Bachelor of Maritime Engineering (Specialisation) (Honours)

This is a four-year Bachelor Honours degree in maritime engineering from the University of Tasmania. It sits at level 8 on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it goes deeper than a standard three-year bachelor pass degree, you finish with an honours classification and a substantial final-year research or design project. The degree is built around specialisations, so you choose a direction such as naval architecture, marine engineering, ocean engineering or maritime systems, and the later years lean heavily into that choice.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor honours degrees are usually organised into semesters or trimesters, with each unit of study carrying a set number of credit points. You need to pass a required total of credit points to graduate. Expect the first year to cover mathematics, physics, materials, statics and dynamics, and an introduction to engineering design. From second year you move into fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, structural analysis, ship resistance and propulsion, marine systems, and hydrostatics and stability. Later years combine advanced technical units with a capstone project, often a ship or offshore structure design, a model test, or a research thesis, completed over one or two semesters.

Work-integrated learning and accreditation

Engineering degrees in Australia typically include work-integrated learning, and maritime engineering is no exception. You may complete an industry placement, a cadetship, or a supervised project with a shipbuilder, port authority, offshore operator or classification society. The degree is structured to meet the accreditation requirements of Engineers Australia at the professional engineer level, which matters if you want to work as a chartered engineer later. Accreditation details can change, so check the official University of Tasmania page and the Engineers Australia list before you apply.

Skills and who it suits

You will learn to analyse how vessels and marine structures behave in real sea states, design and assess propulsion and power systems, use computational tools for hydrodynamics and structural analysis, and manage engineering projects under regulatory and safety constraints. The degree suits school leavers with strong maths and physics, and also mature students moving from a maritime trade, the navy, or a related engineering role. If you want to design ships, work offshore, or keep ports and marine infrastructure running safely, this is a direct route. International graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, and student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying. Tuition is listed on the CRICOS register, and English requirements for international applicants are set out on the university's official page, confirm all details there before applying.

• Naval architect, design and analyse ships, submarines and marine structures for shipbuilders, defence contractors and design consultancies.
• Marine engineer, manage propulsion, power and auxiliary systems on vessels or in shipyards, with operators, ferry companies and offshore support businesses.
• Ocean engineer, work on offshore platforms, subsea equipment, ports and coastal infrastructure for energy companies and engineering firms.
• Structural or hydrodynamics engineer, model loads, stability and fatigue for classification societies, research organisations and consultancies.
• Surveyor or classification society engineer, inspect and certify vessels and marine equipment against safety and regulatory standards.
• Project engineer, run maritime construction, refit or maintenance projects for shipyards, port authorities and defence programs.
• Marine systems and asset engineer, keep fleets, ports and offshore assets operating reliably for government agencies and private operators.