Naval Architect

Designing the shape, strength and stability of ships, boats and offshore platforms. Checking drawings, calculating loads and supervising construction and repair at shipyards. Working with marine engineers, welders, classification surveyors and clients.

A day in the work
A typical day starts with checking drawings or calculation sheets on a computer for a ship's hull or a new platform. Late morning may bring a meeting with the production team or the client to review changes to the plan. Afternoons often go to stability or strength checks, or a visit to the yard to see how a section of hull is being built. The day usually ends with updating reports and the design file.

1. Step 1 · Class 10–12Study Physics, Chemistry and Maths with care. Keep English strong too, because many colleges want at least 50% in it.
2. Step 2 · Class 12Sit the entrance exam your target colleges accept: JEE Main for many engineering colleges, or IMU-CET for the IMU campuses. IMU-CET 2026 was held on 24 May 2026, so check the next year's dates early.
3. Step 3 · After Class 12Go through counselling and seat allotment. IMU-CET 2026 set qualifying percentiles of 60 for General, 54 for EWS and OBC-NCL, and 45 for SC and ST. Clearing the cut-off is not the same as getting a seat, which depends on rank, category and campus.
4. Step 4 · 4 yearsComplete the 4-year B.Tech. Subjects include ship hydrostatics and stability, ship structures, resistance and propulsion, and ship design, with practical work and industrial training.
5. Step 5 · After graduationLook for jobs in shipyards, DG Shipping, the Navy, classification societies or offshore firms. Government and defence posts often ask for at least 60% in your degree, and some want 1 to 4 years of experience first.

• B.Tech in Naval Architecture (direct entry)Enter a 4-year B.Tech in Naval Architecture after Class 12 through JEE Main or IMU-CET and learn ship design from the start.
• Another engineering degree, then a specialist postThe Indian Navy's naval architecture cadre accepts at least 60% in a B.E. or B.Tech in Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical, Metallurgy or Naval Architecture. This route is open to students who first take a different engineering branch.

Fees from: AMET University fee structure, B.E. Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering 2024-2028. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

Pay depends on whether you join a shipyard, a government or defence post, a classification society or an offshore firm, and on your experience and city. Early pay in the private sector is usually modest, and senior designers can earn much more after years of experience.

• Class 7–9Build a small boat from a plastic bottle or card, then test which shape floats best and carries the most weight. Write down what you changed each time.
• Class 10–12Take a free course on basic engineering mechanics or fluid mechanics on NPTEL and finish a few of its assignments.Open link ↗
• College or afterAsk a shipyard, port or Navy unit whether they accept student visits or internship enquiries, and read a current ship design or stability topic from the free NPTEL courses.Open link ↗

• There is no single licence for naval architects, unlike architects. Your employer, the Navy or the classification society you join decides what checks apply.
• Fees differ a lot between government and private colleges, and between campuses. Check each college's official fee page before you choose.
• Some shipyard and offshore jobs are in Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Kandla. Plan for moving away from home.