Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) Course- Eligibility, Admission Process & Job Profiles

DNS, popularly known as Diploma in Nautical Science, is a one-year program that includes studying maintenance and operation of marine ships, cargo work, naval architecture, navigation, Meteorology, and many more. It is a skill-based program that focuses on the development of technical skills and experiences to deal with marine vessels effectively. In essence, a nautical science diploma is about to enhance the capability of sailors to masterly navigate a ship around various countries. Obtaining a nautical science degree provides a gateway for several lucrative jobs in the country.

Students fascinated by the scenes of Oceans and Seas and who have completed their Intermediate examination can apply for the Diploma in Nautical Science program. Under the course, students will get in touch with numerous vital subjects, including Marine Engineering & Control Systems, Applied Mathematics, Nautical Physics, Electronics, Voyage Planning & Collision Prevention, to name a few. After obtaining the degree, they could make their career as Marine Engineers, Shipment Officer, Junior Navigation Analyst, Apprentice, Captain, 2nd Mates Officer, and so on.

What is Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS)?

Diploma in Nautical Science is a one-year marine programme that imparts basic knowledge on merchant navy ships, maintenance and operations of ships, fundamental principles of navigation and environmental science, shipping trade, to mention a few. The course has been designed to build the required competencies in the students to carry out the necessary duties in the field efficiently. The programme entails several significant subjects, including applied science, applied mathematics, Applied PC (Physics& Chemistry), Marine Electrical & Electronics, Navigation Chart Work, and many more. In essence, the DNS course provides enough academic knowledge and practical experiences to the students to make better job profiles.

Moreover, Nautical Science is the study of procedures and rules of operating various sizes and types of well-constructed and specialized marine vessels. These vessels are designed explicitly for islands, coastal zones, high seas or all three areas. The course provides a solid foundation in nautical, technical knowledge and prepares students for better career prospects. Moreover, it also offers onboard training, multidimensional thinking, and solving marine-based problems. After pursuing a Diploma in Nautical Science, students can step into the various lucrative job profiles. Some of the popular job recruiters are as- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), GSI, Government Operated Quarries, Coal India, and so on.

Short Details on DNS Course

Degree: Diploma

DNS Full-Form: Diploma in Nautical Science

Eligibility Criteria: Class XIIth Passed out with at least 60% marks (PCM as the compulsory subjects)

Fee Structure of the Course: INR 20k to 3lakhs for the entire course

Average Salary: INR 2-15 lakh per annum

Job Profiles: Dock Officer, Marine Operations Manager, Ship Captain, to name a few.

Eligibility for Diploma in Nautical Science

Diploma in Nautical Science is a course to build students into professionals who could proficiently engage in the Merchant Navy ships. Students who are excited to take admission into DNS (Diploma in Nautical Science) Programme must equip themselves with specific eligibility qualifications and some necessary skills. So, to get admitted to the reputed colleges/universities and study nautical science diploma courses, you will also have to take popular entrance exams. Some of the essential eligibility criteria for the aspirants to be eligible for the course are as-

For India-

(a) The excited students must have done their intermediate or Class XIIth examination from a recognized board with a science stream.

(b) Aspirants also must have studied class 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as the compulsory subjects and have obtained at least 60% of aggregate marks.

(c) The DNS (Diploma in Nautical Science) program has no age limit.

(d) It is of the utmost importance for the interested students to qualify in the national-level exams or other renowned colleges /universities entrance exams conducted to provide seats to students.

For Abroad-

For those students planning to study abroad, you will be required to complete their class XIIth examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as the compulsory subjects from a recognized institute. You also need to submit English language proficiency scores of TOEFL /IELTS /PTE, a Statement of Purpose (SOP), and optional Letters of Recommendation (LORs).

Popular Entrance Exams for DNS Course

Very few colleges/universities in India considered class 12th marks to provide entry to study Diploma in Nautical Science programme. However, most other renowned or reputed colleges/universities offer admission to the program through the valid rank or score made in the entrance exam. So, the students should take national or college level entrance exams to get selected in the top institutes and then avail themselves of better career opportunities. Some entrance examinations are written below:

Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test (IMU CET)- It is one of the all India merchant navy entrance exams conducted to provide a seat to marine engineering courses. The students who have completed their class 12th and are interested in making a career in maritime need to appear in this exam.

GME – It stands for Graduate Marine Engineering conducted entrance test to provide undergraduate marine engineering courses.

Indian Maritime University Diploma in Nautical Science (IMU DNS)- The Indian Maritime University conducted a computer-based entrance exam to provide a Diploma in Nautical Science/ Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science programme.

ETO CET- It is an entrance exam conducted to provide seats in the DNS program.

Admission Process for Diploma in Nautical Science

It is a professional program that effectively prepares competent students to deal with marine-based problems. Students interested in marine science can be admitted into the Diploma in Nautical Science course by scores obtained during their intermediate exam or through the marks they score in the entrance tests. However, before applicants can apply, they must meet the minimum qualifications set by the institutions or colleges they are applying for. The minimum eligibility criteria include a 10+2 certificate with atleast 50% aggregate marks from PCM, having good communication skills, judgment & Decision Making, and so on. Applicants have two options for admission into the course- (a) Merit-Based Entry and (b) Entrance-Based Entry. Admission Processes are written down:

Merit-Based Entry to the Program

(a) The students can apply for admissions to the Diploma in Nautical Science either online or offline.

(b) If students are interested in going through online admission mode, they will have to visit the official portal of the institutes and lookout carefully at every admission procedure.

(c) Registered your name by making an application ID.

(d) Then, students fill the application form carefully by inserting the required details and uploading the documents (Marksheets, Birth Certificate, candidate’s photo, signature etc.) in the appropriate size and format.

(e) At the end, you will pay the application fee to complete the application-filling process.

(f)  If you made it in the merit list, they would visit the college to secure an admission seat to the DNS course, followed by a counseling round.

Entrance Based Entry to the Course

Entrance Based admission to the course is the one and only way to get a seat in the best colleges in India as well as abroad. If the students are interested in taking entrance exams, they could get admission into Diploma in Nautical Science course based on a valid entrance score or rank.

(a) Students interested in taking the entrance exam will have to visit the official website of the governing authority. They need to register themselves in the respective entrance exams either national or college level entrance exams.

(b) Students need to carefully put in all the required details to proceed further with the registration process.

(c) After filling in the necessary details, students are required to upload documents (candidate’s photo, signature, mark sheets, etc.) in appropriate format and size.

(d) the last step of the registration process is to pay the application form charge for the entrance tests.

(e) The entrance exam authority will publish admit card on the official website a few days before the commencement of the entrance test.

(f) The most significant phase for the students is to sit for the entrance exam and make good in it to get entry to study the Diploma in Nautical Science programme.

(g) Once the results of the entrance exam are declared, colleges release their cut-off to allocate seats to the applicant in the respective course.

(h) If you made it on the list, the college authority would call you for a counselling round or personal interview for the final selection.

(i) In the last phase of the admission process, students will have to submit the required documents and course fee to get admission into Diploma in Nautical Science course.

Medical Fitness Requirements for Merchant Navy Courses-

(a) Students interested in pursuing the DNS course would have to meet the medical fitness requirements.

(b) The hearing and eyesight of the participants must be normal.

(c) Students must have a typical vision (6/6) in each eye separately.

(d) During admission into the course, the students are required to produce a certificate for medical fitness by an authorized authority.

Diploma in Nautical Science Syllabus-

The DNS course is a power pack of academic knowledge and hands-on experiences to teach students the structure of marine vessels for the high seas, coastal areas or island waters. A diploma in Nautical Science is a course after the 12th science stream (physics, chemistry as the compulsory subjects). The course focuses on developing skills required to operate and navigate marine vessels such as Ships. Diploma in Nautical Science is a one year course that has been divided into two semesters. In the course frame, the students are taught various crucial subjects and given practical knowledge that let numerous impacts on the students. Diploma in nautical science subjects may vary from college to college. Some of the important DNS subjects are listed down:

Diploma in Nautical Science Course Fees

Several universities/colleges in India as well as abroad are concerned with the allocation of seats into the Diploma in Nautical Science program. You can get entry into these reputed colleges/universities once you fulfil the eligibility qualifications set by the respective colleges/universities authority. These colleges or institutions will charge fees on the course based on colleges/universities locations, the infrastructure of the institutions, faculty provided by the universities/colleges, to mention a few. You will have to pay the course fees according to the demands of the colleges. Although, the average fees structure of the Nautical Science Diploma course ranges from Rs. 30k to 3Lacs for the entire course.

Diploma in Nautical Science Jobs and Higher Education

A diploma in nautical science is a skill-based course that produces competent candidates in India and worldwide to carry out duties efficiently. Consequently, it helps the participants get desirable jobs in the marine sector. In order to build the required competencies in the students, the course provides several dynamic & static academic knowledge and hands-on experiences. The objective of introducing the DNS course is to fulfil the demand of marine professionals on merchant navy ships.

The marine professionals are required to safely navigate and operate the marine vessels and ships that carry heavy consignment and onboard customers in different countries. The course also equips the students with numerous skills and practical experience to stand out in this fiercely competitive world. This course opens various career avenues, including port operations companies, Indian Naval Sciences, Educational Institutes, Weather Forecasting Centers, to name a few. After finishing Diploma in Nautical Science course, the aspirants can go to both the private and govt. organizations and land into exciting job profiles.

(a) Junior Navigation Analyst

(b) Navigation Officer

(c) Marine Engineer

(d) Apprentice

(e) Ship Captain

(f) Shipment Officer

(g) Oceanographer

(h) Nautical Surveyor

(i) Port Operations Manager

(j) Port Operations officer

(k) Radio Officer

(l) 2nd Mates Officer

(m) Teacher/Lecturer

Several other prosperous job profiles are available for the qualified students, including Ship Captain,  Trainee Marine Engineer, Onshore Marine Coordinator, Sales Engineer, Structural Engineer, Dock Designer, Submarine Engineer, Marine Equipment Designer, to name a few.

Top Recruiters

(a) ABG Shipyard Limited

(b) Coal India

(c) Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)

(d) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)

(e) Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Limited (GMDC)

(f) Indian Navy

(g) Essar Shipment

(h) Health Consultancy

(i) APM-MAERSK

(j) Seaborne Maritime

(k) Hapag Lloyd

Higher Studies after Pursuing DNS Course

The students graduated with Diploma in Nautical Science can also go for higher studies. There are plenty of options available for the interested students to pursue higher studies, including Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science or marine engineering courses to broaden career prospects.

Diploma in Nautical Science Salary

The students who graduated with Diploma in Nautical Science can also go for higher studies. There are plenty of options available for interested students to pursue higher studies, including Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science, master of science in nautical science and other marine engineering courses to broaden career prospects.

Diploma in Nautical Science Colleges

(1) The Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies, Pune

(2) Indian Maritime University, Navi Mumbai Campus

(3) Tolani Maritime Institute, Pune

(4) Haldia Institute of Maritime Studies and Research, Medinipur

(5) Cosmopolitan Technology of Maritime College, Chennai

(6) Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training, Chennai

(7) Indian Maritime University, Chennai

(8) Southern Academy of Maritime Studies, Chennai

(9) International Maritime Academy, Uttar Pradesh

(10) International Maritime Academy, Chennai

(11) Vishwakarma Maritime Institute, Pune

(12) Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies, Mumbai

(13) Maritime Foundation, Chennai

(14) B.P Marine Academy Raigarh

(15) Sai Ram Shipping Science College

Diploma in Nautical Science Colleges in Kerala

(a) IMU – IMU Kochi Indian Maritime University

(b) Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET)

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