GP Rating Course Placement
One of the biggest questions students have before joining a GP Rating Course is simple: “Will I get a job after completing the course?” You will find many GP Rating Colleges and websites using terms such as “100% placement,” “guaranteed placement,” or “assured job” while promoting GP Rating courses. But before taking such a claim seriously, you need to understand what the institute actually means by placement.
Getting a call for an interview, getting selected by a company, and actually joining a ship are three different things. So, if you are comparing GP Rating colleges, don’t simply choose the institute with the biggest placement percentage printed on its website. Find out what that percentage actually represents.
What Does Placement Mean in a GP Rating College?
The word “placement” in GP Rating Colleges means how many students have joined shipping after completing the GP Rating course from that particular college. There are more than 100 GP Rating Colleges in India verified by the DG Shipping; however, not every college provides placement. When you see the actual number, it is close to 6 or 7 colleges.
Students should take note that being shortlisted for a company interview is different from receiving a job offer, and receiving an offer is different from actually joining a vessel.
Is 100% Placement Really Guaranteed After GP Rating?
The short answer is NO. Some GP Rating Colleges do advertise 100% placement or sponsorship guarantees, but it is those colleges you have to be very careful with. For example, there are GP Rating Colleges currently publishing 100% placement claims on their websites, but is it really the case? No, right?
Even with colleges providing sponsorship opportunities, you need to understand the terms and conditions clearly. Some shipping companies cancel their sponsorship if the percentage in the GP Rating course is below of that specified in the contract.
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Placement Records You Should Verify Before Admission
If a college claims to have excellent GP Rating placement, don’t hesitate to ask for actual information about previous batches. Ideally, you should ask for batch-wise placement information rather than a single percentage displayed on a brochure.
Here is some information you should get before paying the fees:
- How many students were enrolled in the batch?
- How many students were selected by shipping companies?
- How many actually joined ships?
- Which companies recruited students?
- How many students are still waiting for their first ship?
- How long did the selected students wait?
The reason batch-wise information is useful is that a single successful batch does not necessarily represent all batches. The current DGS framework places importance on placement records and requires institutes to maintain and track trainee information, including training and shipboard progress.
So, if you are spending a significant amount of money on your training, asking for placement information is completely reasonable.
Don’t Rely Only on Student Testimonials: Student testimonials can be useful, but they should not be your only source of information. A few successful students can tell you about their individual experiences. They cannot necessarily tell you what happened to the entire batch.
GP Rating Course Sponsorship
When a shipping company selects a candidate before or during training, the student gets a clearer pathway towards joining the ship after completing the GP Rating Course.
However, sponsorship terms can vary. Always check
- Which company is providing the sponsorship?
- Is the sponsorship letter issued directly by the company?
- What conditions must the candidate fulfil?
- Is shipboard training guaranteed?
- What happens if the candidate fails to meet the required conditions such as academic percentage?
Always read the actual sponsorship terms instead of relying only on what a counsellor tells you.
Waiting Time for the First Ship
This is one of the most overlooked parts of the GP Rating career. A student may complete the course and still have to wait before joining a vessel.
The waiting period can depend on several factors, including:
- Availability of a ship
- Company recruitment schedule
- Vessel schedule
- Rank
- Medical clearance
- Documentation
- Passport and visa requirements
- Company-specific requirements
- Candidate’s performance and eligibility
Therefore, there is no universal waiting period that applies to every GP Rating student. One candidate may join relatively quickly, while another may have to wait longer.
Sponsorship Is Not the Same as Joining
Sponsorship and shipboard joining are not the same thing. Sponsorship means a shipping company has selected or sponsored you under specific terms, usually giving you a pathway towards joining the company after completing the required training and formalities.
Ship joining is when you actually report to the vessel and start working onboard.
So, getting sponsorship does not necessarily mean you are already onboard a ship. You still have to complete the required training, medical, documentation and other conditions before joining. Always check the exact terms of the sponsorship to understand what is guaranteed and what conditions you need to fulfil.
What Can Affect Your GP Rating Placement?
Placement is not always determined by the college alone. Your own eligibility and performance can also affect whether you are selected by a company. Some factors include:
- Medical Fitness
You need to meet the applicable maritime medical requirements before joining a vessel.
- Academic Performance
Some companies or institutes may consider your academic background during selection.
- Communication Skill
Being able to communicate clearly is useful when dealing with interviews, crew members, and safety instructions onboard.
- Documentation
Incomplete or delayed documents can hold up your joining process. - Training Performance
Your conduct and performance during training can also influence how companies view you.
Preparation for GP Rating at SMVD Marine Academy, Dehradun
For students preparing for a career in GP Rating, SMVD Marine Academy, Dehradun focuses on preparing aspirants for the entrance and selection process, Apply Now.
The preparation includes areas such as Mathematics, English, Logical Reasoning, and General Knowledge, along with MCQs, theory material, detailed solutions, and practice papers.
The purpose of preparation is not to make an unrealistic promise about employment. Instead, it is to help students become better prepared for the entrance tests, interviews, and selection procedures they may face when applying to maritime institutes or companies.
To learn which GP Rating Colleges you are eligible for, download our free Merchant Navy Decoded App, which will guide you from your eligibility to your selection in the Merchant Navy. Don’t just read; start preparing to make your dreams a reality
Does GP Rating Guarantee a Merchant Navy Job?
Completing a GP Rating Course gives you the training required to pursue a rating career in the Merchant Navy, but the course certificate itself should not be treated as an automatic job guarantee.
Your employment can depend on your eligibility, medical fitness, training, company requirements, available vacancies and the selection process. This is why choosing the right training institute and understanding its actual placement system matters.
GP Rating FAQ
- You should not assume that every GP Rating college can guarantee sponsorship for every student. If a college claims 100% placement, ask what the percentage represents and request batch-wise placement information.
- It can depend on the company, vessel schedules, documentation, medical clearance, and the candidate’s selection.
No. Completing the course does not automatically mean that every student will receive a shipboard job. Employment depends on several factors, including company selection and available opportunities.