Graduate Marine Engineering v/s BTech Marine Engineering
With the very advent of words “trade” and “market”, came the birth of the word “shipping”. Shipping has been the very lifeline of global trade for centuries. Today, shipping consists of 56000 merchant vessels which transport goods around the world. Each vessel has an engine room called the “heart” of the ship. The responsibility of maintaining the operational capability of ships and innovating better methods to transport goods by sea for smooth universal exchange and global economic development, falls upon a marine engineer. Marine engineers are tested to their limit for managing with limited resources and making prompt decision on board to ensure timely and unhindered delivery of cargo.
India has a vast coastline and is one the largest maritime manpower supplier. To achieve this, India (free India) established its first marine engineering institute, known as Directorate of Marine Engineering and Training (DMET), in Calcutta in the year 1949 with an initial intake of 60 cadets. Today, more than 50 colleges in India offer the opportunity to become a marine engineer through two courses: Graduate Marine Engineering and Btech Marine Engineering.
Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) and Btech Marine Engineering
Graduate Marine Engineering is a one-year PG diploma course offered by 20 colleges in India. It consists of 2 semesters. It gives an opportunity for those who have completed their Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical engineering or Naval Architecture to pursue their career as a Marine Engineer.
Btech Marine Engineering is a full-time course of 4 years divided into 8 semesters. Approximately, 45 colleges in India offer this course out of which 22% are government colleges. Students who have cleared their 10+2 in science stream are eligible for this course.
The graduates of both these courses go on to become marine engineers. They begin their sailing journey by working on merchant ships as a junior engineer. After the completion of 6 months sea time training, they become eligible for class IV MEO examination. Upon successfully passing this examination they receive a Certificate of Competency (CoC) from the Mercantile Marine department of the Government of India and are promoted to fourth engineer. Subsequently, the career progression is as follows: –
Eligibility Criteria
The Eligibility criteria of getting admission into a Graduate Marine Engineering college or Btech Marine Engineering is given below: –
| Parameters | Graduate Marine Engineering | Btech Marine Engineering |
| Age | The age of the Candidate must not be more than 28 years on the day of the start of Training. | For general category, the age of the candidate should be between 18 and 25 years on August 1, 2021. For SC/ST candidates, there is a relaxation of 5 years in the upper age limit. |
| Educational Qualification | Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical engineering or Naval Architecture with a minimum score of 55% in aggregate. | Candidates who have completed their 10+2 education in science stream from a recognized Board where they have studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics compulsorily and have secured a minimum overall aggregate of 55% are eligible. Candidates who have a 3-year diploma are also eligible through a lateral entry scheme. |
| English Proficiency | A minimum score of 50% in 10+2 examination in the subject of English is compulsory to get admitted in a Graduate Marine Engineering college. | A minimum score of 50% in 10+2 examination in the subject of English is compulsory. |
| Medical Assessment | Physically fit and should meet the medical requirements as specified Director General of Shipping, eyesight 6/12 in each eye without visual aids and no colour blindness. | Physically fit and should meet the medical requirements as specified Director General of Shipping, eyesight 6/12 in each eye without visual aids and no colour blindness. |
Entrance Examinations and Admission
Graduate Marine Engineering:
Most GME colleges in India admit students depending upon the performance of entrance examinations. We would recommend appearing for exams of AEMA, IMS Goa and GEIMS.
After results of the respective GME entrance examination results have been declared, the shortlisted candidates are called for a panel interview and psychometric test. After clearing these tests, the candidates are called for a medical checkup. The medical criteria and physical fitness criteria for GME admissions are set both by the Director General of shipping and also by the respective colleges. The cadets who pass through all these stages are asked to join the respective GME colleges.
Each college has their own admission procedure. We have listed the links of the top three colleges below for you to see.
The journey seems simple however the reality is something else. Thousands of students try every year but only those with the correct mindset, hard work, and guidance can achieve their dreams. Your duty is to have a correct mindset and our role is to provide you guidance with our Graduate Marine Engineering Excellence Package where you will get all the information related to GME preparation, technical videos, and lectures from some of the best marine engineers.
Btech Marine Engineering:
Most Bachelor of Engineering course admission in the field of Marine Engineering happens through entrance exams. We would recommend aspirants to get admitted to either MERI Calcutta or TMI and we have listed the entrance exams for these two colleges.
Entrance exams for this course are: –
- IMUCET – Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test is the exam taken up across India to pursue a career in the Maritime field. The IMUCET rank is accepted for admission in most IMU campuses and other private institutes. MERI Calcutta has the highest median IMUCET rank thus, only the highest-ranking candidates are selected for admission into MERI.
- TMISAT – Tolani Maritime Institute Science Aptitude Test is the entrance exam for getting admission in TMI. The test includes 80 questions from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Analytical and logical reasoning from 10+2 level. There is another exam which evaluates the candidate’s behavior. Additionally, TMI aspirants need to clear IMUCET before getting admitted to the college.
Most Btech Marine Engineering colleges take admission based on their respective cutoff criteria of the entrance exams. Once they clear the examinations, candidates are given to choose their top three choices among all the colleges participating in that entrance exam. If they qualify for any of the colleges, they are asked to file their applications online. The candidates are then requested to come to their respective colleges and fill in their admission forms with relevant details. Candidates are asked to go through a medical examination in a DG Shipping-approved medical center.
The admission process of MERI Calcutta and TMI is given below: –
Taking admission in B.Tech Marine Engineering and becoming one of the engineers working behind the giant engines of a ship is honorable and not an easy feat to achieve for anyone without proper guidance and that’s where we will help you to achieve this dream of yours. With our free IMU CET series you can learn all about B.Tech Marine Engineering from the eligibility to the best colleges and many more the best thing is it is all for free.
Best GME Colleges
There are approximately 20 colleges in India which offer Graduate Marine Engineering courses. Out of which we have selected the top three college for you to look out for: AEMA, IMS Goa and GEIMS. These colleges have shown persistently good placement records. In case you want to look at other colleges, click here.
| Parameters | AEMA | IMS Goa | GEIMS |
| Location | Khandpe, Maharashtra | Bogda, Goa | Pune |
| Fees | Rs. 6.25 lakhs | Rs. 5.14 lakhs | Rs. 5.65 lakhs |
| Association | Anglo Eastern Group | _ | The Great Eastern Shipping Company Ltd. |
| Recruiters | Anglo Eastern Management. | V-shipping, Scorpio Marine Management India Pvt. Ltd., V-Ships India Pvt. Ltd., Elite Mariners Pvt. Ltd., Seaspan Crew Management I. P. Ltd, Wilhelmsen Shipmanagement Ltd., Campbell Shipping P. Ltd., Thome Shipping (I) P. Ltd., Valles Steamship (Canada) Ltd. | Wallem, Seaspan, Goodwood and Teekay. |
| Placements | 100% | Close to 100% | 100% |
| Official website | AEMA Official website | IMS Goa official website | GEIMS Official website |
| Other features | • Good employee treatment.• Institute owned by one of biggest shipping companies, today.• small waiting period.• top of the class training facility. | The college is reputed for taking care of their cadets, overall well-being.Many reputed shipping companies come here for placements. Afloat training and workshop training is a specialty of this institute. | The college has got great placements, but since the company is Indian, the salaries paid in Great Eastern are in Indian currency. |
Best Btech Marine Engineering colleges
Out of approximately 45 B. Tech. Marine Engineering colleges, we recommend only MERI Calcutta and TMI. These colleges have provided the best education to its cadets and have been in the limelight of placing cadets in reputed shipping companies.
In case you would like to have a look at other institutes, click here.
| Parameters | IMU Kolkata (erstwhile DMET/MERI) | TMI |
| Location | Kolkata, West Bengal | Pune, Maharashtra |
| Type | Government | Private |
| Fees | Rs. 9 lakhs | Rs. 22 lakhs |
| Campus Facilities | Facilities at MERI Calcutta | Facilities at TMI |
| Association | _ | Tolani Shipping |
| Recruiters | NYK, Anglo Eastern Ship Management, Fleet Management, Chevron Corporation, Mediterranean Shipping Company SA, Scorpio Marine Management, Laurel Ship Management Pte. Ltd., Thome Ship Management, Dockendale ship management, Torm shipping, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, OMCI shipping, MPI offshore, DCI. | Anglo Eastern Ship Management, Mediterranean Shipping Company SA, Chevron, B W Shipping, Tolani Shipping, Fleet Management, Scorpio Marine Management, Maersk, Stena, Torm shipping, Wilhelmsen ship management, Teekay tankers, NYK. |
| Placements (Class of 2020) | 80% | 80% |
| Official website | MERI Calcutta | TMI Official website |
| Other features | Regarded as the most acclaimed Marine Engineering Institute around the world. Strong alumni network who are spearheading the shipping sector worldwide. Best ranking candidates get the opportunity to study in this institute. Very active campus environment with numerous curricular and extra-curricular opportunities. Highest MTI performance index in India (dated 30-10-2019). The index is on the basis of placement, training, infrastructure, etc. To know more, Click here. Regimented training program to create the finest marine engineers. | Since the fees is so high, the college takes a lot of effort into placing its students in reputed companies.Best campus facilities in the country. Continuous Evaluation of student progress.Top quality study material is provided.Exceptional care for the wellbeing of students.High quality rating by DNV-GL and Indian Register Quality Systems.Ties with numerous shipping companies.Ship-in-campus facility to give cadets an early taste of sea life. |
Why Choose GME Over Btech Marine Engineering?
- Opportunities in other fields – Missing the city life while working at sea? A GME graduate can shift over to any on-shore job because they are certified in Mechanical Engineering or Naval Architecture.
- Assured Placements – Most GME colleges assure a placement in a company. In case of AEMA or GEIMS, the student has already been assured a job as a junior engineer in Anglo Eastern before the start of training. Other colleges like IMS Goa, that do not have any affiliation with any particular Shipping Company also provide close to 100% placement.
Why Choose Btech Marine Engineering Over GME?
Although GME gives an opportunity for graduates to enter and begin their career in the merchant navy, it is not advisable for candidates to enter the field through GME course. The reasons are listed below: –
- Year loss – In comparison to B. Tech. Marine Engineering, GME cadets begin their career as a marine engineer a year later. The B.E. (ME) course is of 4 years whereas GME aspirants need to complete 4 years course in a relevant discipline before going through the one-year course.
- Knowledge and Expertise – B.E. Marine Engineering cadets study core Marine subjects for the duration of 3 years and clear their basic engineering knowledge in the first year of their studies. GME cadets might have knowledge in mechanical engineering or naval architecture, but only get one year to know about marine engineering. B.E. Marine engineering focuses on both practical and theoretical knowledge and are much more technically sound than GME students because GME focuses primarily on practical expertise.
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Thank you sir…. It is very useful for those who studied higher secondary and b. Tech (mechanical)….providing official website link of the Collage’s is more useful for us
Thankyou Vignesh, the final goal is always to make it easier for you guys!
Explained each and everything very clearly👍
Thankyou Anurag, i really appreciate it!
Read whole blog,found interesting.
A very helpful blog,thanks for such great detail all at one place
I have some request for addition in this blog,if you find it suitable to add
1) separate para describing disadvantages of both particularly like can a B.E. in marine engg. Students pursue other job rather than in marine fields ?
2)A bit of career guidance addition in this possible like what all could be the future scope like joining as GME we can pursue further for marine surveyors(correct me if am wrong)
And a thought at the start or maybe at the end just like those in tutorial videos of merchant navy decoded
A complete guide for GME and BE Marine aspirants , Thank You soo much sir for this much needed blog . This blog is a must read !
Thankyou Shreyansh, Your feedback is highly appreciated!
Great article by Praneet Mehta sir…..specially gor those who are new in this field and for those who are interested but dont know where to start from.
Thankyou, wish it helps a lot of those people make their decisions.
Very Helpful & Informative Blog
Thanks❤️
Your Welcome, Abdullah
Thank you sir for written this article this article is very helpful for me and also other students who have want to join gme ya B.E.M.E . you are the word best mentor . Who follows you never fall in our goal . Thank you so much sir, If I start writing then my first article will on you 🙏🙏🙏
Nice
Thankyou