Nautical Science

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Nautical Science - Diploma of Technology
Skills and Interests

You love being on the water and you have leadership skills.

Work Environment

You don’t want to be chained to a desk; you have a passion for the natural environment and may have heard a call in the ocean’s roar. You have good leadership and teamwork skills and believe that great efforts earn great rewards.

Program Location:

Marine Institute Campus, Ridge Road (St. John's)

Program Length:

Four years

Courses:

View Calendar entry

Practical Experience:

3 technical sessions + 360 sea days over three work terms

Application Deadline:

Fall:  April 15. Applications received after this date will be assessed as resources and space allow.

Program Description

As a cadet, you'll train on a wide range of ships. In the classroom, you'll learn to manage and safely navigate a vessel while caring for cargo and protecting the marine environment you're operating in.

The program prepares you to qualify for Transport Canada's Watchkeeping Mate certificate of competency, allowing you to sail anywhere in the world as an officer. You'll also get a head start on higher-level certificates of competency from credits received towards Transport Canada exams and sea service exemptions.

Currently, there is a high demand for ships’ officers around the globe.

Program Structure

This four-year program consists of six in-class semesters, three technical sessions and two sea-phase work terms. This cadet program alternates between semesters on-campus and semesters at sea.

  • First year: Two academic terms followed by an eight-week technical session and a two-month sea phase.
  • Second year: Two academic terms followed by a six-week technical session and a 15-month sea phase.
  • Third year: Two academic terms followed by an eight-week technical session.
Prerequisites
  • Adherence to our Application and Admission Regulations either upon high school graduation (following a period of employment subsequent to graduation), or by transfer from another post-secondary institution.
  • Proof of satisfactory physical fitness, visual acuity, colour vision, hearing, etc. prior to writing Transport Canada exams. It must be provided by way of a signed Transport Canada Seafarer's medical from an approved physician.
What Alumni Say

“The Nautical Science program enabled me the opportunity to work in the international maritime and oil & gas industries, take command of a 258 metre Floating Production and Storage unit Offshore (FPSO), become a certified marine surveyor, lecture at the Marine Institute and take a management position with one of the largest tanker companies in the world.”

-Rob McNamara