How to Become an Engineer after 12th: Careers, Courses, Eligibility, Steps, Skills, Benefits, Salary

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Ahana Bhaduri

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Engineers are qualified professionals who can design, plan, manufacture and maintain engines, gadgets, tools, implements, machines, and data systems using scientific knowledge and standard procedures. The total duration to become an engineer is 4 to 4.5 years after 12thTo become an engineer after 12th, candidates need to pursue a Bachelor's in Engineering or Technology.

India has more than 6,078 Engineering colleges. The topmost disciplines that are taught in these engineering colleges are Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Data Science & Machine Learning, Automation & Robotics, and Mechanical Engineering.

Admissions to various engineering colleges are usually based on Engineering Entrance Exams such as JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and GATE. However, some colleges grant admission based on merit as well. An Engineering course fee usually ranges from INR 5,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 per year. After completing an Engineering degree the average starting salary usually ranges from INR 3.50 LPA - INR 15.00 LPA.

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How to Become an Engineer after 12th: Quick Facts

Industry Engineering & Technology
Eligibility Class 12th board exams with mandatory subject combination of Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics
Average Starting Salary INR 3.50 LPA - 5.25 LPA
Highest Salary INR 15 LPA & above
Job Opportunity Software Developer
Electrical engineer
Computer Science Engineer
Automobile Engineer

Eligibility to Become an Engineer after 12th 

To become an engineer, certain eligibility criteria are required. The eligibility criteria for pursuing a career as an engineer are as follows:

  • Candidates should have completed 10+2 from a recognized board with Physics, Chemistry, and Maths as compulsory subjects.
  • Candidates should have passed their 10+2 with at least 60%.
  • Candidates should have appeared for JEE mains exam.

Steps to Become an Engineer after 12th 

To become an engineer, candidates can opt for higher school education or diploma courses to study full-time engineering graduate courses. The general steps that can be followed to become an engineer are as follows.

  • Step 1: The first step is to complete class 12th with Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry from a recognized board.
  • Step 2: Score valid marks and ranks in the relevant Entrance Exam. The entrance exams are JEE, State-wise CETs, and Institute-wise CETs.
  • Step 3: Take part in the admission process as per the kind of entrance exams and colleges like merit marks evaluation, initial seat allotment, registration for registration quota, counselling, and interview.
  • Step 4: After going through the merit-based admission process, candidates should secure a seat and join the college.
  • Step 5: Complete the 4 years course which has 8 semesters, each with a period of 6 months. It consists of internal exams, external exams, practicals, project works, vivas, and internships.
  • Step 6: Appear for campus placements or apply for relevant engineering jobs in companies on your own.

Engineering Courses after 12th 

Engineering courses after class 12 generally consist of graduation and diploma courses through which students build up knowledge in different aspects of the engineering field.

The details for the most popular engineering courses are mentioned in the following table.

Degree BE/Btech Diploma in Engineering ME/MTech
Eligibility Class 12 Class 12 BE/ Btech
Entrance Exams JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, VITEEE, CETs (State-wise) State-level entrance exams or direct admission GATE, AP PGECET, OJEE, TS PGECET, SRMJEEE PG, IPU CET, BHU PET, TANCET, BITS HD, etc.
Top Colleges IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, BITS–Pilani, IIT Kharagpur, VIT Vellore, IIT Madras, etc. ACE Angul, ACET Pondicherry, ACTS Satna, AIEMD Durgapur, AIEMS Bangalore, AIET Lucknow, etc. IIT Bombay, BITS–Pilani, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT–Roorkee, IIT Delhi, NIT Surathkal, etc.
Course Fees INR 3,00,000 - INR 19,00,000 INR 10,000 - INR 5,00,000 INR 50,000 - INR 2,00,000
Average Salary  INR 2.5 LPA INR 2.6 LPA INR 6.5 LPA
Top Recruiters Google, Amazon, Byjus, Unacademy, Deloitte, Cognizant, etc. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, BHEL, Gas Authority of India Limited, etc. Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Intel, Deloitte, Intel, Amazon, Capgemini, etc.

Entrance Exams

Students who have completed 10+2 from any recognized university with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as optional subjects can apply for the engineering entrance exams. Some of the top Engineering Entrance Exams that are conducted for enrolling students for various BTech Engineering courses are given below:

Entrance Exams Particulars Details
JEE Main Application Date

Session 1: November 1 – 30, 2023

Session 2: February 2 – March 2, 2024

Date of Exam

Session 1: January 24 – February 1, 2024

Session 2: April 1 – 15, 2024

Date of Result

Session 1: February 12, 2024

Session 2: April 25, 2024

JEE Advanced Application Date April 28, 2024
Date of Exam June 2, 2024
Date of Result June 9, 2024
VITEEE Application Date November 1, 2023 – March 30, 2024
Date of Exam April 19 – 30, 2024
Date of Result May 2024

Top Engineering Colleges

In India, B.Tech (UG Engineering Course) is considered one of the most desirable courses in the science and technology stream because of the career opportunities. The topmost engineering colleges are IITs, NITs, followed by BITS. Besides these, there are many famous private and government colleges in India. 

The top engineering college in India as per the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) is tabulated below.

Name of the College Location First Year Fee
Birla Institute Of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani INR 3,00,000
Vellore Institute Of Technology (VIT) Vellore INR 1,76,000
Indian Institute Of Technology Madras Chennai INR 2,01,100
Indian Institute Of Technology Delhi New Delhi INR 2,25,000
IIT Bombay Mumbai INR 2,28,000
NIMS University, Jaipur Jaipur INR 1,00,000
Indian Institute Of Technology, Kanpur Kanpur INR 2,40,000
RV College Of Engineering (RVCE) Bengaluru INR 1,90,000
SRM University Chennai INR 2,00,000
Thapar University Patiala INR 4,00,000
Manipal Institute Of Technology Shillong INR 3,35,000
Sardar Patel College Of Engineering (SPCE) Mumbai INR 1,70,000
Maharaja Agrasen Institute Of Technology Delhi INR 1,10,700
KIIT University Bhubaneswar INR 4,25,000
KJ Somaiya College Of Engineering Mumbai INR 1,58,462
Lovely Professional University (LPU) Chandigarh INR 2,40,000

Skills Required to Become an Engineer after 12th 

To become an engineer, proficiency in technical, analytical, and communication aspects is essential for success. Some of the most desirable skills that are required to become an Engineer are tabulated below.

Attention to detail Innovation Critical Reasoning
Communication Interpersonal Enthusiasm
Mathematical Aptitude Leadership Technical knowledge

Benefits of Becoming an Engineer after 12th

Some of the key benefits that come along with becoming an Engineer after 12th are listed below.

  • Good Salary Package: Candidates from IIT, NIT, and BITs have very good salary packages in various multinational companies. Engineers from other colleges also have handsome packages from different companies.
  • Promotional Benefits: Engineering candidates have a lot of promotional opportunities with experience and achievements. For example, financial benefits, incentives, health insurance, etc.
  • High Job security: Engineers have good job security as compared to the other domains because of their ever-growing demand. Some of the top companies with job security include Google, Microsoft, Meta, etc.
  • Global Opportunities: As the demand for engineers is high because of the AI world, the global opportunity for engineer candidates has increased.
  • Government Job Opportunities: Engineers in different fields can get job opportunities in several government departments like PWD, NHAI, Indian Railways, Municipal Corporation, etc.

Salary of an Engineer after 12th

The average annual salary of an engineer in India ranges from INR 4.50 LPA - INR 8 LPA. With experience, it is seen that in most of the engineers, the salaries of the candidates also get increased. The average starting salary of an engineer in India is INR 2.5 LPA with the highest salary being INR 10 LPA. The salaries of engineers in different positions are mentioned in the table below.

Designations Average Annual Salary
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineer 12 L
Petroleum Engineer 5 L
Software Engineer  5 L
Aerospace Engineer 6 L
Chemical Engineer 4 L
Electronics and Communication Engineer 3 L
Nuclear Engineer 5 L
Big Data Engineer 7 L
Civil Engineer 3.5 L
Electrical Engineer 3 L

How to Become an Engineer after 12th: FAQs

Ques. What subject is engineering?

Ans. Engineering is a branch of science and technology that deals with the building, designing, and use of machines and structures in different industries.

Ques. What are the minimum eligibility criteria to become an engineer?

Ans. The minimum eligibility criteria to become an engineer are to pass the 10+2 exam with Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry as the main subjects. Besides this candidates should need to get a good rank in engineering entrance exams.

Ques. What is the total duration of the BTech course in India?

Ans. The total duration of the BTech course in India is 4 years. Each year there are 2 semesters. So, there are 8 semesters during the entire course.

Ques. What is the average annual salary of an engineer in India?

Ans. The average annual salary of an engineer in India ranges from INR 4,00,000 - INR 5,50,000 per annum. It all depends on experience, skills, and the college from which the course has been done.

Ques. Is distance learning available for B.Tech courses in India?

Ans. Yes, distance learning is available for B.Tech courses in India. This is especially for the students who have already completed diploma courses from some recognized college. But, students have to attend practical classes.

Ques. What is the job role of a Data engineer?

Ans. A Data engineer works in a variety of settings to build systems that collect, manage, and convert raw data into usable information for data scientists and business analysts.

Ques. Is there any internship training required for an engineer?

Ans. Yes, there is internship training required for an engineer as it only helps the candidate to develop both practical skills and field knowledge. Engineering internships are mostly sponsored by industries.

Ques. What are the average course fees to do an engineering course in India?

Ans. The average course fee to do an engineering course in India ranges from INR 50,000 - INR 15,00,000 per annum depending upon the courses, colleges, and reservation criteria.

Ques. What are the five top engineering courses in India?

Ans. The five top engineering courses in India are Computer Science Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Biotech Engineering.

Ques. What are the important skills required for becoming an engineer?

Ans. Skills required to become an engineer are Leadership qualities, Communication skills, Creativity, Critical Reasoning, Enthusiasm, Innovation, Interpersonal skills, Attention to detail, Resilience, and Technical knowledge.

Master of Technology [M.Tech.] : 45 answered questions

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Ques. Is it possible to do any me/mtech program at bits pilani after bsc cs (hons) degree?

● Top Answer By Vinima Bhola on 26 Jun 25

Ans. A BSc CS (Hons) degree may qualify you for several M.E./M.Tech programmes at BITS Pilani, but you must confirm the particular requirements for your chosen field.  A B.E./B.Tech degree is required for the majority of the M.E. programme. Degree Held Eligible for M.E./M.Tech Notes/Requirements BSc CS (Hons) Possibly Must meet specific program requirements; check brochure. B.E./B.Tech (CS) Yes Most programs require this or equivalent. If eligible, you can apply using your GATE score or by appearing for the BITS HD online test.Read more
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Ques. How much is IIT Hyderabad MTech fees ?

● Top Answer By Jatin Dhar on 02 Jul 24

Ans. IIT Hyderabad is one of the recognised academic institutions in the country. The MTech fees for IIT Hyderabad are approximately around 7 lakhs INR . The average tuition fee is 4 lakhs and around 3 lakhs fees for 2 years for accommodation charges like hostel, fooding, project, clothing, medicines and more. The duration of course usually lasts for 2 to 3 years depending on your subject and the pace at which you can complete the course. To be eligible for admission in the MTech program offered by IIT Hyderabad you need to have a BTech or BE or equivalent degree in a relevant stream with at least 60% aggregate in total. To get admission you need to appear for the GATE entrance exam and once it is cleared you need to sit for COAP Counselling to be admitted to IIT Hyderabad.Read more
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Ques. What is IIT BHU MTech admission process?

● Top Answer By Sunak Pandey on 01 Jul 24

Ans. To gain admission in the Mtech courses at IIT BHU, you will have to sit for the all-India entrance exam for masters courses, that is, Graduate Aptitude Test or simply GATE. The minimum eligibility criteria for taking admission to this institute is that you will have to secure at least 60% in graduation. You must also be a graduate of a recognized university. You will need to score above the cut-off marks set by the institution in your GATE examination. Then you will have to apply for the counseling session where you will be allocated a seat at the institute based on your rank and performance in the GATE examination.Read more
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Ques. How are IIT Goa M.Tech placements?

● Top Answer By Anushka Dey on 01 Jul 24

Ans. IIT Goa is one of the well-recognized academic institutions in India. Known for its excellent academic curriculums it is an ideal institution if you are looking to pursue Mtech. Mtech from IIT Goa is in high demand. The placement of IIT Goa is very competitive. The placement is growing rapidly with more and more well-known organisations hiring Metch students from IIT Goa’s campus placements. IIT Goa manages to place students every year with great packages in well-recognized organizations like L&T, Reliance Jio, ARM, ABB , and more. Mostly students pursuing Metch from IIT Goa opt for core jobs respective to their subjects and others opt for non-core companies. Read more
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Ques. What is IIT Tirupati cutoff for MTech?

● Top Answer By Dheeraj Yadav on 15 Jun 24

Ans. IIT Tirupati MTech cutoff for different domains for different categories is given below for the year 2023: IIT Tirupati MTech Cutoff 2023 Specialisations Gen OBC SC ST Geotechnical Engineering 597 574 413 365 Structural Engineering 654 619 399 – Computer Science and Engineering 647 597 449 286 Signal Processing & Communications 608 555 397 316 Design & Manufacturing 642 586 432 384Read more
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Ques. What is the IIT Guwahati MTech cutoff?

● Top Answer By Vamika on 10 Jun 24

Ans. IIT Guwahati MTech admissions are offered solely through GATE entrance score, followed by a personal interview round. The GATE cutoff depends on various factors such as the candidates’ gender, category, their chosen specialisation, etc. For instance, the IIT Guwahati GATE Cut off 2022 for M.Tech CSE was 217 for General Category, 114 for OBC NCL category, and 81 for SC category. Candidates seeking admission into Mtech courses at IIT Guwahati must have completed a bachelor's degree in a relevant field with minimum score 60%. IIT Guwahati MTech Registrations through COAP Portal on Basis of GATE 2024 are currently open. The last date to apply for the same is June 30, 2024 . Check out this table for the latest cutoff (round 5) of IIT Guwahati for various MTech Specializations: Programme Open GEN EWS OBC NCL SC ST M.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering 142 38 78 52 21 M.Tech in Electronics and Electrical Engineering with Specialization in Communication Engineering 179 30 96 57 30 M.Tech in Electronics and Electrical Engineering with Specialization in Power Engineering 399 87 160 54 28 M.Tech in Electronics and Electrical Engineering with Specialization in Microelectronics, Photonics & RF Engineering 125 21 64 26 22 M.Tech in Electronics and Electrical Engineering with Specialization in Signal Processing and Machine Learning 140 24 75 41 27 M.Tech in Electronics and Electrical Engineering with Specialization in VLSI and Nanoelectronics 69 16 41 24 10 M.Tech in Electronics and Electrical Engineering with Specialization in Systems, Control and Automation 199 29 81 51 18 M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with Specialization in Aerodynamics and Propulsion 215 35 111 48 38 M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with Specialization in Computational Mechanics 145 29 60 60 32 M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with Specialization in Manufacturing Science and Engineering 244 41 121 59 33 M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with Specialization in Fluids and Thermal Engineering 173 34 104 52 39 M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with Specialization in Machine Design 112 28 78 38 36 M.Tech in Civil Engineering with Specialization in Earth System Science and Engineering 235 38 111 56 26 M.Tech in Civil Engineering with Specialization in Environmental Engineering 14 6 14 8 1 M.Tech in Civil Engineering with Specialization in Geotechnical Engineering 181 32 85 36 20 M.Tech in Civil Engineering with Specialization in Infrastructure Engineering and Management 53 31 79 38 0 M.Tech in Civil Engineering with Specialization in Structural Engineering 104 15 58 37 15 M.Tech in Civil Engineering with Specialization in Transportation Systems Engineering 156 24 67 32 17 M.Tech in Civil Engineering with Specialization in Water Resources Engineering and Management 202 37 101 50 25 M.Tech in Biotechnology 76 18 40 26 4 M.Tech in Chemical Engineering with Specialization in Materials Science and Technology 113 28 65 43 17 M.Tech in Chemical Engineering with Specialization in Petroleum Science and Technology 104 25 55 37 14 M.Tech in Chemical Engineering with Specialization in Computer Aided Process Engineering 74 16 50 28 3 M.Tech in Bioengineering 37 10 12 11 0 M.Tech in Biomedical Science and Engineering with Specialization in Medical Devices and Diagnostics 82 16 33 17 7 M.Tech in Biomedical Science and Engineering with Specialization in Regenerative Medicines, Stem Cells and Therapeutics 87 18 44 18 10 M.Tech in Data Science 48 10 26 33 14 M.Tech. in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence 50 11 30 31 15Read more
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Ques. What is the eligibility criteria for BITS Pilani MTech in AI and ML for working professionals?

● Top Answer By Himanshi Tirkha on 28 May 24

Ans. The online PGP in AI and ML program from BITS Pilani offers a comprehensive curriculum in AI, ML, deep learning, big data processing and more. You will develop a deeper understanding of AI and ML to get equipped with the skills and knowledge to be used in various businesses. BITS Pilani offers it in collaboration with Purdue University in WILP mode for working professionals.  It is an 11-month-long course targeted at working professionals who wish to learn about the advances in AI and ML while continuing their work. The total program fee is INR 2.45 Lakhs.  The eligibility criteria for this program are listed below.  Employed working professionals with a BE/BTech degree. Candidates with an MSc in Mathematics or Statistics degree.  Candidates should be working in the relevant field.  Candidates with a working knowledge of programming languages like Python. Read more
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Ques. How is the placement package for M.Tech students from IISC, Bangalore?

● Top Answer By Mohit Gupta on 12 Feb 24

Ans. IISc Bangalore is famous for its research-oriented environment. Earlier it focused only on academic research. But in recent years, it has also started giving attention to industry placements.  Most of the reputed companies that visit IITs and BITs, also come to IISc for placements. All the IISc students end up with good packages, irrespective of their course/branch. The median CTC for IISc students was 28 LPA during 2023 placements. The placement process of IISc starts before the IITs, which is a great advantage for its students.  The MTech placements are good enough at IISc. But its grading system is very tough. You’ll have to work hard to maintain a good GPA over there. With a top GPA, you can expect at least 10 LPA as your placement package at IISc. This is applicable for all branches- CSA, SERC, DESE, ECE and EE.Read more
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Ques. What is The GATE Cutoff for MTech at IIIT Bangalore?

● Top Answer By Aditi Banerjee on 04 Oct 23

Ans. The GATE cutoff was just made public by IIIT Bangalore. For both MTech Electronics and Communication Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering, let's simplify this information for you: IIIT Bangalore Cutoffs for GATE 2023: For admission to IIIT Bangalore's MTech course in Electronics and Communication Engineering the cutoff score is 450. Whereas, for admission to IIIT Bangalore's MTech course in Computer Science and Engineering the cutoff score is 540. What Does This Mean? As an aspiring candidate, it's important to know about the GATE cutoff. The cutoff refers to the minimum marks required to appear for the exam. Candidates who score above the cutoff become eligible for GATE Counselling and can apply for postgraduate programs like M.Tech, M.E, and Ph.D. at top-notch Indian universities. However, it's worth noting that each university has its own admission criteria for different courses. Read more
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Ques. How is NIT Rourkela for an M.Tech?

● Top Answer By Sudeeksha Verma on 09 Aug 23

Ans. NIT Rourkela is a premier engineering and technology institute in India that enjoys a strong reputation for its M.Tech program. The program is well-structured, with a focus on both theoretical and practical aspects of engineering and technology. Here are a few pros and cons of pursuing an MTech from NIT Rourkela Pros Excellent hostel facilities wherein students are allotted double occupancy rooms in the first year and single occupancy rooms from the second year. A massive campus with a variety of sports facilities like cricket grounds, football grounds, Table tennis facilities, Basketball court, Lawn Tennis Court, Badminton Courts, Volleyball Courts, Swimming Pool, Gym, etc The labs are functional 24/7 for MTech students with high-speed internet facilities. Students are allotted individual PC to study and do their research work. The project work assigned to MTech students is largely research-oriented. M.Tech students have no restrictions regarding timings in hostels and departments. Cons MTech students get no summer or winter vacations due to heavy workloads. The attendance policy is strict and Bio-metric attendance is taken twice a day. Sparing the weekends and academic holidays, BIT Mesra MTech students are allowed to take only 15 leaves in 1 year.  Students have to prepare for 4 presentations, grand viva, project viva, and thesis submissions in the second year. Overall, NIT Rourkela is considered to be a great choice for an M.Tech education.Read more
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