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The college trains the young men destined to become officers of the mercantile marine, instructing them in the theory and practice of the subjects pertaining to the higher branches of the seaman’s profession. The course of study is divided into two departments, namely, the department of navigation and that of engineering.

The cadets of both departments are enlisted in the navy during their college life, and even after their graduation; and as they are liable to be appointed as naval officers, they are under the obligation of observing the general laws of the navy.

In the navigation department, theoretical and practical seamanship, nautical surveying, marine meteorology, law, and shipbuilding, form the principal studies, and the others are supplementary.

On entering, cadets are placed in the sixth class, and are promoted a class every half-year, receiving their instruction in the college class-rooms until they advance to the first class, when they are taken to the Hojustsu-Renshusho (Gunnery School) at Yokosuka, to be instructed in the art of gunnery for about six months. Finally they serve terms of apprenticeship on board various vessels for two and a half years. Thus, they take five and a half years to complete their education.

In the engineering department the steam-engine, steam-boiler, electricity, drawing, and shop practice, are the principal studies, and the others are supplementary.

On entering, each cadet is placed in the fifth class, and he ascends at the rate of a class every six months. He receives, too, instruction in the class-rooms, as is the case with the navigation department cadets. When he advances to the first class, however, he is placed in some factory or similar works to receive practical training for two years, and then he is taken on board various vessels to serve his term of apprenticeship in engineering for a year. Thus, he requires five years to finish his course.

A great incentive is provided for the students in that the college sends abroad for the completion of their education those graduates who are of promising ability and of good character.

Any boy above fifteen and below twenty-one years old is admitted to the college, provided that he can succeed in passing the entrance examinations. Graduates of Government, public or private middle schools, publicly acknowledged by the Minister of Education as to be of equal standing with the public middle schools, are admitted to the college without entrance examination, requiring only a certificate as to their ability and character from the schools in which they have graduated.