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Masters · 1500 h · 11 modules
Master's in Materials for Extreme Subsea Environments
The Master's in Materials for Extreme Subsea Environments Prepares you to select, design and validate materials that can perform in the most demanding conditions the ocean offers. You will study how metals, polymers, ceramics and
Duration1500 h
FormatOnline
Starts21 December
Places20 / 20
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Programme overview
What is the Master’s in Materials for Extreme Subsea Environments?
The Master's in Materials for Extreme Subsea Environments
Prepares you to select, design and validate materials that can perform in the most demanding conditions the ocean offers. You will study how metals, polymers, ceramics and composites behave under high hydrostatic pressure, low temperatures and seawater, the mechanisms of corrosion, fatigue and degradation, testing techniques and the structural integrity of subsea equipment, vehicles, cables, risers and deep-water energy and mining systems.
Key advantages
- A rare specialism: Materials for the most demanding environment on the planet.
- Engineering perspective: Selection, design, testing and integrity of real components.
- Reference standards: Working with ISO, API and classification society standards.
- Wide-ranging applications: Oil and gas, marine renewables, cables, vehicles and science.
- Your own project: A materials selection and validation study for subsea equipment.
Programme type
Master's Degree
Study mode
Online
Duration
1,500 hours
Modules
11
Programme highlights
- Understand the environment: Analyse the effects of pressure, temperature and seawater.
- Select materials: Choose suitable alloys, polymers and composites.
- Control degradation: Prevent corrosion, fatigue and embrittlement.
- Validate: Design testing and qualification plans.
- Boost your career: Open doors to offshore engineering firms, manufacturers and technology centres.
- Train to make subsea equipment last where few materials survive.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 11 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
The Extreme Subsea Environment
- Ocean zones and their conditions
- Hydrostatic pressure and depth
- Temperature and thermal gradients
- Seawater chemistry
- Dissolved oxygen and sulphides
- Hydrothermal vents and acidic environments
- Sediments and abrasion
- Biofouling and biocorrosion
- Wave and current loads
- Design life requirements
02
Metals and Alloys for the Marine Environment
- Carbon and low-alloy steels
- Austenitic and duplex stainless steels
- Nickel alloys
- Titanium alloys
- Copper and copper-nickel alloys
- Marine aluminium alloys
- Welding and heat-affected zones
- Heat treatments
- Selection to ISO 21457
- Metal failure case studies
03
Corrosion in Deep Water
- Electrochemical fundamentals
- Uniform and localised corrosion
- Pitting and crevice corrosion
- Galvanic corrosion
- Stress corrosion cracking
- Hydrogen embrittlement
- Microbiologically influenced corrosion
- Effects of pressure and temperature
- Splash zone and submerged corrosion
- Corrosion monitoring
04
Corrosion Protection
- Sacrificial anode cathodic protection
- Impressed current cathodic protection
- Designing cathodic protection systems
- Coatings for submerged structures
- High-temperature coatings
- Subsea thermal insulation
- Corrosion inhibitors
- Interaction between coatings and cathodic protection
- DNV and ISO protection standards
- Inspecting protection systems
05
Polymers and Elastomers under Pressure
- Behaviour of polymers in seawater
- Water uptake and ageing
- Creep and relaxation
- Elastomers for seals and gaskets
- Rapid gas decompression
- High-performance thermoplastics
- Syntactic buoyancy foams
- Encapsulation and moulding
- Accelerated ageing tests
- Service life prediction
06
Composite Materials for Subsea Applications
- Glass, carbon and aramid fibres
- Thermoset and thermoplastic matrices
- Composite pressure hulls
- Composite flexible pipes and risers
- Impact damage and implosion
- Seawater degradation
- Joints and connections
- Manufacturing marine composites
- Non-destructive inspection of composites
- Qualifying composites
07
Ceramics, Glasses and Functional Materials
- Technical ceramics for pressure
- Glass spheres and viewports
- Materials for optical windows
- Piezoelectric materials for sonar
- Materials for subsea batteries
- Connectors and penetrators
- Materials for umbilical cables
- Magnetic materials and sensors
- Materials for hydrothermal vents
- Emerging materials in research
08
Fatigue, Fracture and Structural Integrity
- Fundamentals of fracture mechanics
- Fracture toughness
- Fatigue in seawater
- S-N curves and design codes
- Crack growth
- Defect assessment
- Vortex-induced fatigue
- Fatigue of welded joints
- Risk and integrity analysis
- Asset integrity management
09
Testing, Qualification and Inspection
- Hyperbaric chamber testing
- Accelerated corrosion testing
- Mechanical testing in marine media
- Fatigue testing in seawater
- Ultrasonic inspection
- Visual inspection by ROV
- Non-destructive testing techniques
- Technology qualification processes
- Documentation and traceability
- Laboratories and accreditation
10
Applications: Energy, Mining, Cables and Vehicles
- Oil and gas subsea equipment
- Marine renewable energy
- Subsea power and data cables
- Underwater vehicles and submersibles
- Seabed observatories and sensors
- Deep-sea mining and the debate around it
- CO2 capture and storage
- Decommissioning and reuse
- Defence and security
- Oceanographic research
11
Master's Final Project: Selecting and Validating Subsea Materials
- Defining the equipment and application
- Characterising the service environment
- Functional and design life requirements
- Materials shortlisting
- Analysis of degradation mechanisms
- Protection strategy
- Testing and qualification plan
- Technical and economic assessment
- Writing the dissertation
- Defence before a panel
Workload
Study Time and Workload
1500 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Materials, mechanical, naval or chemical engineers: who want to specialise in the subsea environment Offshore sector professionals: working with subsea equipment and structures Integrity and maintenance engineers: responsible for the service life of marine assets Subsea vehicle and equipment designers: who need materials selection criteria Researchers: working on deep-water technology
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Characterise the subsea environment
- 02Select materials
- 03Control corrosion
- 04Assess fatigue and fracture
- 05Design with polymers and composites
- 06Qualify and manage integrity
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Offshore materials engineer: Materials selection and specification in engineering firms.
02Corrosion specialist: Designing corrosion protection and control.
03Integrity engineer: Integrity management of subsea assets.
04Qualification engineer: Testing and qualification of subsea equipment.
05Product engineer: Manufacturers of subsea vehicles, cables and equipment.
06Researcher: Technology centres and test laboratories.
Questions
Entry Requirements
Yes. It is technical and applied, grounded in materials science, corrosion and fracture mechanics.
ISO standards, recommended practices from classification societies such as DNV and API standards widely used in the sector.
Yes. It applies to marine renewables, subsea cables, vehicles, observatories and oceanographic research.
No. The programme does not replace professional inspection or cathodic protection certifications, although it prepares you to pursue them.
Selecting and validating materials for real subsea equipment, with a protection strategy and testing plan.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded, and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The programme involves 1500 hours of study. You can work at your own pace within the timetable we give you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, shown on this page and confirmed by our admissions team when you enquire.
On completing the programme you receive the Master's in Materials for Extreme Subsea Environments qualification awarded by Navalis Magna Institute.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Academic/professional profile: A degree in materials, mechanical, naval, chemical or industrial engineering or a related field; or proven professional experience in the offshore or marine equipment sector. Language: A good working level of English to follow classes and materials. Technical requirements: A computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a webcam for live sessions and project presentations. Admissions process: Online application, profile review and a short interview with the academic team. We confirm your start date when you enquire.
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
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