What Subjects Do You Need to Pass to Become a Sailor in Ukraine: College and University Admission Guide
Dreaming of a maritime education in Ukraine and admission to a prestigious institution? Want to build a career in shipping? Have good health and can't imagine your life without the endless sea? To help you become a sailor, boatswain, or even a captain, we've gathered detailed information about what subjects the entrance exams for sailors include.
What to Take After Grade 9 to Become a Sailor in Ukraine
For those who don't want to wait another 2 years and are absolutely sure about their future career choice, enrolling in one of Ukraine's maritime colleges is an excellent option. Popular vocational educational institutions in this field are located in Odesa, Izmail, and Mykolaiv. There you can obtain qualifications as a skilled sailor, motorist, electrician, radio technician, and many others. On the official website of each vocational school, you can find out what to take after grade 9 to become a sailor in Ukraine. In most cases, the main requirements are:
Main Requirements for Admission After Grade 9
Certificate of Basic General Secondary Education
A certificate of completion of 9 grades. High scores in physics, mathematics, and English are of decisive importance.
State Final Attestation (DPA) Results
State final attestation in Ukrainian language, mathematics, and a third subject of choice.
Interview
Where your general readiness for a maritime specialty is assessed.
Medical Certificate
Confirming no contraindications for working on ships.
Important!
Due to martial law, the DPA was cancelled in 2026. Instead, maritime colleges organize internal exams. The Ministry of Education and Science determines what subjects need to be taken to become a sailor in Ukraine. Most often, mathematics and Ukrainian language are mandatory.
What additional exams are required for sailors in Ukraine directly depends on your future specialization and your plans. For example, if you want to go on international voyages, English is essential.
What to Take After Grade 11 to Become a Sailor in Ukraine
Since 2022, due to the war, the traditional ZNO has been replaced by the National Multi-Subject Test. Now, to become a sailor in Ukraine, you need to pass the NMT — an adapted one-day online test. Its results serve as entrance exams to higher educational institutions. These are specialized academies, universities, and institutes that train the command staff of the merchant and military fleet. Interested in what subjects to take to become a navigator? To learn navigation and maritime vessel management, high scores in the main disciplines of the National Multi-Subject Test (NMT) are required:
NMT Disciplines for Admission After Grade 11
Mathematics
This is the core subject for maritime specialties.
Ukrainian Language and Literature
A mandatory NMT discipline.
History of Ukraine
Also a mandatory subject.
You'll get the same answer to the common question about what subjects to take to become a marine engineer. The additional elective subject depends on the requirements of the specific educational institution. It could be, for example, physics, English, or geography. Although the NMT includes several subjects, for engineering specialties, physics often becomes the core subject when calculating the competitive score. Therefore, during preparation for admission, it's worth paying special attention to this important discipline. But to know exactly what subjects to take to become an electrician, you need to check the enrollment conditions at each specific educational institution.
Summary
Working at sea is a wonderful choice for those seeking financial stability, ready for physically demanding work, and dreaming of long voyages. If the romance of maritime adventures irresistibly beckons you, after reading this article about what to take to become a sailor after grade 11 in Ukraine, start serious preparation for your future exams. Fair winds to you!
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