (2023) suggests that as industries continue to rely on digital technologies for innovation and growth, demand for qualified maritime engineers is only expected to increase. Globally and in Australia, there is a demand for qualified engineers continuing to outstrip supply (Engineers Australia, 2023). Study a degree that will prepare you for an exciting career, applying your expertise in maritime engineering across a range of industries.
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
