Engineering Fluid Mechanics for the Offshore, Coastal and Built Environments
Gain advanced knowledge of fluid mechanics to solve real-world marine and built-environment challenges in renewable energy, environmental pollution, and urban climate.
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year
Start date
October 2027
Study mode
Full-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Course overview
Prepare yourself for a future career as an engineer specialising in fluid mechanics on this one-year Master's course.
Fluid dynamics shapes the natural and urban environments in which we live and work. It underpins offshore renewable energy systems, governs climate and oceanic processes, and defines urban air quality.
Our MSc Programme has been carefully designed in consultation with industry experts to equip students with the fundamental knowledge, advanced analytical skills, and hands-on numerical expertise needed to tackle pressing societal challenges in engineering and beyond.
Our combination of a world-class Hydrodynamics Laboratory, High Performance Computing facilities, and a supportive teaching environment – built on one-on-one mentorship – offers students a unique opportunity to excel in essential practical, numerical, and theoretical aspects of fluid dynamics.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
Pre-session modules are not assessed, and aim to ensure all students have a similar level of knowledge at the start of the course.
Pre-sessional modules
Build the fundamental mathematical skills needed to succeed in your studies.
Familiarise yourself with the fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics.
You’ll take all of these modules.
Core modules
Deepen your knowledge of the coupled atmosphere ocean system, wave spectra, and the role of the Earth’s rotation in geophysical fluid dynamics.
Obtain a detailed understanding of fluid motion driven by density differences and its relevance to civil engineering calculation and design.
Learn how to determine the nearshore characteristics of waves, currents, tides and storm surges plus the measures needed to protect coastal structures.
Analyse the computational methods used for the simulation and analysis of engineering fluid mechanics and solve practical numerical modelling problems.
Apply your Fluid Mechanics knowledge to solve a real-world problem and support engineering design with our industrial partners.
Discover how energy systems work, the roles for renewable marine, wind and solar resources in the net-zero transition, and how to apply engineering principles to system design.
Understand the essentials of fluid-structure interaction and explore various flow regimes.
Develop the skills to calculate forces acting on offshore and coastal structures, supporting safe and cost-effective engineering design, with insight into the applicability of standard design solutions.
Build the foundational knowledge in fluid mechanics that supports the study of complex air and water flows.
Learn to set-up and run fluid flow simulations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools, building on theory and understanding the required modelling choices.
Learn to estimate turbulent mass transport for tracers, contaminants and sediments in atmosphere, rivers, lakes and oceans.
Explore current thinking on modelling the built environment and discover the tools required for both internal and external fluid flows in the built environment.
Derive and apply linear and non-linear theories explaining wave motion and propagation needed in fundamental engineering and oceanographic applications.
Carry out significant independent study and original research on the MSc Research Project, which makes up one third of your qualification.
You’ll undertake a dissertation with regular guidance from an Imperial supervisor, by private study or by arrangement at your place of employment.
Testimonials
Professional accreditation
This MSc degree is accredited on behalf of the Engineering Council by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), comprising:
- Institution of Civil Engineers
- Institution of Structural Engineers
- Institute of Highway Engineers
- Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation
- Permanent Way Institution
This degree is recognised as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree**.
Registering as a Chartered Engineer will improve your career prospects and provide higher earning potential. It will also help to demonstrate your commitment to professional standards, the engineering profession and sustainable development.
Our accreditation agreement with members of the Joint Board of Moderators is renewed every five years. The current accreditation agreement is due to be renewed in 2026.
**Candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited Bachelor's degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Seminars and presentations
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Case studies
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Experimental demonstrations
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Group work
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Individual research project
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Virtual learning environment
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Tutorials
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may be different depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Coursework and practicals
- Examinations
- 48% Title 1 goes here
- 52% Title 2 goes here
Assessment methods
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Written exams
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Individual and group coursework
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Project reports
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Research dissertation
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Design projects
Entry requirements
How to apply
Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 3 March 2027
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 10 March 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 5 May 2027
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 11 March 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 28 April 2027
- Decision by Thursday 1 July 2027
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs. This includes MRes and PhD combined (1+3) courses with the Centre for Doctoral Training.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee (CEE 1YFT only)
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £19,400.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the university and not year of study.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee (CEE 1YFT only)
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £45,000.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the university and not year of study.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarships
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Graduates from our Department go on to succeed in a range of sectors such as construction, civil engineering, design engineering, engineering consultancy, sustainability and sustainable design, water resource engineering, environmental engineering, disaster management, structural and architectural design, infrastructure monitoring, materials manufacturing, geotechnical engineering, and renewable energy.
Who do our graduates work for?
Our graduates have worked for companies including Jacobs, Vinci, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, Aecom, Stantec, Foster and Partners, Ramboll, AKTII, WSP.
What jobs do our graduates do?
Structural Engineer, Civil Engineer, Design Engineer, Product Manger, Environmental Consultant, Construction Manager, Geotechnical Engineer, Graduate Hydrologist, Transport Planner, Carbon Market Analyst.
What about further study?
Many graduates go on to become PhD candidates at leading institutions worldwide.
What careers support does Imperial offer?
Our Careers Service collaborates with our Department to deliver career planning application talks tailored specifically for Civil and Environmental Engineering students during the course.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44(0) 020 7594 5932
- Email: cvpgo@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Daniel Valero Huerta
Visit the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering website.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications