Ever wondered how a 1000-kg piece of metal is able to fly over thousands of miles? Or how a nail-sized chip can run a car on it's own? If yes, then a course engineering is surely your calling.
The shape of the modern world has largely been credited to the advancements in engineering. Seemingly impossible tasks have been made possible by marvels such as CERN's Large Hadron Collider, the International Space Station, the Chandra X-Ray Telescope etc. So, if you dream of giting more of such engineering marvels to the world and wish to be among the likes of Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Archimedes, Jagadish Chandra Bose and Dr. Homi Bhabha, then read on...
Engineering is one field that opens doors into a vast range of hardcore and allied science fields. Engineers have a wider choice of work options than any other profession, and have a vast scope in advanced areas such as:
- Civil Engineering- Civil engineering has the broadest of career options within the field of engineering. This discipline deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings. It is the oldest engineering discipline after military engineering.
- Mechanical Engineering- Mechanical engineering is an engineering discipline which involves the application of laws and principles of Physics to analyze, design, manufacture, and maintain the mechanical systems. A career in this field requires an understanding of core concepts of mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis, and electricity.
- Chemical Engineering- Chemical Engineering involves the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. A career in chemical engineer involves the designing of processes for the synthesis of products such as plastics, medicines, detergents and fuels.
- Electrical Engineering- This branch of engineering largely deals with the design and application of circuitry and equipment for power generation and distribution.
- Electronics Engineering- An electronics engineer works to design, fabricate, produce, test and supervise the manufacturing of electronic and data processing equipments and components for a number of industries. Electronics is a hot engineering career right now.
- Communication Engineering- Communication System Engineering is sometimes also referred to as Communication Engineering. It is a new study discipline that deals with advanced communication instruments like satellites, television, telephone, radar etc. Communication engineers are very much in demand in top companies due to the multifold growth and advancement taking place in the communication systems today.
- Industrial and Production Engineering- It is the branch of engineering that deals with the study of the integrated systems of human, natural and financial resources involved in the manufacturing process and the industrial process as a whole. Industrial Engineering can also be termed as Operations management, Production Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or Manufacturing Systems Engineering.
The Production or Industrial Engineer's work includes planning, measuring and controlling all activities within the organization to optimize the production process.
- Computer Engineering- Computer engineers build computers and computer-based systems for cars, planes, appliances and many other products. Computer engineers typically design not only the hardware, but also much of the software in computer-based systems. Computer engineers are also involved in robotics, which relies heavily on using digital systems to control and monitor the electrical system. This field of engineering is a very popular option among young engineers today.
- Automobile Engineering- Automobile engineering or automotive engineering is the branch of engineering which deals with the design, manufacture and operation of automobiles and also their respective engineering subsystems. An automobile engineer's main duty is to design, test and develop vehicles and/or components from the concept stage through to the production stage.
- Instrumentation Engineering- Instrumentation engineering is one of the most sophisticated branches of engineering. The study focuses mainly on the design and configuration of automated systems. Instrumentation engineers also decide the type of instruments required for ensuring better quality and efficiency of the end product. Hence they are considered to be essential resources in the industrial manufacturing sector.
- Mining Engineering- Mining engineers are needed in mineral extraction from the earth's crust and are greatly in demand by the construction industry due to the ever-increasing requirements of developing roads, railroads, tunnels.
- Aeronautical Engineering- Aeronautical Engineering is one of the frontier branches of engineering dealing with the design and manufacture of aircrafts, missiles, satellites and spaceships. The specializations in aeronautical engineering include areas like structural design, navigational guidance and control systems, instrumentation and communication.
- Agricultural Engineering- Agricultural Engineering uses scientific principles and technology to improve agricultural production and processing. Some of the specialities of agricultural engineers include:
- Design of agricultural machinery and equipment
- Water management for crop irrigation
- Surveying and land profiling
- Climatology and atmospheric science
- Soil management and conservation
- Food engineering
- Marine Engineering- A marine engineer's responsibilities consist of development, designing and maintenance of ships' engines and propulsion system. Marine Engineers are specifically qualified to join the Merchant Navy, and public and private shipping companies. Marine engineers are also employed by Engine production firms, ship building firms, research bodies, and also by the Indian Navy.
- Ceramic Engineering - Ceramic Technology is an emerging branch of Engineering/Technology dealing with the study of the properties, manufacture, design and applications of ceramic materials. A ceramic technologist is concerned with study, research and development of the ceramic materials, planning and developing processing systems, and implementation of the processing methodologies.
ArrowWork opportunities for Engineering graduates
- Civil Engineering- A civil engineer can choose from a multitude of career options like designing, supervision and construction activities of public works like roads, bridges, tunnels, buildings, airports, dams, water works, sewage systems, ports etc. The career prospects in this field are enormous owing to the rapid growth of infrastructure facilities in the country.
- Mechanical Engineering- Mechanical Engineers are needed in various public and private sector companies including railways, steel plants, oil exploration and refining companies, technical wings of armed forces, space research organizations and many other fields.
- Chemical Engineering- Chemical Engineers find employment opportunities in almost all companies dealing with manufacture of chemicals. Their work also extends to processes in nuclear energy, materials science, food production, development of new sources of energy etc. A chemical engineer can look forward to working in industries like food, materials, specialty chemicals, plastics, power production, environmental control etc.
- Electrical Engineering- Making a career in Electrical engineering is challenging as well as rewarding. In India, fresh electrical engineering graduates can find jobs both in the public and the private sector.
- Electronics Engineering- Electronics and Telecommunication engineering is the most sought after career option for engineering aspirants. An electronics engineer can get a job in public enterprises like All India Radio, Indian Telephone Industries, MTNL, National Physical Laboratories, Civil Aviation Department; Post and Telegraph Department, Bharat Electronics Limited etc.
The private companies require large number of electronics professionals for their functioning and offer excellent pay-packages to skilled and experienced electronics professionals.
- Communication Engineering- Opportunities in large numbers exist for communication engineers in the telecommunication sector, including radio, television, telephone and mobile communication. Industries manufacturing electronic and communication products as well as space agencies also extensively need services of communication engineers.
- Industrial and Production Engineering- Industrial and production engineers find ample job opportunities in manufacturing companies. They can also work as plant engineers, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, process engineers and industrial managers in different industries like the Railways, the Armed Forces as well as in many PSUs.
- Computer Engineering- The software and IT companies are the major employers of computer engineering graduates. They offer better packages to young graduates as compared to the other branches of engineering. Computer engineers are involved in analyzing problems, formulating and testing, using advanced communications or multi-media equipment, or working for product development.
- Automobile Engineering- With the rapid growth of the automobile industry in India, the demand for qualified and skilled automobile engineers has also increased in recent times. An automobile engineer is readily hired in the automobile manufacturing industry. Apart from this, automobile engineers can find jobs in service stations, private transport companies and defence services.
- Instrumentation Engineering- Instrumentation engineers usually work in industries employing automated processes, such as chemical or manufacturing plants with the goal of improving system productivity, reliability and stability.
- Mining Engineering- Mining engineers find employment opportunities both in the government as well as the private sector. Companies like ONGC, Coal India, Geological Survey of India, HCL, IPCL, NALCO, TISCO, TELCO, Reliance and MNCs like British Gas and Schlumberger recruit graduates directly from the top colleges like ISM and IITs.
- Aeronautical Engineering- The demand for aeronautical engineers in airlines, aircraft manufacturing units and air turbine production plants is generally high. In the Indian context, the defence services and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) happen to be two major employment providers in this field of engineering. Moreover, aeronautical engineers often get employment opportunities in organizations such as Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd., Defence Research and Development Laboratories, National Aeronautical Lab, Aeronautical Development Establishment and the Civil Aviation Department.
- Agricultural Engineering- Agricultural engineering graduates have a growing number of opportunities in their hands. Apart from joining manufacturing industries they can also opt for organizations involved in industries like water resource management, forestry, mining and rehabilitation, food processing, peri-urban and rural development, machine development etc. Agricultural engineers can also work in NGOs under various schemes and projects.
- Marine Engineering- Job openings for marine engineers are available both in Indian and global shipping firms. Marine Engineers are specifically qualified to join the Merchant Navy and various public and private shipping companies. They are also employed by engine production firms, ship building and design firms and also by the Indian Navy. Luxurious life and a lucrative salary comes as a big compensation being away from home in this field.
- Ceramic Engineering- Generally, two types of workers are engaged in this industry - ceramic technologists and ceramic designers. Ceramic designers use sand and clay for their work while technologists use materials produced by complex chemical processes. Ceramic engineers can get jobs in the Indian Space Research Organization, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Institute for Plasma Research, among others, where there is great need for trained experts in ceramics.
Students who have completed class XII with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are eligible to apply for admission to various engineering colleges. In some colleges, selection to various engineering courses is based on the percentage marks one scores in class XII (in physics, chemistry and mathematics), while others like IITs provide admission based on entrance test results.
| Engineering Course |
Duration |
| BE/BTech. |
4 years |
| ME/MTech |
2 years |
| Integrated Mtech |
5 years [Gets 2 degrees, BTech and MTech] |
ArrowTop colleges for Engineering
- IIT (Kharagpur, Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, Chennai, Roorkee)
- BHU, Varanasi
- BITS (Pilani, Mesra)
- Delhi Technological University, Delhi
- NIT (Tiruchirapalli, Surathkal, Warangal)
- ISMU, Dhanbad
- Anna University, Guindy
ArrowPersonal skills required to pursue a career in Engineering
- Good mathematical and logical skills
- Good organizing capability
- Ability to keep calm under pressure
- Affinity towards solving complex problems
ArrowMajor Entrance Examinations
JEE
The JEE "main", which is equivalent to AIEEE will be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in coordination with the IITs, while the "advanced" exam will be held by the IITs, just like the IIT- JEE.
- Eligibility
- The candidate must have passed in final examination of 10+2 (Class XII) or its equivalent and should be among the top 20 percentile of their Board.
- Admission to the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) will be based on the "main" exam score. Admission to several deemed universities will also be on the basis of scores in the "main" exam, which earlier took students on basis of AIEEE scores.
- Only the top 1,50,000 students including all categories from JEE Main will be able to appear for JEE Advanced. Admission to the IITs will be based only on category wise All India Rank (AIR) in JEE Advanced. Admission in other deemed universities will be based on the JEE Main exam score.
- Test pattern
JEE is an objective-type multiple choice question paper with equal weightage to Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics. The duration of the test is 3 Hours.
- Important dates (indicative)
JEE Main
Issue of Application forms- 1st week of November
Date of examination- 1st week of April
JEE Advanced
Date for applying- 2nd week of May
Date of examination- 1st week of June
BITSAT
BITSAT is an online objective-type test for admission into the Integrated First Degree Programmes of BITS.
- Eligibility
The candidate should have obtained a minimum of 75% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in the class 12th examination, and at least 60% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics individually.
-
Test pattern
BITSAT-2012 will be of a total duration of 3 hours. The test consists of four parts, containing 150 questions in all. The number of questions in each part is as follows:
| |
Subject | No of question |
| Part I |
Physics | 40 |
| Part II |
Chemistry | 40 |
| Part III |
(a)English Proficiency
|
15 |
| (b) Logical Reasoning |
10 |
| Part IV |
Mathematics |
45 |
| |
|
Total : 150 |
If a candidate answers all the 150 questions (without skipping any question), the candidate will have an option of attempting 12 (twelve) extra questions, if there is still time left. These extra questions will be from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics only; four questions from each part. Further, once the candidate has opted for extra questions, he cannot go back for correction of any of the earlier answered 150 questions.
- Important Dates (indicative)
Last date to apply- Last week of January
Date of examination- Anytime between 2nd week of May to 3rd week of June
