Private DNS College Fees in India
If you are planning to join the Merchant Navy after Class 12, a Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) is one of the routes you may consider for entering the deck department. But before applying to any maritime institute, one question matters almost as much as eligibility and sponsorship: how much will the complete DNS training cost?
There is no single fee applicable to every private DNS college in India. Each institute prepares its own fee structure, and the amount can include different facilities and services. Hostel, food, books, uniforms, training charges, IMU payments, examination fees, and refundable deposits may be included or charged separately. For that reason, simply comparing the first fee figure you see online can be misleading.
Here we compare the officially published 2026 fee information available from leading private DNS institutes, including T.S. Rahaman, HIMT College, Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI), Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies (GEIMS), and Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy (AEMA).
Private DNS College Fees in India 2026
Here is a quick comparison of the current official fee figures that could be verified directly from the institutes.
Private DNS College | 2026 Published Fee | Important Point |
T.S. Rahaman | ₹4,65,000 | Fee stated in the 2026 IMU-DNS prospectus |
HIMT College | ₹4,95,000 + ₹20,000 refundable deposit | Accommodation, food, workshops, laboratory, library, uniform and books included |
Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI) | ₹6,78,000 boys / ₹5,73,465 girls | Includes TMI charges and ₹40,000 payable to IMU; IMU exam fees extra |
Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies (GEIMS) | ₹7,15,204 | Published 12-month fee including tuition, boarding/lodging and listed expenses |
Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy (AEMA) | ₹8,00,000 | Official DNS-34 August 2026 fee structure |
These figures are not a common fee range for all DNS colleges. They are institute-specific amounts, and the expenses included in each total are different. T.S. Rahaman’s 2026 prospectus gives ₹4.65 lakh, HIMT’s 2026 DNS page gives ₹4.95 lakh, TMI’s August 2026 fee structure gives its respective totals, GEIMS publishes ₹7,15,204, and AEMA’s DNS-34 fee document gives ₹8 lakh.
T.S. Rahaman DNS Fees 2026
T.S. Rahaman DNS Fees 2026
T.S. Rahaman publishes its 2026 DNS fee in its official IMU-DNS prospectus.
The total course fee is ₹4,65,000, divided into two equal payments:
- ₹2,32,500 at the time of admission
- ₹2,32,500 at the beginning of Semester II
- Total: ₹4,65,000
The institute’s official program information also lists the academic requirements for the IMU-DNS route, including 60% in PCM and at least 50% in English, along with the applicable age and medical requirements. T.S. Rahaman official 2026 IMU-DNS prospectus
HIMT College DNS Fees 2026
HIMT College provides a detailed fee structure on its official DNS admission page for the 2026 intake.
The published charges are:
Particular | Amount |
Application Fee | ₹999 |
Course Fee | ₹4,95,000 |
Refundable Caution Deposit | ₹20,000 |
HIMT specifically states that its ₹4,95,000 course fee includes accommodation, food, workshops, laboratory, library, uniform, and books. This makes the fee easier to understand because several major expenses are already included in the published course amount. HIMT College official DNS fees and admission page
Tolani Maritime Institute DNS Fees 2026
Tolani Maritime Institute, popularly known as TMI, has one of the most detailed publicly available DNS fee structures among the institutes compared here.
For the August 2026 DNS batch, TMI divides the cost into tuition, campus and establishment charges, student services, DGS cess, caution deposit, and the amount payable to IMU.
The official figures are:
Fee Component | Boys | Girls |
Total Fees | ₹5,03,000 | ₹3,99,500 |
Student Service Expenses | ₹1,18,782 | ₹1,18,782 |
DGS Cess | ₹6,218 | ₹5,183 |
Refundable Caution Deposit | ₹10,000 | ₹10,000 |
Total Payable to TMI | ₹6,38,000 | ₹5,33,465 |
Amount Payable to IMU | ₹40,000 | ₹40,000 |
Total TMI + IMU | ₹6,78,000 | ₹5,73,465 |
Some expenses are not included. TMI states that IMU examination fees are payable separately, while certain medical expenses, excursions, and visits may be charged at actual cost. TMI official DNS programme and August 2026 fee structure
Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies DNS Fees 2026
The Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies (GEIMS) publishes its DNS fee structure on its official course page and in its 2026 prospectus.
The current published breakdown is:
Particular | Amount Including GST |
Admission and Orientation Fees | ₹45,000 |
DNS Tuition + Boarding & Lodging — Semester 1 | ₹3,20,292 |
DNS Tuition + Boarding & Lodging — Semester 2 | ₹3,20,292 |
INDOS Application Fee | ₹1,416 |
Professional Books | ₹15,952 |
Safety Items, Uniform Accessories, Uniform & Examination Fees | ₹12,252 |
Total for 12 Months | ₹7,15,204 |
The total of these listed components comes to ₹7,15,204. GEIMS describes the DNS program as 12 months of pre-sea training followed by 18 months of structured shipboard training. Its official course information states that the program leads towards a B.Sc. in Nautical Science through IMU and is recognized by the Directorate General of Shipping.
Table of Contents
Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy DNS Fees 2026
Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy (AEMA) is another prominent private maritime institute offering DNS.
AEMA’s official admission page identifies DNS-34 as the August 2026 batch. The academy’s official fee document for this batch gives a total fee of ₹8,00,000.
Why DNS Fees Differ From One College to Another
The difference between ₹4.65 lakh at T.S. Rahaman and ₹8 lakh at AEMA may look substantial at first. However, these numbers cannot be compared properly without checking what each institute includes.
For example, HIMT includes accommodation, food, workshops, a laboratory, a library, a uniform, and books in its ₹4.95 lakh course fee. GEIMS includes tuition, boarding, and lodging along with several other listed expenses in its ₹7,15,204 figure. TMI has a separate student-service component and separately lists its IMU payment.
So the question should not simply be
“Which DNS college has the lowest fee?”
A better question is
“What exactly is included in the amount I am paying?”
That distinction can make a significant difference when parents calculate the actual cost of training.
What Is Included in Private DNS College Fees?
There is no standard package followed by every private DNS institute.
Depending on the college, the published fee may include some or all of the following:
- Pre-sea tuition and training
- Hostel accommodation
- Food or mess
- Workshops
- Laboratory facilities
- Books
- Uniform
- Laundry
- Safety equipment
- Examination-related expenses
- INDOS-related charges
- Other training facilities
Which Private DNS College Has the Lowest Published Fee?
Based on the official 2026 figures compared in this article, T.S. Rahaman has the lowest published course-fee figure at ₹4.65 lakh, followed by HIMT at ₹4.95 lakh.
However, it would be misleading to conclude that T.S. Rahaman is automatically the cheapest overall option.
The reason is that the published figures are structured differently. HIMT, for example, explicitly includes accommodation, food, workshops, laboratory, library, uniform, and books in its ₹4.95 lakh course fee. A proper financial comparison should therefore consider both the total amount and the services included in it.
Which Private DNS College Has the Highest Published Fee?
Among the five institutes compared here, AEMA has the highest published 2026 figure at ₹8,00,000. GEIMS follows at ₹7,15,204, while TMI’s published total is ₹6,78,000 for boys and ₹5,73,465 for girls.
This does not mean that a higher fee automatically represents better training. Fees reflect the structure and facilities included by each institute and should not be treated as a ranking of institutional quality.
Does Sponsorship Make the DNS Course Free?
No.
This is an important point for students considering DNS: they should never assume that receiving a sponsorship automatically means the entire DNS course will be free.
Private DNS College Fees: What Candidates Should Compare
A simple fee table does not tell the complete story. Before selecting a DNS institute, compare the following:
Factor | What to Check |
Course fee | Exact fee for your batch |
Hostel | Included or separate |
Food | Included or separate |
Books & uniform | Included or separate |
IMU charges | Included or additional |
Examination fee | Included or additional |
Deposit | Refundable or non-refundable |
Medical expenses | Included or separate |
Sponsorship | Company and conditions |
Approval/status | Current applicable DGS/IMU status |
Refund policy | Conditions for cancellation |
This approach helps prevent a common mistake: choosing an institute simply because its advertised course fee appears lower.
JMDI Academy for Merchant Navy Preparation
Choosing an appropriate DNS college is just one step in the Merchant Navy process. Other than that, students also need to get themselves prepared for IMU-CET, sponsorship test, interviews, etc.
JMDI Academy could be considered a good choice for those who would like to undergo systematic Merchant Navy entrance coaching and counseling. This preparation methodology could prove to be useful for students to work systematically on topics, entrance questions, mock tests, and interviews instead of studying on their own.
Merchant Navy Decoded App for DNS Preparation
Students who are preparing for IMU-CET and also for the sponsorship exams can make use of the Merchant Navy Decoded App as a tool for preparation for the same.
The application will give access to mock tests, study material, test series, and preparation material, which are free of cost. Practicing from the mock test is very beneficial for the student as he gets an idea about the kind of questions that appear in the examination.
FAQ’s (Frequently asked Questions)
There is no specific average cost as per the official figures of DNS fees provided here; the range for 2026 is between ₹4.65 lakh and ₹8 lakh.
The DNS course fee for 2026 is ₹4,65,000, which will be paid in installments of ₹2,32,500 each.
The DNS course fee of HIMT is ₹4,95,000 along with a refundable caution deposit of ₹20,000 and ₹999 as an application fee.
For August 2026, the fee of TMI for boys is ₹6,78,000, and that of girls is ₹5,73,465, including ₹40,000 payable to IMU.
The fee for GEIMS is ₹7,15,204 for their 12-month DNS program.
It varies from one institute to another. HIMT and GEIMS have hostel accommodation included in their fee structure.
They are not necessarily included. Take, for example, TMI has ₹40,000 for the IMU fee separately, and the examination fee of the IMU is separate.
No, DNS sponsorship does not guarantee the payment of the full DNS college course fee.
T.S. Rahaman has the lowest fee structure among all these 5 private colleges in 2026, which is ₹4.65 lakh.
AEMA has the highest 2026 fee structure of ₹8 lakh among these 5 private colleges.