Indian Maritime University (IMU), Chennai serves as the headquarters of India’s first and only national university dedicated to maritime education. Parliament established this central university in 2008. Funding comes from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India. Its campuses are spread across Chennai, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, and Visakhapatnam.

At Uthandi on East Coast Road, the main Chennai campus covers 20 acres beside the Bay of Bengal. This coastal setting supports the university’s focus on maritime studies. In 2025, IMU held 76th place in the NIRF University category and 1st place among India’s maritime universities in the Outlook-ICARE rankings.

  • B.Tech (Marine Engineering): This flagship 4-year degree trains students to work as marine engineers on merchant ships.
  • B.Sc (Nautical Science): Students seeking deck officer careers in the merchant navy can pursue this 3-year course.
  • Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS): This programme provides training for nautical officer roles.
  • BBA (Logistics and Retail Management): Maritime logistics and supply chain careers are the focus of this 3-year degree.
  • MBA: The 2-year postgraduate options cover International Transportation and Logistics Management, and Port and Shipping Management.
  • PG Diplomas: Students can study Maritime or Maritime Law at the postgraduate diploma level.
  • M.S. (Research) and PhD: These programmes allow students to carry out research in maritime fields.

The full programme fees are INR 11,41,200 for B.Tech Marine Engineering, INR 8,66,200 for B.Sc Nautical Science, and INR 5,91,200 for MBA. During campus recruitment in 2024-25, 27 B.Tech Marine Engineering graduates secured jobs. Their median salary was INR 7 LPA, while the highest offer reached INR 24 LPA. Recruiters include Maersk, Fleet Management Ltd, TORM, and MOL.

IMU Chennai Important Dates

Expected IMU Admission Schedule for 2027-28

The next admission cycle is for the 2027-28 batch. The following months are tentative and remain subject to an official IMU notification.

EventDate
IMU CET 2027 examinationMay 2027 (expected)
IMU CET 2027 result announcementJune 2027 (expected)
IMU CET 2027 counsellingJuly to August 2027 (expected)
Start of classes for the 2027-28 batchAugust to September 2027 (expected)

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

MAT December 2026 Schedule

MBA applicants considering MAT can check the following dates on AIMA’s official test schedule. PBT means paper-based test, while CBT means computer-based test.

EventDate
MAT December 2026 PBT registration deadlineDecember 14, 2026
MAT December 2026 PBT admit card releaseDecember 17, 2026
MAT December 2026 PBT examinationDecember 20, 2026
MAT December 2026 CBT registration deadlineDecember 21, 2026
MAT December 2026 CBT admit card releaseDecember 24, 2026
MAT December 2026 CBT examinationDecember 27, 2026

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

IMU Chennai Courses, Eligibility and Fees

Students at IMU Chennai can pursue maritime studies from undergraduate degrees through doctoral research. These programmes fall under the central university system and follow University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. The table lists programme lengths, entry requirements, and total fees.

CourseDurationEligibilityFee
B.Tech Marine Engineering4 yearsClass 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM), at least 60% aggregate in PCM and 50% in English; admission through IMU CETINR 11,41,200
B.Sc Nautical Science3 yearsClass 12 with PCM, at least 60% aggregate in PCM and 50% in English; admission through IMU CETINR 8,66,200
Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS)1 yearClass 12 with PCM; admission through IMU CETINR 3,16,200
BBA (Logistics and Retail Management)3 yearsClass 12 in any stream; admission through IMU CETINR 5,65,200
MBA in International Transportation and Logistics Management (ITLM), and Port and Shipping Management (PSM)2 yearsBachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate; entry through CAT, MAT or CMATINR 5,91,200
PG Diploma in Maritime1 yearBachelor’s degree in a relevant subjectINR 1,45,000
PG Diploma in Maritime Law1 yearLLB or an equivalent qualificationINR 81,200
M.S. Research2 yearsB.Tech or B.Sc in a maritime fieldINR 7,52,000
PhD3 to 5 yearsRelevant postgraduate qualification with NET-JRF or the IMU entrance examinationINR 1,02,000 to 2,52,000

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

Academic qualifications alone do not complete the eligibility requirements for undergraduate and DNS applicants. They must also clear the medical fitness test required by the Directorate General of Shipping, commonly called DG Shipping. Normal colour vision is compulsory for B.Tech Marine Engineering and B.Sc Nautical Science applicants.

How Admission Works at IMU Chennai

The entry route depends on the programme. IMU conducts its national Common Entrance Test, IMU CET, each year for its flagship undergraduate courses. Students with suitable ranks enter centralised counselling, where they choose programmes and campuses. Postgraduate diploma and research applicants follow the university’s direct admission routes.

Entrance Tests and Admission Routes

ProgrammeEntrance ExamAdmission Route
B.Tech Marine EngineeringIMU CETCentralised counselling conducted by IMU
B.Sc Nautical ScienceIMU CETCentralised counselling conducted by IMU
Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS)IMU CETCentralised counselling conducted by IMU
BBA LogisticsIMU CETCentralised counselling conducted by IMU
MBA, both specialisationsCAT, MAT, CMAT or IMU MATDirect admission through IMU
PG DiplomasIMU entrance examination or a valid postgraduate qualificationDirect admission through IMU
M.S. Research and PhDIMU PhD entrance examination or NET-JRF, the National Eligibility Test with Junior Research FellowshipDirect admission through IMU

B.Tech Marine Engineering and B.Sc Nautical Science

For either flagship degree, applicants need at least 60% aggregate in Class 12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, along with 50% in English. They must meet DG Shipping medical standards and have normal colour vision.

  1. Take IMU CET and obtain the required score and rank.
  2. Enter programme and campus preferences during centralised counselling.
  3. Receive an allotment across the IMU campuses according to the counselling process.
  4. Complete the medical examination.
  5. Have the required documents verified and complete admission.

Students with high ranks who list Chennai among their choices receive seats through this common counselling system. The maritime training facilities make B.Tech Marine Engineering at Chennai one of the frequently preferred options.

BBA Logistics and Retail Management

Students from any Class 12 stream can seek BBA admission with a valid IMU CET score. Compared with sea-going courses, BBA has less strict medical fitness requirements. Its IMU CET cutoff is also lower than those for B.Tech and B.Sc.

MBA Specialisations

A bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate is needed for MBA in International Transportation and Logistics Management or Port and Shipping Management. Applicants may use CAT, MAT, CMAT, or IMU’s internal MAT. For Port and Shipping Management, preference goes to those with maritime work experience.

IMU Chennai Qualifying Cutoffs 2026

The qualifying percentiles for IMU CET 2026 undergraduate programmes, including B.Tech Marine Engineering, are listed below. Meeting this threshold does not ensure a Chennai seat. Actual allotment cutoffs are higher and vary with the number of applicants choosing the campus.

CategoryIMU CET 2026 Qualifying Percentile
General60
OBC-NCL54
General-EWS54
SC45
ST45

IMU Chennai Placement Outcomes

International shipping companies recruit B.Tech Marine Engineering students for work on merchant navy vessels. Campus hiring in 2024-25 resulted in jobs for 27 graduates. Many maritime graduates also find berths, or positions aboard ships, directly with shipping companies without using IMU’s campus placement cell.

Placement MeasureB.Tech Marine Engineering, 2024-25
Graduates hired through campus drives27
Median annual salaryINR 7 LPA
Highest annual offerINR 24 LPA

Recruitment opportunities include shipping lines, fleet management companies, and employers offering maritime work on land.

Employer GroupRecruiters and Organisations
International shipping linesMaersk, TORM, MOL (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines)
Fleet management companiesFleet Management Ltd, DocknDale
Employers offering shore-based maritime workPort authorities, maritime logistics firms, shipping agencies

For logistics and port management graduates from BBA and MBA programmes, shore-based options include shipping agencies, port operations, maritime law, and container logistics. Employers include port trusts, container terminal operators, and international freight forwarders. Entry-level annual salaries for these roles range from INR 4 to 8 LPA.

IMU Chennai Rankings

IMU’s 76th position in the NIRF University rankings for 2025 places it within the top 100 central universities in India. Outlook-ICARE also placed it first among Indian maritime universities in 2025, recognising its specialised maritime focus.

Ranking OrganisationCategoryRank in 2025
NIRFUniversity76
Outlook-ICAREMaritime Universities in India1

The NIRF University category compares IMU with central and state universities across India, including larger institutions teaching many subjects. IMU competes in this wider group while concentrating on maritime education. Its position reflects its research output and placement outcomes within this specialised field.

IMU Chennai Campus Facilities and Accommodation

Teaching blocks, engineering laboratories, a marine workshop, and navigation simulators form part of the Chennai campus. The 20-acre beachfront site lies at Uthandi on East Coast Road, 25 km south of Chennai Central. Facing the Bay of Bengal, it provides a coastal setting for maritime education.

Students in B.Sc Nautical Science and B.Tech Marine Engineering use navigation and propulsion simulators for practical training. The specialist library holds literature on maritime law, naval architecture, and ocean engineering.

The Chennai campus fee structure does not list hostel facilities. Students usually arrange housing separately in nearby neighbourhoods such as Uthandi, Thiruvanmiyur, Besant Nagar, and Sholinganallur. These residential areas along the East Coast Road corridor offer connectivity to the campus.

Comparing IMU Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Kolkata

Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Kolkata’s Marine Engineering Research Institute (MERI) campus are among the three most sought-after choices for B.Tech Marine Engineering. Each offers the programme under the same university. During centralised counselling, IMU CET rank-holders enter their campus preferences, weighing location, access to the port industry, and available facilities.

Comparison PointIMU ChennaiIMU VisakhapatnamIMU Kolkata (MERI)
Campus roleMain campus and university headquartersRegional campusRegional campus, Marine Engineering Research Institute
LocationUthandi, Chennai, Tamil NaduVisakhapatnam, Andhra PradeshKolkata, West Bengal
Campus size and setting20-acre beachfront campusCampus facilities near the portEstablished MERI campus
B.Tech Marine Engineering feeINR 11,41,200The same fee under IMU normsThe same fee under IMU norms
Nearby portsEnnore Port and Chennai PortVisakhapatnam PortKolkata Port and Haldia Port
Establishment background2008, main campusEstablished as an IMU campus after 2008Earlier MERI institution, now part of IMU

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

As the headquarters campus, Chennai has access to the widest range of university administrative resources, faculty expertise, and recruiter relationships. Students from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha may prefer Visakhapatnam for its location beside one of India’s fastest-growing cargo ports. Kolkata’s MERI campus offers a longer history of maritime education and is a suitable option for students from eastern India.

IMU Chennai Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. Can a student enter B.Tech Marine Engineering without taking IMU CET, and what does the test cover?

Ans. IMU CET stands for Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test. IMU holds this national examination every year for entry to B.Tech Marine Engineering, B.Sc Nautical Science, DNS, and BBA. A valid rank is compulsory for undergraduate admission. Rank-holders then use centralised counselling to select from the university’s campuses, including Chennai.

Ques. How did the 2026 qualifying percentile vary by category, and was it enough for a Chennai seat?

Ans. For IMU CET 2026 undergraduate courses, including B.Tech Marine Engineering, the qualifying percentile was 60 for General, 54 for OBC-NCL and General-EWS, and 45 for SC and ST. Chennai’s seat allotment cutoffs are higher than these minimum qualifying levels. They depend on how many applicants select Chennai during counselling.

Ques. How much must a B.Tech Marine Engineering student pay over four years, and how are payments divided?

Ans. The complete four-year B.Tech Marine Engineering programme costs INR 11,41,200 at IMU Chennai. Students pay by semester, beginning with INR 1,93,700 for the first semester. The later semesters carry lower charges. Accommodation near the campus must be arranged separately.

Ques. Where can Marine Engineering graduates work, and how can they move towards senior shipboard roles?

Ans. Graduates can begin aboard merchant navy ships as Junior Marine Engineers. Passing Certificate of Competency examinations allows them to progress towards Chief Engineer roles. Recruiters include Maersk, Fleet Management Ltd, TORM, MOL, and DocknDale. Graduates can also seek work on land in port engineering, naval architecture consultancy, and maritime surveying.

Ques. Where did IMU stand in the 2025 university and maritime rankings?

Ans. NIRF placed IMU at 76 in its University category for 2025. In the same year, Outlook-ICARE ranked it No. 1 among India’s maritime universities. IMU is India’s only central university devoted exclusively to maritime education, while its NIRF assessment compares it with universities across disciplines.

Ques. What accommodation options do students usually choose near the Uthandi campus?

Ans. Hostel facilities do not appear in IMU Chennai’s current fee structure. Students generally find accommodation independently in residential localities along East Coast Road. Thiruvanmiyur, Besant Nagar, and Sholinganallur are among the areas with good connections to the Uthandi campus.

Ques. Which medical checks must applicants clear before joining a sea-going degree?

Ans. Admission to B.Tech Marine Engineering and B.Sc Nautical Science requires a DG Shipping medical fitness test. It checks overall physical fitness, normal colour vision, and compliance with DG Shipping eyesight standards. Applicants who fail this examination cannot enter IMU’s sea-going programmes.