Southampton Solent University

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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.

Next steps

Think a career as a yacht designer is for you? With an international reputation for excellence and strong links with the industry, Southampton Solent’s yacht design and production course will leave you well-prepared to take the first step in your career in the exciting and expanding yachting industry.

Contact central

General enquiries

Telephone: 023 8201 3000
Email: ask@solent.ac.uk

Admissions

Telephone: 023 8201 5066
Email: admissions@solent.ac.uk

Service enquiries

Academic Services

Telephone: 023 8201 3578

Academic Awards

Telephone: 023 8201 3500

Accommodation

Telephone: 023 8201 5040
Email: accommodation@solent.ac.uk

Alumni Association Office

Telephone: 023 8201 6108
Email: alumni@solent.ac.uk

Chaplaincy

Telephone: 023 8201 3819

Conference Centre

Telephone: 023 8201 5757
Email conference.centre@solent.ac.uk
Southampton Solent University, Conference Centre, Sir James Matthews Building, 157-187 Above Bar Street, Southampton SO14 7NN

Employability and Enterprise

Telephone: 023 8201 3883
Email: employability.enterprise@solent.ac.uk

Estates and Facilities Service

Telephone: 023 8201 3508

External Relations

Telephone: 023 8201 3039
Email: ask@solent.ac.uk

Finance Service

Telephone: 023 8201 3538
Email: finance@solent.ac.uk

Human Resource Service

Telephone: 023 8201 3961
Email: recruitment@solent.ac.uk

International Students Support

Telephone: 023 8201 3821

International Students Enquiries

Telephone: 023 8201 5646
Email: international@solent.ac.uk

Library East Park Terrace

Telephone: 023 8201 3681
Email: library.enquiries@solent.ac.uk

Library Warsash

Telephone: 023 8201 4269
Email: library.enquiries@solent.ac.uk

myCourse – Virtual Learning Environment

Telephone: 023 8201 3499
Email: mycourse@solent.ac.uk

Press Enquiries

Telephone: 023 8201 3040
Email: news@solent.ac.uk

Solent Sport

Telephone: 023 8201 3277
Email: solent.sport@solent.ac.uk

Student Exchange Opportunities

Telephone: 023 8201 3893
Email: chris.holder@solent.ac.uk

Student Support Counsellors

Telephone: 023 8201 3427

Student Support Welfare Advisers

Telephone: 023 8201 3817
Email: student.funding@solent.ac.uk 

Students’ Union

Telephone: 023 8201 3571

Warsash Maritime Academy

Telephone: 023 8201 5004
Email: wma@solent.ac.uk
Warsash Maritime Academy, Newtown Road, Warsash, Southampton SO31 9ZL

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