Contrary to the common misconception, a Nautical course differs from a marine engineering course. A graduate of a nautical course aims to become a captain of the ship, whereas a graduate of marine engineering aims to become a chief engineer of the ship. However, the nautical course also shares similarities with the marine engineering course in its huge pay cheques for graduates. With such opportunities at stake, aspiring students have a lot of queries about the course, which this blog will try to solve. This blog will answer questions like what a nautical course is, the eligibility for pursuing it, and finally, it will give you top colleges to study nautical courses.
Table of Contents
What is a Nautical course?
In the three-year duration of the nautical course, you will acquire the theoretical and practical expertise required in seamanship, naval architecture, chart work, navigation, collision prevention, cargo handling, storage, bridge equipment management, watchkeeping, meteorology, ship maintenance, marine signalling, ship operations and stability. Aside from the items mentioned above, students enrolling in nautical courses are exposed to other areas that require dealing with marine operations.
Furthermore, many modular classes that are necessary for joining a ship’s crew are incorporated into the nautical course syllabus. These modular classes included in the nautical course are stated mandatory in the career at sea as per the IMO STCW (International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) convention. These modular classes train students in fire fighting, personal survival techniques, fire prevention, personal safety, social responsibility, and elementary first aid.
Nautical Course Eligibility
- Most colleges or universities require you to prove your English proficiency with a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or its equivalent in TOEFL/PTE.
- You should present proof of your physical fitness and eyesight requirements like visual acuity and color vision etc.
- You must have completed your tertiary study that is accepted by the country you are applying for your nautical course in.
- You need to attain pre-sea approval if you are unsure of your status for sea time in the applying country.
Top 5 Nautical Courses
01. Bachelor of Applied Science (Nautical Science)
University: University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Location: Australia
Duration: 4 Years
A bachelor of applied science in nautical science from the University of Tasmania provides you with the expertise to operate and manage all types of merchant fleet vessels. This program integrates sea training with the professional academic course so that you get a certificate of competency from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) along with your bachelor’s degree.
This nautical course will teach concepts like vessel handling, management, navigation, cargo, passenger transport, shipboard safety, and marine legislation. The educational methods and training strategies are designed to meet the requirements of the international convention on standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW).
This nautical course is a recommended pathway to be employed as AMSA certified deck officer. Irrespective of your career aspirations to work ashore or in a shore-based role, studying at UTAS will provide you with a definite understanding of the maritime industry and its sought-after skills.
Following are some of the rewarding career opportunities that you can gain from studying the nautical course at the University of Tasmania.
- Fleet manager in a shipping company
- Senior roles in a shipyard
- Marine superintendent or safety manager in a shipping organisation/company
- Surveyor in a Classification Society
- Crew manager/shipping agent
- Marine Surveyor with a Port State Control authority such as AMSA
- Work in marine insurance companies
- Mediators / Arbitrators
- Maritime training and education, research, and teaching positions
- R&D, product, sales, and service managers in organisations supplying maritime equipment
- Governmental or intergovernmental regulators and organisations such as AMSA, IMO (International Maritime Organisation), and EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency)
Read more: Affordable Universities in Australia for International Students
02. Bachelor of Technology (Nautical Science)
University: Cape Breton University
Location: Canada
Duration: 4 Year
Cape Breton University is an institution dedicated to the purpose of protecting the environment, saving lives, and contributing to Canada’s (its home country) economic growth, partners with Canadian Coast Guard College (CCGC) to offer the bachelor of technology in a nautical science course.
The university is positioned on the shores of the beautiful Cape Breton Island, which is further glamorised by the open water of the Atlantic Ocean and the rugged coastline. This location creates a perfect backdrop for studying nautical science. Also, because of the pro-nature stance of the university, this nautical course focuses on providing students with unique opportunities to understand environmental protection and marine safety better. This course promises a career in navigation or as a ship officer by giving students in-depth education on search and rescue, watchkeeping, and environmental response.
Students of this nautical course get hands-on experience in marine operations by learning to maneuver different kinds of vessels in sea and ice conditions. After graduating from this course, you will be able to operate and manage many types of engineering systems inside an actual marine vessel. Systems such as electrical and electronic systems, propulsion plants, hydraulics, and air conditioning systems are all within the knowledge grasp by studying this nautical course. This university also offers students the opportunity to work with the latest propulsion plant simulator and practical exercises on campus and at sea.
Skills you will gain by studying nautical science in CBU/CCGC
- Life-saving skills
- Canadian Coast Guard skills
- Social responsibility
- Latest in marine technology
- Marine safety and security
Possible Career Paths
- Engineer
- Navigators
- Member of CCGC fleet
Read more: Affordable Universities in New Zealand
03. Diploma in Nautical Science
University: Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Location: New Zealand
Duration: 36-43 weeks
This nautical course is specially put together by Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology for mariners or for students who satisfy the prerequisite of Maritime New Zealand (MNZ). With this course, you can apply for the watchkeeper deck certificate of competency. The graduates of this nautical course are considered qualified for the roles in MNZ watchkeeper Deck or 1st officer of the watch or IMO STCW II.
This nautical course is the standard requirement for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) STCW certificate or first Officer of the Watch (OOW). The average fee that Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology demands for this nautical course is between $6,000-$8,000 plus $240. And students are marked for 300 total credits of the course.
04. Diploma in Nautical Science
University: Manukau Institute of Technology
Location: New Zealand
Duration: 3 years
This nautical course by Manukau Institute of Technology is for students who can study it full-time and also for mariners who are at sea. If you are in the sea, you can complete the course over a period of time in short blocks. In this course, you will master all the skills required of an officer in charge of a navigation watch (a watchkeeper deck) onboard seagoing ships. This position is very important, as it is responsible for the ship's safety. A Watchkeeper Deck directly reports to the Chief Mate or Master.
Students of this nautical course will learn both electronic navigation aids and traditional celestial navigation aids on a seagoing ship/vessel to direct the planning of the route and the maintenance of a safe navigational watch. You will also learn non-technical maintenance and how to manage the cargo of the vessel. Further, advanced leadership skills to manage crew onboard, resource, and take charge of the response during distress and emergency is taught in this course. This comes in a fee of NZD$23,000 (approx.) for international students.
This nautical course is for you if:
- You are entering the industry as a new trainee, and it is your requirement to complete your course/training before you start your job at sea. The basic eligibility of this nautical course is to have the 17-week New Zealand Certificate in maritime crewing of the deck crew strand before starting this course.
- You are a trainee to the contention to be a watchkeeper on a vessel with a gross tonnage of 500 or in the industry working in unlimited waters.
05. Nautical Science - Diploma of Technology
University: Memorial University of Newfoundland-Marine Institute
Location: Canada
Duration: 4 years
The 1st year of this nautical course by the Memorial University of Newfoundland consists of two regular academic semesters followed by 8 weeks of technical training. This is followed by 2 months of sea phase. The second year consists of 3rd and 4th semesters, which will be followed by 8 weeks of technical training and that, in turn, is followed by 15 months of sea phase. Finally, the third year will repeat the same structure as the last two semesters, followed by 8 weeks of technical training. During the term of this course, you have to accumulate 12 months of sea time through a placement recognised by the Institute through The Office of Career Integrated learning. You can accumulate this sea time from the mandatory sea phase governed by the Nautical Science Work Term Regulations and the Marine Institute General Work Term Guidelines.
This nautical course is for you if:
- You want strong practical and theoretical knowledge in the area of nautical science.
- You want to prepare for a career in marine transportation.
- You can perform duties and responsibilities delegated to you as the ship's officer.
- You want to prepare for professional endorsement by Transport Canada as a seafaring officer and also to sit for the watchkeeping mate certificate of competency test.
Read more: Affordable Universities in Canada for International Students
