Naval Architecture
Study programs: Undergraduate study program, Graduate study program
Duration: six semesters (undergraduate), four semesters (graduate)
Number of ECTS credits: 180 (undergraduate), 120 (graduate)
Web page: studij-brodogradnje.fsb.unizg.hr
Naval architecture is a multidisciplinary field that combines basic naval architecture disciplines with the disciplines of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computing science, using digital technologies and modern computer systems to integrate this knowledge. The study program of Naval Architecture at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, is designed to educate bachelors and masters in naval architecture who gain general engineering knowledge and can perform a wide variety of jobs in the field of naval architecture and offshore engineering, primarily related to the design, construction, outfit, and maintenance of different types of ships and offshore structures. The latest laboratory equipment allows students, teachers, and researchers to confirm theoretical knowledge through practical work and carry out experimental research. The breadth of the knowledge acquired through this study program along with the personal creative ability, as well as the ability to respond to all challenges in the field of naval architecture and offshore technologies and to adapt to the changes brought by the advancements in science and technology enable young engineers graduating from the so-called "Zagreb School of Naval Architecture" to find employment immediately after graduation.
Following European standards of higher education institutions, the Faculty offers an undergraduate study program lasting six semesters and a graduate study program lasting four semesters. In their undergraduate studies, students first acquire knowledge in the core courses (Mathematics and Mechanics) and general engineering disciplines (Engineering materials, Machine elements, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics). Then they acquire knowledge in fundamental disciplines of naval architecture: Ship geometry, Ship structures, Ship construction, Ship buoyancy and stability, Ship resistance, Ship outfit, Marine propulsion and power plants. The undergraduate study program is completed when the student has defended a bachelor’s thesis, whereupon the student is awarded the title of Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture. The graduate study is a logical extension of the undergraduate study and includes specialization courses (Ship propulsion, Ship vibrations, Ship strength, Ship design, Seakeeping, etc.). The graduate study program is completed when the student has defended a master’s thesis, whereupon the title of Master of Science in Naval Architecture is awarded. Both the undergraduate and graduate study programs offer further specializations in a desired professional field (Hydromechanics, Ship structures, Ship design, Outfit and construction, Marine systems, Small ships, etc.) by offering five elective courses. As a result of such education, naval architects who have graduated from the Zagreb Faculty have been working on the most complex projects in Croatia and abroad.
The Department of Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering has five Chairs, which, in addition to teaching, are responsible for the professional and scientific work of their members. The common determinants of Naval Architecture study are the number of elective courses, mentoring of students, excellent laboratory infrastructure and the involvement of senior students in research and professional projects.
The Department of Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering comprises five chairs, which, in addition to teaching, are responsible for the professional and scientific work of their members. The common features of the Naval Architecture study program are the large number of elective courses, mentoring of students, excellent laboratory facilities, and the involvement of senior students in research and professional projects.
The Chair of Ship Hydrodynamics combines theoretical courses related to fluid mechanics, courses related to the basic disciplines such as ship geometry, ship buoyancy and stability, ship resistance and propulsion, and ship propulsors with the optional courses related to fast ships, computational fluid dynamics, maritime means of transport and renewable energy sea resources. The research work of the Chair is directed towards computational and experimental ship hydromechanics and marine renewable energy.
The Chair of Ship Structures runs courses on the design of ships and other floating structures, analytical, numerical and experimental methods for determining the strength, vibration, and fatigue strength of ship structures, as well as courses on safety, reliability, and optimization of the ship structure under different mechanical and wave loads.
The Chair of Ship Production Engineering runs courses related to ship production, shipbuilding and offshore technology, ship repair and outfit, as well as the organization of the shipbuilding process. The Chair organizes field trips and internships in shipyards and design offices.
The Chair of Marine Engineering runs courses focused on marine power systems with special reference to the design, usage, and management of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable configurations, as well as a series of courses that form the backbone of the marine engineering specialization of the Mechanical Engineering study program. The department is equipped with modern software packages for engineering optimization, acoustic analyses, and lifetime analyses, as well as measurement systems for fuel consumption analysis and exhaust gas composition analysis, the application of which is then included in teaching.
The Chair for Ship Design and Offshore Engineering runs courses in seaworthiness, ship outfit, ship design, and offshore structures. The members of the Chair are involved in the design of specialized and technologically sophisticated ships, maneuverability and ship behavior in waves, and offshore engineering projects. The Laboratory for Marine Technology is part of the Chair.
The Regional Centre for Laboratory Research in Hydromechanics - ORCHID operates within the Department of Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering. Its most valuable component is a towing tank with a wave generator used for carrying out model tests. This valuable and unique research infrastructure enables the teaching staff, researchers, and students to do research in the field of experimental hydromechanics, e.g. on the hydrodynamic characterization of innovative vessels and offshore structures, the modeling and analysis of wave energy conversion systems, the testing of autonomous vessels, and much more.
