Do you dream of designing race-winning yachts or multi-million-pound superyachts? Take the first step to fulfilling your ambition by studying on Southampton Solent’s unique and highly-regarded yacht design and production course, delivered right in the heart of the south coast’s marine industry.
- Teaching is handled by a team of expert professionals with ongoing industry consultancy expertise.
- The course has strong links to the yacht industry.
- A strong emphasis is placed on practical design and production methods throughout the programme.
- Previous students have benefitted from guest lectures by industry leaders.
- To aid learning, students have full access to industry-standard facilities, including a CAD and drawing office and fully-equipped specialist composite workshop.
- Students have the opportunity to join Solent’s champion sailing team.
The industry
The UK has a strong pedigree in yacht design and in 2014 the UK superyacht industry employed approximately 4,000 people, and revenue had grown by over 10% year-on-year to £542 million, according to a recent report by Superyacht UK.
Southampton Solent’s yacht design and production degree boasts race-winning designers amongst its graduates. Other have also gone on to work as naval architects, design engineers and yacht designers at companies such as Dubois Yachts, Sunseeker, Monaco Marine and Viareggio Shipyards.
The programme
Southampton Solent’s yacht design and production course has an international reputation and has been developed in conjunction with the industry to ensure essential skills in both the design and production of yachts and commercial craft are covered.
Students on this modern course will study the engineering science underlying great design, along with the fundamental principles of naval architecture, construction methods and high-tech fibre reinforced composite materials. Planning and management processes for the efficient, effective production of racing sailing yachts, RIBs, motor yachts, cruising yachts, patrol boats and commercial craft are also key elements in the syllabus. A strong practical emphasis is present throughout the course, allowing students to gain valuable knowledge of hands-on examples, design applications and workshop experience in production methods and materials.
The final year of the course includes an optional work-based learning unit, and students are encouraged to gain work placements to develop as much practical hands-on experience as possible. Due to the course’s strong links with industry, second-year students have previously been able to secure summer work placements with large employers in the region.
To aid learning, students have full access to the University’s specialist facilities, including industry-standard CAD and drawing offices, as well as a fully-equipped specialist composite workshop a 60m towing tank and static four-metre stability tank.
Previous students have benefitted from attending guest lectures by speakers from key industry organisations such as the Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA), Nigel Gee BMT, Babcock Engineering, Rob Humphries, Sunseeker and Gurit.
To help build their professional network, students are encouraged to attend local boat shows, including the Southampton Boat Show and Seawork International. Previous students have also been on yard visits, with recent trips including Sunseeker and Solent Refit.