The ENSM is a public scientific, cultural and professional institution under the supervision of the Ministry for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, the Sea and Fisheries.
You can contact the Training and Research Department, located in Le Havre, at: direction.etudes@supmaritime.fr
- Initial training: specialisation in ‘Flight Engineer’, management cycle, and International Chief Bridge Officer (OCQPI).
- Single-discipline professional training Bridge: Chief Bridge Officer (OCQP), Captain 3000, and Unlimited Captain.
Initial training as an engineer in the operational cycle.
Initial training as an engineer, specialising in ‘Marine Engineering’ I3 to I5.
- Initial training: Unlimited Chief Engineer Officer (OCMI).
- Single-discipline professional training: Chief Engineer Officer (OCQM), Chief Engineer 3000 / 8000 / Unlimited.
- EU candidates: €1,600/year
- Non-EU candidates: €8,000/yearThe amounts are published each year in the Official Journal (Ex JORF No. 0283 of 30/11/2024).
The school does not offer accommodation, but there are other options available:
- Le Havre: ALHOET Association.
- Marseille: Student residence (residence-etudiante-marseille.fr).
- Nantes: options available at the site reception.
- Saint-Malo: youth hostel + two accommodation centres.
- For classes: proper attire required.
- For ceremonies: white shirt + navy trousers or skirt.
- For boarding: uniform required on board.
- High school/university students: via ‘Parcoursup’
- Career changers or those with at least two years of higher education: via Parcours+ and the ‘ENSM’ website
- Single-subject vocational training courses: via the ‘fr’ website
- Non-EU applicants: via the ‘Etudes en France’ platform.
- Pay the Student and Campus Contribution (CVEC).
- Pay tuition fees each year.
- Access to the seafaring profession is controlled by the seafarers’ health service during a medical examination: http://rdvsantemarin.application.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/agendassgm/index.jsp
- Before starting their training, candidates must ensure that they meet the fitness requirements for the seafaring profession, in accordance with Decree No. 2015-1575 of 3 December 2015. A certificate of medical fitness for seafaring is required upon enrolment in September.
- Yes, they are eligible for scholarships according to criteria defined by the ENSM scholarship campaign.
- They are then exempt from tuition fees and the CVEC.
Yes, under the following conditions:
- Be recognised as a refugee or stateless person by the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA);
- Hold a valid residence permit, have been residing in France for at least two years, and have had a tax residence (parent or guardian) in France for at least two years.
YES, a merit-based scholarship can be applied for (maximum 3 times) provided that you have obtained a ‘Very Good’ grade in your Baccalaureate.
YES, emergency assistance may be granted. An application must be submitted to the Maritime Social Service (SSM).
The calendar is available on the official Parcoursup website.
- Review of applications for all initial training programmes.
- An interview for the ‘First Officer’ and ‘Flight Engineer’ programmes (subject to obtaining a high school diploma for those graduating this year).
- Academic results,
- Assessments on reports from Year 12, Year 13, and post-baccalaureate studies (possibly monitored in science subjects and core subjects),
- Cover letter.
- The list of documents to be provided can be found on Parcoursup;
- No additional documents received outside of Parcoursup will be accepted;
- Previous grades are sent by the institutions in the event of a temporary interruption of studies. Post-baccalaureate studies are taken into account.
- No algorithmic processing: selection is carried out by ENSM.
- Candidates’ level of English is assessed on the basis of their grades and assessments in Première and Terminale, and possibly their post-baccalaureate studies. No English test results need to be provided.
- All baccalaureates are accepted, but experience shows that science baccalaureate holders are much more successful. High school students may prefer to focus on mathematics, physics and chemistry, or even engineering sciences or computer science. Motivation and a good level of English are also important.
- Candidates undergoing professional retraining,
- Holders of a minimum two-year post-secondary qualification.
- Engineer: 160 places.
- OCQPI/Captain 3000: 42 places.
- OCQM/Chief Engineer 8000: 45 places.Public reports are available at www.supmaritime.fr.
- Engineer – 5 years of higher education
- OCQPI – 3 years of higher education
- OCMI – 4 years of higher education
- Duration: three years (six semesters)
– Entire programme at the Le Havre site
– Bastia Maritime Vocational College (1st and 2nd years) then Le Havre or Marseille (3rd year).
Qualifications: Bridge Officer and Captain 3000, Bachelor’s degree. - Recruitment exclusively for post-baccalaureate students in the 1st year.
- Possibility of continuing on to the Unlimited Captain qualification, through vocational training.
- New format for the single-subject engineering programme, providing direct access to the Unlimited Chief Engineer qualification.
- Duration: 4 years, spread over 8 semesters, including 7 semesters at the Saint Malo site and 1 semester on board.
- Qualification: Chief Engineer Officer and Unlimited Chief Engineer Officer, Bachelor’s degree.
- 2 courses: ‘Navigation’ and ‘Marine Engineering’
- Diploma accredited by the Commission des Titres d’Ingénieurs (CTI), Master’s degree
- Operational Cycle (3 years) in Marseille
- Management Cycle (2 years)
– Navigation in Le Havre
– Marine Engineering in Nantes
Yes, since the start of the academic year in September 2025, students from other higher education institutions (CCPGE, University, BUT, etc.) have been able to directly access second-year courses in Marseille.
During the first three years (six semesters – Operational cycle), specific maritime courses are taught, forming the core curriculum for both specialisations: ‘Navigation’ and ‘Marine Engineering’.
The choice between the EGN (Eco Ship Management) or DMO (Offshore Systems Deployment and Maintenance) option is made during the first two months of the course.
Only high-level athletes who appear on the official list of the Ministry of Youth and Sports are recognised.
Note: There are no SHN accommodations for the sailing course.
- Lectures, tutorials, practicals, simulators (face-to-face), and internships.
- Six teaching units:
- Nautical Sciences,
- Construction, Operation, Safety,
- Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Automation,
- Naval Mechanics,
- Humanities and Social Sciences,
- Periods spent on board commercial vessels,
- Internships specific to the maritime world: survival at sea, firefighting, etc.
- ‘Navigation’ specialisation, long period on board during the management cycle,
- ‘Marine Engineering’ specialisation, last semester entirely devoted to an end-of-studies internship in a company.
- Lectures, tutorials, practicals, simulator sessions (face-to-face), and internships.
- Five teaching units:
- Nautical sciences,
- Construction, Operation and Safety,
- Naval mechanics,
- Humanities and Social Sciences,
- Internships specific to the maritime world: launching a boat, survival at sea, firefighting, etc.
- Two boarding periods:
- 5 days (holidays and/or inter-school breaks in S1, S2 or S3),
- One semester in the final year.
- Theoretical classes, tutorials, practical work, simulator sessions.
- Teaching units:
- Naval mechanics,
- Electrical engineering, electronics and control systems,
- Maintenance and repair,
- Operations,
- Maritime trade,
- Applied mathematics,
- Maritime English.
- Specific maritime internships offered: firefighting, medical assistance, survival at sea, etc.
- Three periods of shipboard training:
- Five days in the first year (School-in-ship),
- 45 days in the second year,
- 135 days in the fourth year.
- Shipboard internships are possible during school breaks.
They are trained as multi-skilled merchant navy officers. They are destined to hold the highest positions on the bridge and in the engine room as captain or chief engineer on all types of commercial vessels. They supervise the ship’s crew, are responsible for the safety of passengers and/or cargo, and coordinate activities on board.
The EGN (Eco Ship Management) specialisation focuses on optimising energy use on board, treating ship waste, and promoting environmentally friendly ship construction and decommissioning.
The DMO (Offshore Systems Deployment and Maintenance) specialisation focuses on the deployment of offshore energy production or extraction facilities, such as marine renewable energy (MRE) exploitation, industrial maintenance, optimisation of offshore energy production and transport, and offshore system foundations and structures.
- Interest in the maritime world: knowledge of the maritime environment; ability to integrate commercial and environmental imperatives, as well as a willingness to take on the
- Challenges of ecological transition;
- Interpersonal skills and abilities: ability to lead a crew; ability to adapt to various situations;
- Written and oral communication skills: good command of English and French (written and oral);
- Organisational skills and interpersonal skills: rigour, methodical approach, vigilance, decision-making ability, sense of responsibility.
Bridge Officers/Captains 3000 are responsible for the navigation and manoeuvring of a ship, safety, loading operations, and supervising multicultural crews.
- He has a sense of responsibility;
- He knows how to make quick decisions to avoid navigational hazards and collisions with other vessels;
- He shows initiative and has sufficient natural authority to ensure that the crew follows his decisions;
- He complies with the various regulations in force.
- Interest in the maritime world: knowledge of the maritime environment; understanding commercial imperatives and willingness to take on the challenges of ecological transition;
- Interpersonal skills and communication abilities: ability to collaborate and work in a team with multicultural crews;
- Written and oral communication skills: good command of English and French (written and spoken);
- Organisational skills and interpersonal skills: rigour, methodical approach, autonomy, but also the ability to report back;
- Good skills acquired in science subjects studied at secondary school.
- He is responsible for operating and maintaining the ships’ machinery and auxiliary equipment;
He makes quick decisions when problems arise with the equipment;
He has a sense of responsibility, great adaptability, and strong management skills;
He shows initiative and has sufficient natural authority to ensure that the crew follows his decisions;
He complies with the various regulations in force.
- Interest in the maritime world: knowledge of the maritime environment; ability to integrate commercial and environmental requirements, as well as a willingness to take on the
- challenges of ecological transition;
- Interpersonal skills and abilities: ability to lead a crew; ability to adapt to various situations;
- Written and oral communication skills: good command of French and English (written and oral);
- Organizational skills and interpersonal skills: rigor, methodical approach, vigilance, ability to make decisions, sense of responsibility.
- Engineering degree from ENSM.
- DESMM (Diploma of Higher Studies in Merchant Shipping), an internationally recognized professional maritime degree.
- Consulting engineer for a shipping company or shipyard,
- Lead engineer at a certification company,
- Consulting engineer for a government agency or company invested in the concept of clean ships.
- Engineer responsible for the operation and maintenance of offshore installations,
- Consulting engineer for a marine energy company,
- Consulting engineer for a government agency,
- Consulting engineer for an insurance company.
- Freight transport (container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers, etc.);
- Passenger transport (cruise ships, ferries); yachting; maritime services.
They are destined to work on commercial vessels, some with international crews, on all the world’s oceans and seas, transporting goods, carrying passengers, or carrying out specific tasks such as laying cables or supporting offshore installations.
Regarding selection, if your institution is listed on Parcoursup, your grades will be added directly by Parcoursup. Grades from internships and professional subjects will also be taken into account.
Yes, provided that you complete a “fishing module” at the Maritime High School. Some of our students have already done so.
Many students enter ENSM without having sailed before.
You must pass an examination, which is available after a certain number of years of experience in the maritime field.
Yes, but at post-baccalaureate level (see the three options for initial training).
There are assessments throughout the course, accompanied by examinations at the end of each semester.
Mainly on land. Marine engineers may occasionally be required to work on board ships as specialist personnel (specific assignments), provided they have certain qualifications required by the STCW.
It all depends on the averages of the other candidates. Selection is based on academic records. Students who do well in their first and second years generally have a science-focused baccalaureate, obtained with honours.
Yes, it is not possible to join the programme directly during the academic year. We invite you to also explore the opportunities offered by the vocational stream.
For the Engineering programme, approximately 700 hours per semester, or 30 to 35 hours per week.
The school is setting up a platform for internship/work experience opportunities and organising meetings with professionals.
For the Flight Engineer programme, 2 months in the 1st year, 2 months in the 2nd year, 2 months in the 3rd year, and 6 months in the 4th year.
Yes, about 30% of the teaching. Mainly in Mechanical Engineering (welding, turning, machinery, CAD), Electricity/Electronics/Automation, and Navigation.
Approximately 30-35 hours of classes per week, including two or three half-days of practical work. The timetable varies from week to week. In the second and third years, the timetables are more demanding.
Students participate in life on board. At the end of the course, they are directly involved in the tasks performed by the officers.
It is exclusively dedicated to the EGN/DMO sector. For further information, please contact the Nantes site: bef.nantes@supmaritime.fr
Shipping companies for their technical services, shipyards, consulting firms, etc. The degree is recognised by the Commission des Titres d’Ingénieurs (CTI).
No, in some years, additional OCQP training for OCQM is organised so that a Chief Engineer can join a Chief Officer training course.
For more information: bef.lehavre@supmaritime.fr