GME course: fees, eligibility and sponsorship

GME fees: ₹4 lakh to ₹6.42 lakh for the whole course, from 7 DGS-approved institutes that publish their fee. What is included — hostel, uniform, IMU and exam fees — differs between institutes, so compare the notes below and confirm with the institute.

Fees published by institutes

Institute	DGS grade	Published fee	Notes
Institute of Maritime Studies, Goa	A1	₹6.42 lakh	Total payable, including hostel, student development charges and a ₹15,000 refundable caution deposit.
The Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies	A1	₹6.4 lakh	Approximate total including tuition and boarding, subject to change (GME batch of December 2026).
Maritime Training Institute (SCI), Mumbai	A1	₹5.75 lakh Women: ₹4.5 lakh	The institute says the fee is being revised.
T. S. Rahaman, Mumbai	A2	₹5.6 lakh
Coimbatore Marine College	B2	₹4.85 lakh	Fee for company-sponsored candidates, including INDoS and exam fees.
Euro Tech Maritime Academy, Kochi	B1	₹4.5 lakh
RL Institute of Nautical Science, Madurai	B1	₹4 lakh	Including hostel and mess.

Figures as published on each institute's website on 31 October 2026. The grade is from the DGMA inspection (CIP) report. Click an institute for its full fee details.

Who can apply

• Academic: B.E. Mechanical / Naval Architecture: A B.E. in Mechanical Engineering or Naval Architecture with at least 50% in the final year.
• …or B.E. Mechanical & Automation (not fully exempt): These graduates do not receive full exemption from the MEO Class IV and Class II examinations.
• Maximum age: The upper age limit is 28 years.
• Full-time qualification only: Only full-time qualifications count — part-time, distance-learning and correspondence courses are not accepted.
• Pre-sea medical examination by a DGS-approved medical examiner: A medical examination by a DGS-approved medical examiner, done after selection for pre-sea training.

Source: the DGMA (formerly DG Shipping) training rules — TEAP Part A III/1 para 4.2(a) · Table III/1-3 · Appendix III/1A.4.

Duration and where it leads

One year at the institute, then sea service as a trainee marine engineer recorded in a Training and Assessment Record book.

Trainee marine engineer, then the MEO Class IV Certificate of Competency (Fourth Engineer).

How admission works

Admission is through each institute's own test and interview. Many GME batches are company-sponsored, which means a shipping company selects you and gives you sea training afterwards.

GME sponsorship

Sponsored GME candidates are selected by a shipping company before the course and are placed on its ships for sea service afterwards. Some institutes publish a separate fee for sponsored candidates.