IMU Chennai M.S Research: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. The M.S. (By Research) is a 2-year postgraduate research programme that leads to a Master of Science degree, while the Ph.D. is a doctoral programme with a minimum duration of 3 years. The M.S. (By Research) is suitable for candidates who want to develop research skills at the postgraduate level before pursuing a Ph.D., or for those who want a research-based qualification without committing to the longer Ph.D. journey. Importantly, the M.S. (By Research) degree awarded by IMU qualifies a candidate for direct admission to the Ph.D. programme at IMU, providing a clear academic progression pathway. The annual fee for M.S. (By Research) is Rs. 3,55,000 per year (total Rs. 7,10,000 for 2 years), which is higher than the Ph.D. fee of Rs. 30,000 per year for the first 3 years. Candidates who are confident about pursuing a doctorate should directly apply for Ph.D., while those who want to first establish their research credentials should opt for M.S. (By Research).

Ans. The M.S. (By Research) at IMU is entirely a research-by-thesis programme, not a taught programme. Students are required to work under a faculty supervisor on an original research problem in the maritime domain and submit a thesis at the end of the programme. There are no regular classroom lectures or coursework components as in a conventional M.Sc. programme. The programme is designed to develop independent research capabilities, and students are expected to contribute original knowledge to their chosen research area. This makes it fundamentally different from a regular M.Sc. degree and is more aligned with the research culture of a Ph.D. programme.

Ans. Yes, mariners holding a Master Certificate of Competency or MEO Class I Certificate of Competency are specifically eligible to apply for the M.S. (By Research) programme at IMU without requiring a postgraduate degree. This is a special provision that recognizes the extensive practical expertise of experienced maritime professionals. Such candidates are also eligible to apply for the Part Time mode of the programme, which allows them to continue their seafaring career while pursuing research. For Part Time admission, seafarers must submit proof of active seagoing service (copy of COC and CDC for the six months prior to the last date of admission) and are exempted from the NOC requirement.

Ans. IMU offers M.S. (By Research) across a wide range of maritime-related areas including Marine Engineering, Nautical Science, Naval Architecture and Ship Building, Dredging and Harbour Engineering, Port and Shipping Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Maritime Security and Piracy, Maritime Law and Insurance, Blue Economy, Autonomous Shipping, Cyber Security for Seaports, Seafarer Mental Health, and Green Technology. To identify a supervisor, candidates should refer to the List of Empaneled Guides published on the IMU admissions page. It is strongly advisable to contact potential supervisors before applying to discuss research interests, ongoing projects, and availability. The research committee at IMU assigns supervisors based on research area alignment and faculty capacity.

Ans. Yes, candidates who have qualified UGC-NET (both JRF and Lectureship categories), CSIR-NET (both JRF and Lectureship categories), GATE, CEED, or CAT are fully exempted from the IMU written entrance test for M.S. (By Research) admission. Their selection is based entirely on the Interview/Viva-Voce, which carries 100% weightage. The validity of the qualifying certificate must be within the stipulated period; expired certificates are not accepted. This exemption significantly simplifies the admission process for NET/GATE qualified candidates and makes IMU's M.S. (By Research) programme particularly accessible to them.

Ans. The M.S. (By Research) admission notification is released alongside the Ph.D. notification, typically in November each year. Based on the 2026-27 cycle, online registration was open from 23rd November to 20th December 2026, the written entrance test was held in January 2027, interviews were conducted in February 2027, and the programme commenced on 1st March 2027. For the 2027-28 cycle, a similar timeline is expected, with the notification likely released around November 2027 and the programme commencing in March 2028. Candidates are advised to regularly monitor the official IMU website (www.imu.edu.in) for the latest notification, as the 2027-28 notification has not yet been released as of April 2027.