Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science

The Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science is a programme that provides comprehensive training in navigation, ship operations and maritime transport. Offered at the Technical University of Mombasa and other select maritime institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers as deck officers and maritime professionals in the shipping industry.

The curriculum covers navigation, ship stability, meteorology, maritime law, ship construction, cargo operations, ship handling, electronic navigation systems, radar and ARPA, GMDSS, maritime safety, port operations, maritime economics, ship management, bridge resource management, celestial navigation, voyage planning, research methods and a research project. Students develop navigational and ship operation skills through classroom and sea training.

Kenya's Blue Economy agenda, port development at Mombasa and the growth of maritime trade create demand for nautical science graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, simulator training, sea training voyages, industrial attachment and research projects.

Graduates are prepared for careers as deck officers, ship captains, marine pilots, port officers, maritime instructors, ship managers, maritime safety officers, vessel traffic service operators and maritime consultants. They work in shipping companies, port authorities, Kenya Maritime Authority, maritime training institutions, Kenya Navy and consulting firms.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics, Physics and English or Kiswahili. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

Prospective students should have strong analytical skills, a commitment to continuous learning, and an interest in contributing to Kenya's socio-economic development. The programme provides a solid foundation for further postgraduate study and professional advancement in related fields.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 245,950
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Navigation
Ship Stability
Meteorology
Maritime Law
Ship Construction
Cargo Operations
Ship Handling
Electronic Navigation Systems
Maritime Safety
Maritime Economics

Modules

10 in the programme

Navigation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Navigation principles. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester e...
Ship Stability
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Ship stability and trim. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester...
Meteorology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Weather for mariners. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...
Maritime Law
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Maritime legal framework. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semeste...
Ship Construction
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Ship design and structure. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semest...
Cargo Operations
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Cargo handling and stowage. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semes...
Electronic Navigation Systems
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
ECDIS, radar and ARPA. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester e...
Maritime Safety
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Safety at sea. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examinati...
Maritime Economics
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Shipping economics. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exam...
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final year research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...

Specialisations

Navigation
Ship navigation. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Port Operations
Port management. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Maritime Safety
Safety management. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Ship Management
Ship operations management. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending nautical science lectures, using navigation simulators, studying ship stability, learning maritime law, practicing celestial navigation, training with GMDSS equipment, studying meteorology, planning voyages, and working on maritime research projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's Blue Economy creates new opportunities
Excellent earning potential at senior ranks
KMA certification enables international maritime career

Against it

Sea training requires extended periods away from home
Very limited number of institutions offering the programme
Career progression requires sea time and additional certification

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public150k to 246k

150k at Technical University of Mombasa246k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

JKUAT marine eng 245.9K/yr (jkuat.ac.ke). TUM self-sponsored ~150-250K/yr (infotrack). Private: unverified.

HELB loans and government scholarships under the new funding model are available. Maritime organisations may offer sponsorships.

Funding options

HELB Loan
County Bursaries
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)

Scholarships

3 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 50,000Kenyan
Kenyan students from participating counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
KUCCPS-placed students
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics, Physics and English or Kiswahili. Medical fitness certificate required. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

Mathematics
B-
Physics
B-
English or Kiswahili
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Simulator and Sea Training
Practicum20% of the mark
Simulator training and sea voyages
End of Semester Examinations
Written examination50% of the mark
End of semester written exams
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat20% of the mark
Regular tests and assignments
Research Project
Project10% of the mark
Final year research project

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA). Offered primarily at Technical University of Mombasa. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics, Physics and English or Kiswahili. KUCCPS Cluster 3. KMA Certificate of Competency required for professional practice at sea.

Accredited by

Kenya Maritime Authority
ProfessionalRequired
Statutory body responsible for regulation of maritime safety and certification in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Ship Captain
Low demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 800,000
Ship command
Marine Pilot
Low demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Port pilotage
Deck Officer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 450,000
Ship navigation
Maritime Instructor
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 320,000
Maritime training
Port Officer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 380,000
Port operations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as deck officers, ship captains and marine pilots in shipping companies, port authorities and maritime agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ECDIS
NavigationPrimary
Electronic Chart Display and Information System for maritime navigation
AIS
Maritime safetyPrimary
Automatic Identification System for vessel tracking
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet
Ship operations data management
ArcGIS
Gis
Marine spatial planning and navigation charts
SPSS
Statistical analysis
Maritime research and data analysis
AutoCAD
Cad
Ship design and engineering drawings

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Nautical science is just about sailing ships.
The programme covers navigation, maritime law, cargo operations, safety, meteorology and ship management.
There are no maritime jobs in Kenya.
Kenya's Blue Economy and port development create demand for maritime professionals.
Nautical science graduates spend all their time at sea.
Graduates work in ports, maritime authorities, training institutions and shore-based management.
This is less rigorous than other engineering fields.
Nautical science requires strong mathematics, physics and specialised maritime training.