Marine Engineering
2022/2023

The Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport of the University of Ljubljana offers a first-cycle professional degree study programme in Marine Engineering.

Duration: 3 years (6 semesters)

ETCS: 180

The title conferred upon graduation is BSc in Marine Engineering (masculine form: diplomirani inženir ladijskega strojništva (VS); feminine form: diplomirana inženirka ladijskega strojništva (VS), abbreivated form: dipl. inž. lad. stroj. (VS))

Main objectives of the study programme

The main objectives of the first-cycle professional degree study programme in Marine Engineering are to educate professionally competent and technically qualified experts in marine engineering, with emphasis placed on the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for the management and maintenance of ship engineering and energy systems at the management level. This study programme is based on the standards set by the 1978/1995 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), as amended, of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Graduates from this study programme will acquire the knowledge, skills, and competences set at the global and European levels for the acquisition of the certificate of Officers in Charge of an Engineering Watch on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more, and Chief Engineer officers and Second Officers on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3000kW or more. 

This study programme is principally designed for secondary school generations that would like to become highly qualified in the field of marine engineering while not being primarily interested in research and theoretical studies, typical of academic degree study programmes.

General competences acquired in the study programme of Marine Engineering

A marine engineer is an expert that requires excellent knowledge and skills in their discipline, including communication skills and knowledge of foreign languages, writing technical reports, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Through this study programme, graduates will acquire the following general competences:

• to perform tasks of Officers in Charge of an Engineering Watch on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more, and Chief Engineer officers and Second Officers on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3000kW or more,
• to understand the standards of managing and maintaining an engineering watch in manned and unmanned engine rooms as set by the STCW Convention and Code,
• to understand and use maritime English as the working language of the maritime industry, by using argumentative and negotiating skills as a competitive advantage,
• to perform tasks related to the handling of equipment required for safe exploitation, operation, and maintenance of ship propulsion and energy systems, in emergencies and in pollution prevention procedures,
• to understand and respect cultural pluralism,
• to plan and understand strategies implemented in engineering departments of companies and organisations,
• to manage relationships with the ship’s top management and engine room personnel,
• to analyse the employees’ stances and levels of satisfaction,
• to implement policies and programmes of the shipping company related to work safety in the engine room,
• to assist in providing solutions to organisational problems onboard ship, and manage conflicts among the engine room personnel,
• to acquire interdisciplinary professional knowledge related to the management of ship propulsion subsystems, natural sciences, management, information and communication technologies, law, environmental protection, and other disciplines,
• to perform the assigned tasks in their working practice,
• to acquire the theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills required for second-cycle degree studies,
• to use theoretical knowledge to provide solutions to practical problems,
• to synthesise discipline-specific knowledge and skills and use them to provide solutions to practical problems in engineering and maritime processes,
• to develop lifelong learning skills,
• to understand the dependence between maritime technology and technical properties of the means of transport and transport infrastructure, 
• to adopt and provide environmental protection measures in their work environments,
• to work in teams, develop communication skills, and develop professional ethics in the complex world of transport services.

Discipline-specific competences acquired in the study programme of Marine Engineering will enable the graduates to:

• effectively perform engineering tasks,
• manage complex ship-based and shore-based energy systems,
• develop the knowledge required for effective ship propulsion management, operation, and maintenance, including the knowledge of:
  • optimal performance of energy systems, economics of shipping companies, ordering and storage of spare parts, strategic maintenance of ship propulsion components, management of engine room documentation,
• develop the knowledge of auxiliary energy systems, including:
  • electrical energy generation and distribution; compression of start air for tools and machinery; control and automation; generation and efficient use of steam; storage, treatment and preparation of fuels and lubricants; cooling of energy systems through the use of different types of heat exchangers; treatment of sewage and wastewater; generation, treatment and distribution of potable water; hydraulic systems,
• develop the knowledge for the handling and maintenance of mooring, cargo handling, and deck equipment and machinery: anchor and mooring winches, derricks and related equipment, ship’s cranes, pipelines, valves, and different types of pumps used for cargo handling, systems used for opening, closing, and sealing cargo holds, ventilation systems, cooling/heating and ventilation of hold and accommodation spaces, use of inert gasses;
• develop the knowledge related to safety on ships: fire safety and fire management, survival at sea, search and rescue at sea, ballasting operations on ships, hull stresses and ship stability, pollution prevention from ships, and ship pollution management.

Elective courses and mobility opportunities

In the third year of study, students select four courses (with a total of 20 ECTS) from the inventory of elective courses of the winter semester. 

Enrolment in the first-cycle professional degree study programme of Marine Engineering is open to all candidates that completed four-year secondary school studies with a general or vocational school-leaving exam (matura). 

Selection criteria for candidates (if restricted enrolment is applied):

• school-leaving examination average grade (vocational or general matura) - 60%
• secondary school average grade in the third and fourth years - 40%

The part-time study of the first-cycle professional degree study programme of Marine Engineering is organised at the seat of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport in Portorož. 

Enrolment Application

Procedure and Criteria on the Recognition of Knowledge

Students may apply for the recognition of knowledge acquired at different educational institutions if this is in content and scope compliant with the content and objectives of the first-cycle study programmes at the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport. The body appointed for the implementation of the procedure to recognise the knowledge previously obtained is the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport. The recognition procedure starts on request by the candidate who submits an application, certificates and other documents that serve as evidence of the previously acquired knowledge and are compliant with the Rules on the Procedure and Criteria on the Recognition of the Knowledge and Skills Obtained through Informal Learning, accepted by the Senate of the University of Ljubljana at its 15th Session of 29 May 2007. If previously obtained knowledge can be recognised, it may be evaluated with the same number of ECTS awarded to the relevant course. 

The following criteria are applied by the Academic Affairs Committee in the recognition procedure before enrolment:

- eligibility for enrolment into different forms of education (required previous level of education),

- comparability of the scope of education (number of hours of previous education if compared against the number of hours of the relevant course),

- comparability of the content of previous education if compared against the relevant course. 

The previously acquired knowledge may be recognised as a completed study requirement if the enrolment criteria met include at least secondary school qualifications, if previous education covered a minimum of 75% of the relevant course, and if previous education covered at least 75% of the content of the relevant course. 

If these conditions are met, the previously acquired knowledge may be granted the number of ECTS awarded to the relevant course. 

A specific case for the recognition of knowledge and skills acquired before enrolment is the recognition of "Work Placement for Nautical Students", "Work Placement for Marine Engineering Students", and "Work Placement" for students of the first-cycle professional degree study programme of Marine Engineering if the student has been employed by an organisation from the maritime or transport industry or state administration in the transport-traffic-transport logistics sectors for at least one year. 

In this case, evidence of employment that indicates the duration of employment and main activities of the employing organisation needs to be submitted.  

Advancement into a higher year of study is open to students that have before the end of the current academic year completed all necessary requirements, as defined by the study programme. Advancement into the third or higher year of study is open to students that have completed all requirements, as defined by the study programme, of the year of study preceding the current enrolment year. 

Advancement into a higher year of study is open to all students that have earned the following number of ECTS:

- for advancement into the second year, at least 50 ECTS earned in first-year courses,

- for advancement into the third year, a minimum of 60 ECTS earned in first-year courses and a minimum of 50 ECTS in second-year courses. 

If approved by the Academic Affairs Committee, exceptional advancement into the higher year of study may be granted if in accordance with the justified reasons acknowledged by the Statute of the University of Ljubljana:

- advancement into the second year of study if a minimum of 40 ECTS from completing first-year courses has been earned,

- advancement into the third year of study if a minimum of 100 ECTS from completing first-year (60 ECTS) and second-year (40 ECTS) courses has been earned. 

Repetition of a year of study is open to students that have earned the following number of ECTS:

- for the repetition of the first year, a minimum of 20 ECTS,

- for the repetition of the second year, a minimum of 60 ECTS earned from completing first-year courses, and a minimum of 20 ECTS earned in second-year courses.

Transfers between study programmes are possible under the conditions set out in the valid rules for transfers between study programmes. The body competent for approving student applications for transfers between study programmes is the Senate of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport based on a proposal made by the Academic Affairs Committee submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Statute of the University of Ljubljana. For each candidate, the Academic Affairs Committee defines the scope of the recognition of previously completed study requirements, additional study requirements, and the year of enrolment.

The Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport provides two modes of study: full-time and part-time.

Full-time study

Full-time study is offered for all first-cycle degree programmes.

Part-time study

Part-time study is offered for both second-cycle and all first-cycle degree programmes.

Part-time study is equivalent to full-time study in terms of its content and level of difficulty. A part-time student shall meet all study requirements set for full-time students. The part-time study of the first-cycle academic degree study programme of Transport Technology and Logistics is organised at the seat of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport in Portorož. The part-time study of the first-cycle professional degree study programme of Transport Technology and Transport Logistics is organised at the seat of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport in Portorož, and in Ljubljana. The part-time study of the first-cycle professional degree study programmes of Navigation and of Marine Engineering is organised at the seat of the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport in Portorož.

If a study programme is selected by a low number of students, the educational process is organised in the form of consultative meetings: 1 hour if the number of enrolled students is 1 to 5, 4 hours if the number of enrolled students is 6 to 9. In this case, the autonomous study process of the students is based on the study materials made available by the lecturers, introductory sessions with the lecturer, and individual or group (in person, by phone, by email) consultative meetings with the lecturer. All consultative meetings are organised in the afternoons and on Saturdays, within the limitations of the available facilities and resources. 

In order to graduate from this study programme, the student must complete all study requirements (180 ECTS) set by all obligatory and elective courses and defend their degree thesis. 

The study requirements of each course are set in the course syllabuses.

QUALIFICATION TITLE

BSc in Marine Engineering

- masculine form: DIPLOMIRANI INŽENIR LADIJSKEGA STROJNIŠTVA (VS)

- feminine form: DIPLOMIRANA INŽENIRKA LADIJSKEGA STROJNIŠTVA (VS)

Additional information is available here.

In accordance with the Professional and Academic Titles Act, the title conferred upon graduation from the first-cycle professional degree study programme of Marine Engineering is BSc in Marine Engineering:

• masculine form: diplomirani inženir ladijskega strojništva (VS)
• feminine form: diplomirana inženirka ladijskega strojništva (VS), both abbreviated to dipl. inž. lad. stroj. (VS).