Master of Science (MSc) Marine Technology
Ocean Engineering

The MSc at a glance

  • 2-year fully accredited master’s degree
  • Fully taught in English
  • Open to applicants with a bachelor's degree or equivalent, in a field related to Science and Technology
  • M1 & M2 entry
  • 6-month Master's thesis/internship
  • Next intake: every year in September

Interested in applying?

Find out about eligibility, application deadlines, English-language requirements, tuition fees and funding opportunities for Centrale Nantes MSc programmes.
 
About the Programme
  • The MSc Ocean Engineering* (M-TECH OE) aims to give students advanced training on typical problems of free-surface hydrodynamics applied to ocean engineering: water waves, ship resistance, wave-structure interactions, moorings, behaviour and performance of marine structures including ships or offshore renewable energy systems ... physical, modelling, numerical and experimental aspects are studied.
  • Training involves theoretical courses together with physical understanding, modelling and the practical use of software to solve problems through a variety of numerical methods e.g., boundary elements or spectral methods under potential flow theory, finite-volume techniques in solvers for viscous flows, Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH).  
  • Experimental methods are also taught through lab work using the unique academic large-scale facilities available at Centrale Nantes including a towing tank, a large ocean wave tank equipped with a multiflap wave generator and a circulating water channel.
The programme of study lasts two academic years - denoted by M1 and M2 and is taught in English. It comprises three study semesters followed by a paid Master's thesis / internship in the final semester.

Our Master of Science (MSc) programmes in Marine Technology are fully accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space.

Customise your programme

Students applying for the Master of Science (MSc) in Ocean Engineering can also apply to join the Integrated Master-PhD track, which brings together the two years of the Master's degree and three years of PhD studies. The Integrated Master-PhD track is designed to give high-potential students exposure to research activities from the M1 year.
 

*formerly entitled Hydrodynamics for Ocean Engineering

Meet the Programme Supervisors


Guillaume Ducrozet , M1/M2 Programme Supervisor


Guillaume Ducrozet obtained his PhD at Centrale Nantes in 2007, and then occupied different post-doctoral positions, notably at DTU in 2009. He returned to Centrale Nantes in 2010 as an Associate Professor in Ocean Engineering in the LHEEA Laboratory, of which he has been the deputy director since 2022.

His research interests include: Free-surface hydrodynamics; Nonlinear ocean waves; Numerical modelling; Pseudo-spectral methods (HOS); Rogue/freak waves; Wave-structure interactions; Experimental hydrodynamics. He is the main developer of the open-source High-Order Spectral models HOS-ocean and HOS-NWT. He has authored 45+ publications in ISI peer-reviewed international journals.

Lionel Gentaz, Marine Technology & M1 Programme Supervisor 

Lionel Gentaz is Assistant Professor and teaches fluid mechanics, mathematical models and numerical methods (Boundary Element, Finite Difference, Finite Volume) used in Hydrodynamics for Ocean Engineering. His research work focuses on numerical simulation of wave-structure interactions based on low-fidelity or high-fidelity models.

Antoine Ducoin, M2 Programme Supervisor

Antoine Ducoin is an associate professor in fluid mechanics. His research focuses on hydrodynamics of lifting profiles and fluid structure interaction. He is involved is various research projects, leading experiments and Navier Stokes simulations (Direct Numerical Simulations) in order to improve the performance of marine propulsors and tidal turbines.

Course Content

30 ECTS Credits per semester.
Language of instruction: English
 

M1 Year
M1 Year 2026/27
Autumn Semester Courses ECTS Spring Semester Courses ECTS
Algorithmics for Engineering Modelling  4 Fluid Mechanics 2 5
Marine Hydrodynamics 1 5 Marine Hydrodynamics 2 5
Continuum Mechanics 5 Structural Mechanics 5
Fluid Mechanics 1 5 Applied Thermodynamics 5
Numerical Methods 5 Propulsion 5
Tools and Methods for Research 1 4 Research project (Tools and Methods for Research 2) 4
Modern Languages * 2 Modern Languages * 2
Conferences 0

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English' or Spanish (depending on sufficient demand)

NB Course content may be subject to minor changes

M2 Year
M2 Year 2026/27
Autumn Semester - Core Courses ECTS
Wave-structure interactions and moorings 4
Water waves and sea states modelling 4
Tools and Methods for Research 3 5
Project 0
Conferences 0
Approximation Methods in Computational Mechanics and Probabilistic Methods in Mechanics ± 5
Metamodelling and Uncertainty Quantification ± 5
Monitoring Strategy and Monitoring Systems ± 5
Naval Engineering ± 5
Marine Renewable Energy ± 5
Research in Marine Hydrodynamics ± 5
Experimental hydrodynamics ± 5
Numerical hydrodynamics ± 5
Modern Languages * 2
Conferences -


* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English' or Spanish (depending on sufficient demand).
± Elective courses (choose 3 out of 8)
NB Course content may be subject to minor changes

 
M2 Year 2026/27
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)
  • Development of methodology for predicting marine vessel turning radius with overset grid technique using CFD Solver, Mauric
  • Floating offshore wind turbine model validation and parameter estimation, University of New Hampshire
  • Design floating wind turbine alternate mooring system, IDEOL

The Master's internship can be carried out within the framework of an internship in the LHEEA Laboratory, but also in other university laboratories (NTNU in Norway, INSEAN in Italy, DTU in Denmark) or in industry, in France or abroad, on numerical or experimental subjects.

NB Internships undertaken in France are strictly regulated and are only open to current full-time students of an accredited educational institution. Interns are entitled to all the rights guaranteed to regular employees (such as social protection and redress mechanisms). For internships that exceed two months in duration a minimum level of remuneration is set by the government, at approximately €600 per month. In some professional branches, this amount may be higher.

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
Contribution to sustainable development goals
SDG 7 - AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY

SDG 9 - INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Learn more about Centrale Nantes' commitment to the 17 sustainable development goals

Download syllabus | Marine Technology - Ocean Engineering

Facilities and Research

Faculty and Research Facilities

This Marine Technology programme relies on Centrale Nantes’ faculty and the research facilities of the Research Laboratory in Hydrodynamics, Energetics & Atmospheric Environment (LHEEA)

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.

 

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.

 

Students also have access to the recirculating canal.

Industry partnerships

Bureau Veritas, Naval Group, Principia, H&T, Innosea, Mauric, CMA CGM, D-ICE, Ideol, Technip, Saipem
 

Campus facilities

Centrale Nantes houses 17 buildings on a 40-acre green campus.
In addition to the standard facilities of a university campus (classrooms, media library, computer rooms, etc.), it is home to a total of 13 research platforms, some of which are unique in France, and modern and varied sports facilities, the Kivo incubator and vibrant student life.

► Learn more about the campus

After the MSc

Where are our Marine Technology graduates now?

Survey conducted in 2024 of our 2022 MSc Marine Technology graduates, 74% of whom are currently in employment and 13% pursuing a PhD.  

Image transcript

Job/PhD search duration:

  • 100% find their first job in 3 months or less
  • 33% secured their PhD in less than 3 months

Country of origin

  • France - 40%
  • Asia Pacific - 30%
  • Europe other - 25%
  • Americas - 5%

Current country of residence

  • France - 55%
  • Europe other - 45%
 
  • 80% earn a starting salary in excess of €40K
  • 50% joined the company where they interned for their Master's thesis
  • 88% have a permanent work contract
  • 94% recommend the programme
Why choose this MSc?

Five reasons why you should choose the MSc in Ocean Engineering at Centrale Nantes:

  1. Well-respected scientific expertise in hydrodynamics research activities
  2. Practical lab work in the experimental test facilities
  3. Fully taught in English for a cohort of international students
  4. Centrale Nantes with Nantes Université is the only French university ranked in the Shanghai Global Ranking (GRAS) for Marine/Ocean Engineering in 2026 (world's top 50). 
  5. Accredited Master of Science (MSc) preparing for a PhD in France or abroad or for direct entry into the workplace

What our students and graduates say

Find out from Liad Paskin, PhD, what it's like to study on the MSc Ocean Engineering programme



 
Video transcript

I'm coming from Brazil and I'm doing this hydrodynamics stuff for over ten years, almost all of it in research. It's been some eight years that I'm in Nantes. I came here for my Master's, then followed by a PhD and a post-doc and now I open a company. And for this whole time I've been in Centrale Nantes.

Why did you decide to come to Centrale Nantes?

Once I decided to come to France, Centrale Nantes was a bit of a straightforward choice because it's surely the best, or one of the best, universities in France on the subject of hydrodynamics.

How was the Master's programme?

It's divided into two years. The first one is like a general one; we're studying general engineering and then we specialise in hydrodynamics. What I  did like very much about this programme is all the applied part of it - it's very much applied - we're all the time talking about industry and how we can use our knowledge to bring something to industry, and this was nice.

When and why did you decide to pursue your PhD here?

That was always the objective and I came to Nantes to do my Master's thesis already thinking about my PhD. So, that was not much of a decision once I was already here.

What what the subject of your PhD?

I've been studying wind-waves interaction, notably to know to how the waves can affect the wind - actually how it could affect the energy generation of a wind turbine. I think what makes the hydrodynamics research here so good is that we really do have all the support - like experimental and numerical support - that we need for our research. So, that includes a big and a smaller wave tank besides a real-scale facility in the sea and, of course, our computers since I do so much numerical work.

What are you doing now?

Recently, we just opened our start-up. We've been incubated in the Centrale-Audencia-ensa (incubator) since March. We're offering mathematical services and tools. So, on one side, we're selling services to the wind energy industry to help them achieve competitiveness offshore and, on the other side, we're developing cutting-edge technology for engineering simulation.

Any advice for future applicants for the Integrated Master-PhD track?

I think it's amazing because this is what I came here for, but the track didn't exist at the time. So, I basically had to do my master's thesis and find my PhD and it worked out as I planned, but maybe it wouldn't have. Also, it's really nice if you can have some time during your Master's to already get to know your PhD subject because three years is not that much for a new research field. And that gives you a good transition time as it should be for someone who knows it's going to be their PhD.

Centrale Nantes in three words?

Cutting-edge - international - exchange


Former students/graduates Olaoluwa from Nigeria, Alessandro from Italy and William from the USA give their feedback on the MSc Ocean Engineering

 

Video Transcript

Olaoluwa, from Nigeria, Master of science (MSc) Marine Technology

My name is Olaoluwa Ogunseye. I'm from Nigeria and I just completed my Master’s Degree in Hydrodynamics for Ocean Engineering.

How do you feel on graduation day?

I feel happy, fulfilled. I would also say that I’m a little bit proud of myself, for the accomplishment. I should say it’s one of the best moments.

What's your best memory of Centrale Nantes?

Let’s just say that I was struggling a bit. The International Relations Department really helped me get myself back on track. It was a very very nice gesture. I appreciated that.

What are you doing now?

I’m waiting to begin my new job. My job is going to be very much at the core of what I studied. It’s going to be in risers and hydrodynamic engineering in Subsea 7 in Paris. 

Centrale Nantes in 3 words?

Center of Excellence

Video Transcript

Alessandro, from Italy, Master of Science (MSc) Marine Technology

Hello everyone I’m Alessandro and I’m an M2 student here at Centrale Nantes in Hydrodynamics for Ocean Engineering.

Why did you decide to join Centrale Nantes?

I wanted to experience something new, a new culture, a new country. I really wanted to specialise in this sector and I found out that this school was really good in it and so, there it is!

How is the program going so far?

I like it very much. Especially I have to say this semester in M2. The subjects are well explained and everything is well structured. I’m really enjoying it!

What about student life on campus?

It’s really, really beautiful. I met some friends here in my programme and we started to hang out. Most of them are French which is nice for me for the culture and the language. 

Any advice for new applicants?

They should go ahead. It’s really a wonderful experience and they should really try not to miss this opportunity. 

Centrale Nantes in 3 words?

Ecological - Open Minded - International


Video Transcript

William, from the USA, Master of Science (MSc) Marine Technology

Hi, I’m William. I come from Oklahoma in the United States. I’m here studying Hydrodynamics for Ocean Engineering.

Why did you decide to join Centrale Nantes?

I wanted to get a different experience from the United States. Ecole Centrale is more useful for what I want to do in my career in the future. 

How is the program going so far?

So far, the classes are really challenging, but the professors are helpful and they want to see us succeed. They are always available to help any time we need them. Tough courses, but they’re fun. 

What about student life on campus?

Student life in Nantes is pretty great because of the number of students and international students here. There’s always people to find and in my own group we have many different countries, friends from all over the world. Nantes is, in general, a really fun city. 

Any advice for new applicants?

I would say, don’t hesitate, go ahead and apply, see what happens. Maybe you’ll find that’s what you wanted to do all along. 

Centrale Nantes in 3 words?

Future Science Community

Published on March 25, 2017 Updated on September 21, 2026

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