Marine mechanical engineering

Occupational context
The Canadian Government requires that engineering officers hold a certificate delivered by Transport Canada in order to practise their profession in the Canadian Merchant Navy. Graduates from the Navigation program are prepared to take the Transport Canada exams in order to obtain a Fourth-Class Engineer Certificate.

Graduates are capable of ensuring the proper operation and maintenance of motors, machines and auxiliary devices aboard vessels as well as overseeing and coordinating the work of engine room personnel.

The program provides students with the training they need to reach the various stages of certification with Transport Canada:

Fourth-class Engineer: propulsion systems;
Third-class Engineer: generators;
Second-class Engineer: personnel supervision and maintenance of the vessel’s machinery;
First-class engineer (chief engineer): engine room and equipment management and related administrative duties.
Graduates must have the required sea time and hold all prerequisite certificates before taking the exam leading to their Chief Engineer certification—the highest rank in the merchant navy. This may take 6 years to achieve, given the fact that one rarely sails for more than 6 or 9 months a year.

Other characteristics of the program
The internships that are part of the marine navigation and mechanical engineering programs are an essential complement to the knowledge acquired in the theoretical courses. They take place offshore on various types of vessels alternately with study sessions during the academic year and continually throughout the summer, for a total of 12 months of study and/or internships.

Before applying to a program leading to a Diploma of College Studies (DCS), applicants who studied in Québec must meet the following three requirements:

The applicant must have a Secondary School Diploma and be in one of the following situations:
The applicant has a Secondary School Diploma (SSD)*
NOTE: a SSD holder that has not passed the following courses may be required to complete remedial courses:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
Secondary 4 Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Applied Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Physical Science
Secondary 4 History and Citizenship Education or Secondary 4 History of Quebec and Canada
The applicant holds a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) and has successfully completed the following subjects*:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
The applicant has training deemed equivalent by the College.
The applicant has training and experience deemed sufficient by the College and has interrupted full time studies for at least 24 months.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, the special conditions for admission established by the Minister which specify the program prerequisites*.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, any special conditions for admission established by the College for each of its programs.


*If the applicant is enrolled in school and completing his or her secondary studies at the time of application, the grades sent by the school must demonstrate that the applicant is passing in all the courses required to complete the SSD and required to fulfill the admission requirements.