MSc Marine Technology
Hydrodynamics for Ocean Engineering (M-TECH HOE)

This specialism aims to give students advanced training on typical problems of hydrodynamics applied to naval architecture and ocean engineering: ship resistance, seakeeping, ship behaviour in irregular seas, water,  waves and marine environment... physical, modelling and numerical aspects are studied.

The programme includes theoretical courses on typical hydrodynamics problems: ship resistance, wave induced motions, wave and marine environment modeling ... and numerical methods used to solve these problems. A large part of the programme is also devoted to the practical use of software to solve the problems cited above through a large variety of numerical methods: boundary elements or spectral methods under potential flow theory, finite-difference or finite-volume techniques in solvers for viscous flows, Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). Students are also involved in practical work using the ocean test facilities (towing tank, wave tank equipped with an multiflap wave generator etc.)

The programme of study lasts two academic years - denoted by M1 and M2 and is taught in English. 
This MSc programme is fully accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
 

Contribution to sustainable development goals

30 ECTS Credits per semester.
Language of instruction: English
 

M1 Year - 2023/24

Autumn Semester Courses	ECTS	Spring Semester Courses	ECTS
Continuum Mechanics	5	Fluid Mechanics 2	5
Fluid Mechanics 1	5	Mechanical Design	5
Algorithmics for Engineering Modelling	4	Energetics	5
Numerical Methods	5	Propulsion	5
Vibrations and Differential Equations	5	Hydrodynamics	5
Business Environment	4	Conferences and Initiation to Research	3
Modern Languages *	2	Modern Languages *	2
Conferences	0

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English'

NB Course content may be subject to minor changes
 

M2 Year - 2023/24

Autumn Semester - Core Courses	ECTS
General concepts of hydrodynamics	4
Water waves and sea states modelling	4
Wave-structure interactions and moorings	5
Numerical hydrodynamics	5
Experimental hydrodynamics	5
Hydrodynamics R&D	5
Modern Languages *	2
Conferences	-

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English'
NB Course content may be subject to minor changes
 

Spring Semester	ECTS
Master thesis / internship	30

Master thesis / internship

Examples of previous internships:

 

• Fatigue Methodology of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Platform & Tower in Composite Materials, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
• Speeding Up Simulation-Driven Design for a High-Speed Planing Boat, Friendship Systems (Germany)
• Mooring Optimization for Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Based on Water Depth, EOLFI
• Development of methodology for predicting marine vessel turning radius with overset grid technique using CFD Solver, Mauric
   

The Master's internship can be carried out within the framework of an internship in the LHEEA Laboratory, but also in other university laboratories (IST Lisbon, NTNU in Trondheim, INSEAN in Rome, University of Auckland ...) or in industry, in France or abroad, on numerical or experimental subjects.

Skills developed

• Build and use models dedicated to hydrodynamics for ocean engineering
• Define and perform experiments for free-surface hydrodynamics problems
• Solve - numerically - free surface problems for ocean engineering applications

In addition to the above specialism-specific skills, students will also develop more general skills:
 

• Identify models, perform simulation and analyse results
• Communicate comprehensive results in a meaningful way
• Undertake bibliographic surveys of international research and professional literature
• Manage or be part of a project

Download syllabus | M-TECH HOE 2022/23

• M1 year
• M2 year

Faculty and Research Facilities

Focus on unique resources

Hydrodynamic and ocean engineering tank

50 m long by 30 m wide and 5 m deep, the hydrodynamic and ocean engineering tank is equipped with a segmented wave beater composed of 48 independent flaps to generate directional waves. This tank is used for small-scale physical simulation of floating systems, navigating or anchored in open seas (ships, MRE systems or oil platforms). Due to its size and generation capacity, it is currently the largest tank in France for this type of study.
 

• Learn more

Towing tank

The towing tank at Centrale Nantes is 140 m-long, 5 m-wide and 3 m deep. It is equipped with a towing carriage able to move in both directions, at speeds up to 8 m/s. At one end of the tank, a wave maker generates waves with heights up to 0.5 m. It is the second largest towing tank in France, the largest in an academic setting. The tank is used to test the resistance of ships to forward motion, with or without swell, and therefore to optimise hulls, the seaworthiness of ships or floating structures, cable towing, and also marine renewable energy.
 

• Learn more 

Students also have access to the recirculating canal.

Partnerships

Bureau Veritas, Principia, H&T, Innosea, Mauric, CMA CGM, D-ICE, Ideol, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Technip, Saipem

• Apply online on the eCandidat platform
• 2023/24 intake: applications closed
• 2024/25 intake: applications will open in October 2023

Application process

Application rounds

• Applications are reviewed in rounds. M1 applicants may apply in any of the three M1 rounds, and M2 applicants in either of the two M2 rounds. Applications should be submitted on the eCandidat platform as early as possible, but before the deadlines below;
• Applications are not considered 'complete' until all required elements are submitted. Only complete applications received by the round's deadline will be considered in that round;
• The admissions board reviews applications at the conclusion of each round and notifies each applicant of the outcome of their application;

Accepting your place

• Successful applicants must accept their place on the eCandidat platform by the deadlines below;
• The first installment of tuition fees must be paid by the deadlines below to definitively secure the applicant's place on the programme.

Important dates for the 2023 intake

	M1 | Round 1	M1 | Round 2	M1 | Round 3	M2 | Round 1	M2 | Round 2
Submit your complete application by	14 December	28 February	30 April	30 March	30 April
You will be notified of the outcome of your application by	27 January	24 March	26 May	28 April	26 May
Accept your place by	14 February	10 April	11 June	11 May	10 June
Pay your first tuition installment by	31 March	25 May	15 June	30 May	15 June

Admission requirements

Admission requirements for the first year (M1)

• International students with a bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Technology) or equivalent, in a field related to Science and Technology
• French and European students with a 'license' qualification or equivalent.
• Students must have graduated from the above before the end of August in order to enrol in a Master's Programme at Centrale Nantes in September.
• Applicants must have a good level in Mathematics and be fluent in English - written and spoken. An applicant whose native language is not English is required to pass a recognised international test of English*:
  • TOEFL - IBT 80, or ITP 550, paper-delivered test 60,
  • Cambridge B2 First Test - 173 or higher,
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced Test - 160 or higher,
  • IELTS - 6.5 or higher,
  • TOEIC - 800 or higher.
• Applicants who carried out their studies in English (you must provide an official confirmation letter from your university) are eligible without passing such a test, but providing the results of a recognized international test can add value to the application.
• Students who completed their studies in the countries listed below are exempted from submitting a language certificate: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, English-speaking Canada, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Liberia, Mauritius, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia or Zimbabwe.

*no other test is recognised.

Language of instruction

Fully taught in English.

Admission requirements for the second year (M2)

Students who have successfully completed a first year Master's programme can apply for the second year Master's programme.

Language of instruction

Fully taught in English.

Required documents

When applying for a Centrale Nantes MSc Programme you will be asked to provide the following documents:
 

• Your official transcripts
• A CV/Resume and cover letter
• Your diploma
• Proof of English proficiency
• Two letters of recommendation
• Your passport or other form of official identification

Your documents must be uploaded in English or French. If the original version of your documents is not in one of these two languages, a certified translation by a sworn translator is required.

Apply online

Apply online on the eCandidat platform
 

How to use the eCandidat platform:

 

• Download the user guide
• Connect to eCandidat: https://ecandidat.ec-nantes.fr
• Use the flag (page top right) to select your language.
• Start off by creating your account.
• No application fees.

Your application in 5 easy steps:

Contact and admissions support

Master Admission Office

master.admission@ec-nantes.fr
Tel: +33.2.40.37.68.36 / 33.2.40.37.68.51

Chinese students: lichunlai@ec-nantes.cn
Indian students: application@galaxy-edu.com

Fees for non-European students:

• Master 1 year: €9,000
• Master 2 year: €6,000

A reduction of €1,500 for the first year of study is granted to non European international students who make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.

Fees for European students:

Scholarships

Career Prospects

PhD opportunities

Where are they now?

Virtual Tour