Maritime Engineering Majors - Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

Through a joint venture with Australian Maritime College (AMC), New Zealand students can now study maritime engineering in the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree.

If you study maritime engineering, you start with two years of study at AUT and then transfer to the AMC in Tasmania for your final two years. You then specialise in marine and offshore engineering, naval architecture or ocean engineering. There is no other programme of this kind in New Zealand.

Maritime majors are only open to New Zealand citizens. Students are subject to Australian visa and fee requirements depending on their citizenship and residency status. New Zealand citizens are entitled to study in Australia on the same basis as Australian permanent residents. Most New Zealand citizens are eligible for student loans through StudyLink but you should check your eligibility with StudyLink.

Australian Maritime College website


This is part of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).

If you’re studying maritime engineering, you’ll become familiar with sophisticated maritime engineering and technology. Most of your first-year courses are shared between the majors in the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and the Bachelor of Engineering Technology, making it easy for you to switch between our engineering degrees and majors.

A minimum of 12 weeks of planned supervised work placement is required prior to graduation on top of successful completion of all your courses. This experience exposes you to common engineering industry practices and helps you gain knowledge of engineering procedures, engineering responsibilities, and health and safety practices.

Year 1

Complete the following courses

Year 2

Complete the following courses

Year 3 and 4

You transfer to the Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania for Year 3 and 4 where you study one of:

  • Marine and Offshore Engineering
  • Naval Architecture
  • Ocean Engineering

Find out more on the UTAS website

Marine and Offshore Engineering

Year 3

Covers a wide range of marine subjects such as mechanics, thermal energy, electrical powering systems.

Year 4

Apart from the industry-based research project, you learn integrated process, applied control and maritime engineering design.

Naval Architecture

Year 3

Your study focuses on structural analysis, ship resistance, ship design and underwater vehicle technology.

Year 4

Apart from courses on advanced ship structures and computational fluid dynamics, your focus will be on an industry-based research project.

Ocean Engineering

Year 3

You study aquaculture, concrete structures, deep water and finite element analysis.

Year 4

Covers coastal and subsea engineering as well as design of offshore structures. You also undertake an industry-based research project this year.

Workplace experience

Workplace experience is a key component of the maritime engineering degree, and you gain exposure to the maritime industry in companies like:

  • Alloy Yachts
  • Babcock Engineering
  • Marine Industrial Design
  • Transfield Worley

Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?

Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.

Workplace experience in AUT programmes

Students who started at AUT before 2024

If you started your studies in this programme before 2024, the courses you need to complete are a little different. Updated study plans for current students in this programme will be available on Canvas. If you have questions about your study plan and what courses you should take, email engineer@aut.ac.nz

Maritime engineering is critical. Across the globe a web of offshore infrastructure supports the delivery of oil and gas supplies that power the world’s transportation. Maritime engineers keep these vital vessels and systems working.

Marine and Offshore Engineering

  • Industrial process and power generation sectors
  • Survey for government, class societies and insurance

Naval Architecture

  • Shipbuilding – cargo vessels, ferries, naval vessels, ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles), sailing, power and mega-yachts

Ocean Engineering

  • Design, installation and management of offshore oil and gas installations
  • Renewable energy installations
  • Coastal engineering
Maritime-Eng.jpg

Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.

Maritime Engineering Careers

Key features
  • The only maritime engineering degree offered by a New Zealand university
  • Career opportunities to travel and work at sea
  • Study in New Zealand and Australia
  • Accredited by Engineers Australia
See yourself as
  • A designer of yachts, ships, offshore structures
  • Accurate, with an eye for detail
  • A problem-solver and analytical thinker
  • Good at mathematical modelling

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.