Master's degree builds submarine expertise

Collins class submarine

A rejuvenated Master of Marine Engineering (MME) program – backed by the expertise and resources of ASC, Australia’s submarine company – is seeing dozens of postgraduate students at the University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø prepare for a career building and sustaining Australia’s current and future submarines.

This year 49 students are undertaking the Master’s by course work in submarine design (naval architecture and maritime engineering), sustainment, supply chain, project management and related subjects, within the University's School of Mechanical Engineering. The program, offered every two years, has grown from 27 students in 2017 and nine students in 2015.

The students are drawn from industry, Defence and recent graduates, as well as French exchange students from the prestigious French Grande Ecole d’Ingénieurs ENSTA Bretagne, which last year signed a collaboration agreement with the University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø. In the program each student completes an individual project developing a submarine concept design using professional tools.

The ramp-up in enrolments for the Master’s course reflects the place ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø will occupy at the centre of submarine and major warship design and construction in coming decades, under the bi-partisan approach to the naval shipbuilding industry.

Newly appointed course director, Associate Professor Eric Fusil, said the Master’s students were highly motivated.

“We are at the start of a historical and challenging build-up in the submarine sector in Australia. The students are drawing on an incred