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Master’s in Marine Energy Engineering: Waves and Tides

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in marine energy engineering (wave and tidal): 12 modules covering the marine energy resource, wave and tidal current characterisation, wave energy converters and their hydrodynamics, tidal stream turbines, power take-off, structures and mooring, tidal barrages and lagoons, grid integration, and environment, economics and regulation, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Assess the energy resource of waves and tidal currents.

02

Compare wave and tidal energy converter technologies.

03

Model the hydrodynamics and control of converters.

04

Design power take-off and electrical connection systems.

05

Size structures and moorings for survivability.

06

Assess environmental impact and economic viability.

07

Plan marine energy projects and arrays.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Marine energy engineers developing wave and tidal devices.
  • Ocean resource analysts working with buoy, ADCP and model data.
  • Converter design engineers focused on hydrodynamics and control.
  • Renewable power systems engineers handling PTO and grid connection.
  • Marine environmental consultants assessing impacts of ocean energy projects.
  • Ocean energy project managers taking devices from test site to array.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the marine renewable energy sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IEC TS 62600-101 (wave energy resource assessment and characterisation)
  • IEC TS 62600-201 (tidal energy resource assessment and characterisation)
  • IEC TS 62600-2 (design requirements for marine energy systems)
  • IEC TS 62600-100 (power performance of wave energy converters)
  • IEC TS 62600-200 (power performance of tidal energy converters)
  • DNV-ST-0164 (tidal turbines)
  • Directive 2014/89/EU (maritime spatial planning)
  • IEC TS 62600-10 (mooring of floating marine energy converters)
  • WEC-Sim
  • ANSYS AQWA
  • SWAN
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • WAMIT
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Physical origin of waves and tides
  2. 1.2Global wave energy potential
  3. 1.3Astronomical tides and harmonic constituents
  4. 1.4Tidal currents and coastal amplification
  5. 1.5Ocean thermal energy and salinity gradient
  6. 1.6Resource atlases and databases
  7. 1.7Seasonal variability of the resource
  8. 1.8Geographical and siting constraints
  9. 1.9State of the sector and reference projects
  10. 1.10Practical exercise: wave resource assessment for a site
  1. 2.1Hs, Tp and Te parameters
  2. 2.2Directional wave spectra
  3. 2.3Measurement with buoys and radar
  4. 2.4SWAN and WAVEWATCH III propagation models
  5. 2.5Energy flux per metre of wave front
  6. 2.6Hs-Te scatter diagrams
  7. 2.7Extreme sea states and return periods
  8. 2.8Bathymetric effects in coastal areas
  9. 2.9IEC TS 62600-101 standard
  10. 2.10Lab: scatter diagram from buoy data
  1. 3.1Harmonic analysis of tides
  2. 3.2Measurement with ADCP
  3. 3.3Velocity profiles in the water column
  4. 3.4Turbulence and its effect on turbines
  5. 3.5Wave-current interaction
  6. 3.62D and 3D hydrodynamic models
  7. 3.7Blockage effect in channels
  8. 3.8Exploitable resource and limits
  9. 3.9IEC TS 62600-201 standard
  10. 3.10Workshop: energy yield estimate from ADCP data
  1. 4.1Classification of WEC devices
  2. 4.2Oscillating water column (OWC)
  3. 4.3Point absorbers
  4. 4.4Pelamis-type attenuators
  5. 4.5Overtopping converters
  6. 4.6Oyster-type oscillating flaps
  7. 4.7Submerged pressure differential devices
  8. 4.8Experience from Mutriku and other projects
  9. 4.9Advantages and limitations of each concept
  10. 4.10Case study: comparison of WEC concepts
  1. 5.1Cummins equation of motion
  2. 5.2Added mass and damping coefficients
  3. 5.3Capture width and efficiency
  4. 5.4Resonance and phase control
  5. 5.5Latching and reactive control
  6. 5.6Non-linear and viscous effects
  7. 5.7BEM modelling
  8. 5.8Simulation in WEC-Sim
  9. 5.9Wave tank testing
  10. 5.10Lab: point absorber model in WEC-Sim
  1. 6.1Horizontal-axis turbines
  2. 6.2Vertical-axis and cross-flow turbines
  3. 6.3Blade element momentum (BEM) theory
  4. 6.4Power coefficient and the Betz limit
  5. 6.5Cavitation on marine turbine blades
  6. 6.6Turbulence-induced fatigue loads
  7. 6.7Ducted turbines and diffusers
  8. 6.8MeyGen and Sabella projects
  9. 6.9Scale turbine testing
  10. 6.10Practical exercise: preliminary design of a tidal rotor
  1. 7.1Hydraulic PTO systems
  2. 7.2Wells and impulse turbines
  3. 7.3Linear electrical generators
  4. 7.4Permanent magnet generators
  5. 7.5Power electronics and converters
  6. 7.6Short-term storage
  7. 7.7PTO control for maximum capture
  8. 7.8Power quality and grid connection
  9. 7.9Powertrain reliability
  10. 7.10Workshop: model of a hydraulic PTO
  1. 8.1Extreme loads on devices
  2. 8.2Storm survival modes
  3. 8.3Mooring of floating converters
  4. 8.4Foundations for tidal turbines
  5. 8.5Materials and marine corrosion
  6. 8.6Biofouling on devices
  7. 8.7Structural fatigue under cyclic loading
  8. 8.8DNV standards for marine energy
  9. 8.9Installation and retrieval of devices
  10. 8.10Case study: mooring system for a floating WEC
  1. 9.1La Rance and Sihwa barrage power plants
  2. 9.2Tidal lagoons
  3. 9.3Bulb turbines and operating modes
  4. 9.4Pumping and two-way generation
  5. 9.5Impact on estuaries and sediments
  6. 9.6Economic viability of lagoons
  7. 9.7Swansea Bay proposals
  8. 9.8Comparison with tidal stream turbines
  9. 9.9Integration with coastal defence
  10. 9.10Practical exercise: annual energy yield of a tidal lagoon
  1. 10.1Layout of device arrays
  2. 10.2Wake effects between turbines
  3. 10.3Subsea electrical infrastructure
  4. 10.4Predictability of tidal generation
  5. 10.5Combination with offshore wind
  6. 10.6Hybridisation and storage
  7. 10.7Island microgrids
  8. 10.8Grid codes
  9. 10.9Layout optimisation
  10. 10.10Workshop: layout of a tidal turbine array
  1. 11.1Environmental impact assessment
  2. 11.2Underwater noise and marine fauna
  3. 11.3Collision of species with turbines
  4. 11.4Maritime spatial planning
  5. 11.5Levelised cost of energy (LCOE)
  6. 11.6Support schemes and auctions
  7. 11.7EMEC and BiMEP test sites
  8. 11.8Technology certification pathway
  9. 11.9Technology risk and investment
  10. 11.10Case study: LCOE of a wave energy farm
  1. 12.1Site selection
  2. 12.2Resource analysis
  3. 12.3Device selection and design
  4. 12.4Energy yield estimate
  5. 12.5Structural and mooring design
  6. 12.6Environmental and economic assessment
  7. 12.7Technical conclusions and future work
  8. 12.8Review with the thesis supervisor
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is WEC-Sim, ANSYS AQWA, SWAN, MATLAB/Simulink and WAMIT, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: wave resource assessment with buoy data, hydrodynamic simulation of converters in WEC-Sim and LCOE estimate for a tidal energy farm. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: IEC TS 62600-101, IEC TS 62600-201, IEC TS 62600-2, IEC TS 62600-100, IEC TS 62600-200, DNV-ST-0164, Directive 2014/89/EU, IEC TS 62600-10.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of IEC TS 62600-101, IEC TS 62600-201 and IEC TS 62600-2 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:WEC-Sim, ANSYS AQWA, SWAN, MATLAB/Simulink and WAMIT, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A wave or tidal energy project for a selected site, covering resource analysis, device selection and design, energy yield, structural and mooring design, and environmental and economic assessment, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Site and resource analysis
Select the site and characterise its wave or tidal resource to IEC TS 62600.
Device selection and modelling
Choose the converter concept and model its hydrodynamics and PTO.
Energy yield and survivability
Estimate annual energy production and design the structure and mooring for extreme conditions.
Environmental and LCOE assessment
Assess environmental impacts and calculate the levelised cost of energy.
Master's Thesis
A wave or tidal energy project for a selected site, covering resource analysis, device selection and design, energy yield, structural and mooring design, and environmental and economic assessment, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Marine Energy EngineerOcean Resource AnalystConverter Design EngineerRenewable Power Systems EngineerMarine Environmental ConsultantOcean Energy Project Manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with WEC-Sim, ANSYS AQWA, SWAN, MATLAB/Simulink and WAMIT, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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