Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

Excel Engineering College (EEC), Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, is an autonomous institution affiliated with Anna University, Chennai, approved by AICTE, and accredited Grade A+ by NAAC (2025). The BE Lateral Entry in Mechanical Engineering is a 3-year full-time undergraduate programme designed for diploma holders who wish to directly enter the second year of the BE Mechanical Engineering programme, bypassing the first year. The total fees for the programme are Rs. 2.61 Lakhs for 3 years (approximately Rs. 87,000 per year). Admission is through the TNEAOL (Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions Online - Lateral Entry) counselling conducted by Anna University. The programme is popular among diploma holders in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, Automobile Engineering, and related disciplines who wish to upgrade their qualification to a full BE degree and pursue careers in the manufacturing, automotive, and core engineering sectors.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are upcoming. The TNEAOL Lateral Entry 2026 registration is expected to open around June 2026, based on the previous year's schedule (June 5 - July 4, 2025). Diploma holders who have completed their 3-year diploma in a relevant discipline are eligible to apply. The current admission season is upcoming and students should monitor the official TNEA portal (tneaonline.org) for the notification.

Key Points

The BE Lateral Entry (Mechanical Engineering) programme allows diploma holders to directly enter the 2nd year (3rd semester) of the BE Mechanical Engineering programme, saving one year compared to the regular route.
Eligibility is based on diploma marks; there is no separate entrance exam for lateral entry admission in Tamil Nadu.
The programme covers core mechanical engineering subjects including thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, manufacturing technology, machine design, CAD/CAM, and industrial engineering.
Lateral entry students are integrated with the regular BE Mechanical Engineering batch from the 2nd year onwards and follow the same curriculum and examination pattern.
The Mechanical Engineering department at Excel Engineering College is equipped with laboratories for manufacturing, metrology, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and CAD/CAM.
BE Mechanical Engineering graduates from Excel Engineering College are placed in companies such as Ashok Leyland, TVS, BHEL, L&T, and other manufacturing firms in Tamil Nadu.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Placements
Ranking
FAQs

EEC BE Lateral ME Fees

The BE Lateral Entry (Mechanical Engineering) programme at Excel Engineering College has a total academic fee of Rs. 2.61 Lakhs for the 3-year programme (2nd, 3rd, and 4th year), which works out to approximately Rs. 87,000 per year. Hostel accommodation is available at Rs. 40,000 per year (optional).

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee (per year)	87,000
Total Academic Fee (3 years)	2,61,000
Hostel Fee (per year, optional)	40,000
Total Fees (without hostel, 3 years)	2,61,000
Total Fees (with hostel, 3 years)	3,81,000

Hostel accommodation is optional; many students opt to live off campus.
Mess charges are approximately Rs. 3,000 per month (Rs. 36,000 per year), payable separately.
Government scholarships (Post Matric Scholarship for SC/ST and minorities) are available for eligible students.
Fees are payable semester-wise; no EMI option is officially mentioned.

Explore Other Group Colleges of Excel Engineering College Namakkal

EEC BE Lateral ME Admission 2026

Admissions to the BE Lateral Entry (Mechanical Engineering) programme at Excel Engineering College are conducted through the TNEAOL (Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions Online - Lateral Entry) counselling process managed by Anna University. The TNEAOL 2026 registration is expected to open around June 2026. Students are ranked based on their diploma marks, and seats are allotted through the counselling process. Management quota seats are also available for direct admission.

TNEAOL Lateral Entry Admission Schedule

Event	Date (Tentative, based on 2025 schedule)
TNEAOL 2026 Registration and Document Upload	June 5, 2026 - July 4, 2026
Certificate Verification	July 2026
Counselling and Seat Allotment	July - August 2026
Programme Commencement	August 2026

Entrance Exam Details

Exam	Relevance	Details
TNEAOL (Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions Online - Lateral Entry)	Primary admission route	No separate entrance exam; admission based on diploma marks; conducted by Anna University

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have completed a 3-year Diploma in Engineering/Technology in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, Automobile Engineering, or a related discipline from a recognized polytechnic/institution.
Minimum aggregate of 55% in the qualifying diploma for OC/BC/MBC/DNC categories; 50% for SC/ST categories.
Candidates must have appeared in the TNEAOL registration process and obtained a valid lateral entry rank.

Admission Process

Monitor the official TNEA portal (tneaonline.org) for the TNEAOL 2026 notification (expected June 2026).
Register on the TNEAOL portal during the registration window and upload required documents (diploma mark sheets, community certificate, etc.).
Attend certificate verification at the designated centre.
Check the published rank list and participate in the counselling process.
Select Excel Engineering College and BE Mechanical Engineering (Lateral) as your preference during counselling.
Pay the admission fee and complete the joining formalities at the college.
Management quota admissions can be done directly through the college's admission portal: admission.excelinstitutions.com.

EEC BE Lateral ME Scholarships 2026

Excel Engineering College offers merit-based scholarships through the SRET Trust for lateral entry students. Additionally, national and state government scholarships are available for eligible students.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
SRET Merit Scholarship	Diploma aggregate of 75% and above	Rs. 10,000 fee waiver per year
Post Matric Scholarship for SC/ST	SC/ST students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year	Full tuition fee reimbursement (state government)
Post Matric Scholarship for Minorities	Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, Jain students with family income below Rs. 2 lakh/year	As per NSP portal
AICTE Pragati Scholarship	Girl students in lateral entry BE	Rs. 50,000 per year (as per AICTE norms)

Government scholarships are applied through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
AICTE Pragati Scholarship applications are made through the AICTE portal (aicte-india.org).
Lateral entry students are eligible for the same government scholarships as regular BE students.

EEC BE Lateral ME Placement 2026

BE Mechanical Engineering graduates from Excel Engineering College find employment in the manufacturing, automotive, and core engineering sectors. The college's Training and Placement Cell facilitates campus placements. Key recruiters for Mechanical Engineering graduates include Ashok Leyland, TVS, BHEL, L&T, Hyundai, Ford, and other manufacturing firms in Tamil Nadu and across India.

Placement Details

Placement Metric	Details
Key Sectors	Manufacturing, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Power, Construction
Top Recruiters	Ashok Leyland, TVS, BHEL, L&T, Hyundai, Ford
Career Roles	Design Engineer, Production Engineer, Quality Engineer, Maintenance Engineer

Excel Engineering College Namakkal BE {Lateral} Mechanical Engineering Ranking

Indiatoday Ranking

#228 out of 269 in India 2025

#34th in Tamil Nadu

The Week Ranking

#121 out of 286 in India 2025

#18th in Tamil Nadu

Outlook Ranking

#164 out of 200 in Top Private Colleges in India 2025

TOI Ranking

#125 out of 175 in India 2025

#15th in Tamil Nadu

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EEC BE Lateral ME FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between BE Mechanical Engineering (Regular) and BE Mechanical Engineering (Lateral Entry) at Excel Engineering College?

Ans. The regular BE Mechanical Engineering is a 4-year programme starting from the 1st year, while the lateral entry programme is a 3-year programme starting directly from the 2nd year (3rd semester). Lateral entry is available only for diploma holders. Both programmes lead to the same BE degree from Anna University, and the curriculum from the 2nd year onwards is identical.

Ques. Which diploma branches are eligible for lateral entry into BE Mechanical Engineering at Excel Engineering College?

Ans. Diploma holders in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Tool and Die Making, and related disciplines are eligible for lateral entry into BE Mechanical Engineering. Candidates with diplomas in other branches may also be eligible depending on Anna University's lateral entry regulations; they should verify eligibility on the TNEA portal.

Ques. What are the career prospects after BE Mechanical Engineering (Lateral Entry) from Excel Engineering College?

Ans. BE Mechanical Engineering graduates can work as design engineers, production engineers, quality engineers, maintenance engineers, and project managers in companies like Ashok Leyland, TVS, BHEL, L&T, and Hyundai. They can also pursue higher studies (ME/M.Tech Mechanical Engineering, MBA in Operations Management) or government jobs through competitive exams like TNPSC and UPSC.

Ques. Is there a separate entrance exam for BE Lateral Entry admission in Tamil Nadu?

Ans. No, there is no separate entrance exam for lateral entry admission in Tamil Nadu. Admission is based purely on the aggregate marks obtained in the qualifying diploma. Students register on the TNEAOL portal and are ranked based on their diploma marks.

Ques. What is the seat intake for BE Mechanical Engineering Lateral Entry at Excel Engineering College?

Ans. The seat intake for lateral entry is typically 10% of the sanctioned intake of the regular programme, as per AICTE norms. For BE Mechanical Engineering with a regular intake of 60 seats, the lateral entry intake would be approximately 6 seats. Candidates should confirm the exact intake with the college or on the TNEA portal.

Ques. Can I apply for BE Mechanical Engineering Lateral Entry if I have completed a diploma from a polytechnic outside Tamil Nadu?

Ans. Yes, candidates with diplomas from polytechnics outside Tamil Nadu can apply for lateral entry through the management quota. For government quota seats through TNEAOL counselling, the eligibility and reservation norms as per Anna University and Tamil Nadu government regulations apply. Out-of-state diploma holders should apply directly through the college's admission portal (admission.excelinstitutions.com) for management quota seats.