Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, one of the founding departments of the institute established in 1960. The programme is offered under four specialisations: Thermal Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, and Mechanical Design. The department caters to over 150 M.Tech students and 100 PhD scholars, with a strong emphasis on research, industry collaboration, and practical training. The total fees for GATE-scholarship students (day scholar) amount to approximately Rs. 2,30,200 for the entire programme, while self-financed students pay approximately Rs. 8,90,200. Admission is primarily through GATE score via CCMT counselling, and the programme is offered in full-time on-campus mode.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are expected to open via CCMT 2026 in May 2026, following GATE 2026 results declared on March 19, 2026. CCMT 2026 registration is tentatively expected to begin in May 2026 based on the previous year's schedule. For sponsored and self-financed seats, NITK typically opens its own application portal in March-April 2026. The current admission season (2025-26) has concluded; the next cycle is for 2026-27.

Key Points

The Mechanical Engineering department at NITK offers four distinct M.Tech specialisations: Thermal Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, and Mechanical Design, each with its own curriculum focus and industry relevance.
Mechatronics Engineering has the highest seat intake (33 seats via CCMT) among the four specialisations, while Thermal Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Mechanical Design each have 18 seats via CCMT.
Additional self-financed seats are available: 10 each for Thermal, Manufacturing, and Mechanical Design, and 5 for Mechatronics.
GATE-qualified students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 12,400 for up to 24 months, subject to maintaining a CGPA of 6.0 and fulfilling 8-10 hours/week of teaching/research assistance.
The department has strong industry connections with companies like ExxonMobil, GAIL, IOCL, ISRO, Caterpillar, Boeing, Tata Motors, and Bosch, which regularly recruit from the department.
SC/ST/PwD students are exempt from tuition fee payment under the regular (GATE scholarship) track.

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Highlights
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Scholarships
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FAQs

NIT Surathkal Latest Updates and News

15 Apr, 2026 CCMT 2026 Counselling is expected to begin in May 2026 for admission to MTech/ MArch/ MPlan courses at NITs and CFTIs. Read News.

13 Mar, 2026 NIT Surathkal Admission 2026-27 is ongoing for M.Tech Mechanical Engineering programs till Apr 20, 2026 (online) & Apr 24, 2026 (hard copy). Check details.

11 Mar, 2026 NIT Surathkal M.Tech Mechanical Engineering Fee Structure 2026-27 has been released. The total academic fee is ₹ 1.99 Lakhs.

NIT Surathkal Important Events

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NITK M.Tech Mechanical Engineering Fees

The M.Tech Mechanical Engineering programme at NITK Surathkal follows the same fee structure as all other M.Tech programmes at the institute. There are two fee tracks: the GATE scholarship track (regular admission via CCMT) with a tuition fee of Rs. 35,000 per semester, and the self-financed track with a tuition fee of Rs. 2,00,000 per semester. The most significant one-time charges are paid in Semester 1. Hostel accommodation is optional and costs Rs. 8,820 per semester (shared), with an additional mess fee of approximately Rs. 35,310 per semester.

Fee Table - GATE Scholarship (Regular) M.Tech Programme 2026-27 (Day Scholar)

Fee Component	Sem 1 (Rs.)	Sem 2 (Rs.)	Sem 3 (Rs.)	Sem 4 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	35,000	35,000	35,000	35,000	1,40,000
Institute Admission Fee (one-time)	1,340	-	-	-	1,340
Development Fee	2,690	2,690	2,690	2,690	10,760
Security Deposit (refundable)	6,700	-	-	-	6,700
NITK Alma Mater Endowment Contribution (one-time)	2,690	-	-	-	2,690
Convocation Fee (one-time)	3,310	-	-	-	3,310
Library Resource Fee	4,030	4,030	4,030	4,030	16,120
Career Development Fee (one-time)	2,760	-	-	-	2,760
Health Care Facility (one-time)	1,660	-	-	-	1,660
Student Activities Fee (one-time)	6,620	-	-	-	6,620
Campus Amenities (one-time)	1,660	-	-	-	1,660
Group Insurance Coverage	510	-	-	-	510
Computing Resource Fee (one-time)	4,410	-	-	-	4,410
Total Fees (Day Scholar)	73,380	41,720	41,720	73,380	2,30,200
Hostel Rent (optional, shared)	8,820	8,820	8,820	8,820	35,280
Total Fees (Hosteller, optional)	82,200	50,540	50,540	82,200	2,65,480

Fee Table - Self-Financed M.Tech Programme 2026-27 (Day Scholar)

Fee Component	Sem 1 (Rs.)	Sem 2 (Rs.)	Sem 3 (Rs.)	Sem 4 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	2,00,000	2,00,000	2,00,000	2,00,000	8,00,000
Institute Admission Fee (one-time)	1,340	-	-	-	1,340
Development Fee	2,690	2,690	2,690	2,690	10,760
Security Deposit (refundable)	6,700	-	-	-	6,700
NITK Alma Mater Endowment Contribution (one-time)	2,690	-	-	-	2,690
Convocation Fee (one-time)	3,310	-	-	-	3,310
Library Resource Fee	4,030	4,030	4,030	4,030	16,120
Career Development Fee (one-time)	2,760	-	-	-	2,760
Health Care Facility (one-time)	1,660	-	-	-	1,660
Student Activities Fee (one-time)	6,620	-	-	-	6,620
Campus Amenities (one-time)	1,660	-	-	-	1,660
Group Insurance Coverage	510	-	-	-	510
Computing Resource Fee (one-time)	4,410	-	-	-	4,410
Total Fees (Day Scholar)	2,38,380	2,06,720	2,06,720	2,38,380	8,90,200
Hostel Rent (optional, shared)	8,820	8,820	8,820	8,820	35,280
Total Fees (Hosteller, optional)	2,47,200	2,15,540	2,15,540	2,47,200	9,25,480

Security Deposit of Rs. 6,700 is refundable at the time of leaving the institute.
Part A fees (one-time charges) increase at 5% per year for each new batch.
Part B fees (Library, Computing, etc.) increase at 5% per year applicable to all students from 2024-25 batch onwards.
Group Insurance amount of Rs. 510 is provisional and subject to revision.
Mess fees are approximately Rs. 35,310 per semester (first semester; subject to revision) and are paid separately at the Hostel Office.
SC/ST/PwD students are exempt from tuition fee under the regular (GATE scholarship) track.
This exemption does not apply to QIP, DASA, ICCR, MEA, external registrants, or internal registrants.
GATE-qualified students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 12,400 (up to 24 months), which significantly offsets the total programme cost.
No EMI options are officially offered; fees are paid semester-wise.

Explore Other Group Colleges of NIT Surathkal

NITK M.Tech Mechanical Engineering Admissions 2026

Admissions to M.Tech Mechanical Engineering at NITK Surathkal are conducted through CCMT (Centralized Counselling for M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan) for GATE-qualified scholarship seats. For the 2026-27 session, GATE 2026 results were declared on March 19, 2026, and CCMT 2026 registration is expected to open in May 2026. NITK also conducts its own admission process for sponsored and self-financed seats. The qualifying GATE paper for all four Mechanical Engineering specialisations is ME (Mechanical Engineering). The GATE 2024 closing scores varied by specialisation, with Mechanical Design being the most competitive (514 for General) and Manufacturing Engineering the least competitive (397 for General) among the four.

Specialisation-wise Seat Intake (2026-27)

Specialisation	CCMT/GATE Seats	Self-Financed Seats	Sponsored Seats	Total
Thermal Engineering (TH)	18	10	1	29
Manufacturing Engineering (MF)	18	10	1	29
Mechatronics Engineering (MC)	33	5	1	39
Mechanical Design (MD)	18	10	1	29

GATE 2024 Closing Scores (Last Round, General Category)

Specialisation	General	OBC-NCL	EWS	SC	ST
Thermal Engineering	473	400	445	290	277
Manufacturing Engineering	397	343	391	281	302
Mechatronics Engineering	478	340	325	285	266
Mechanical Design	514	477	461	351	314

NITK Surathkal M.Tech Mechanical Engineering Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026)
GATE 2026 Result Declaration	March 19, 2026
CCMT 2026 Registration Opens (expected)	May 2026
CCMT 2026 Last Date for Registration (expected)	June 2026
CCMT 2026 Round 1 Seat Allotment (expected)	June 2026
NITK Application Portal Opens - Sponsored/Self-financed (expected)	March-April 2026
Last Date for Online Application - Sponsored/Self-financed (expected)	April 2026
Selection Test and/or Interview at NITK (Offline) (expected)	May 2026
Publication of Provisional Merit List (expected)	May-June 2026
Online Fee Payment for Selected Candidates (expected)	June 2026
Classes Begin (expected)	July 2026

GATE 2026 Exam Dates

Event	Date
GATE 2026 Registration Start	August 28, 2025
GATE 2026 Registration End	October 13, 2025
GATE 2026 Admit Card Release	January 13, 2026
GATE 2026 Exam Dates	February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026
GATE 2026 Answer Key Release	February 19, 2026
GATE 2026 Result Declaration	March 19, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

For Thermal Engineering: B.E./B.Tech./AMIE in Mechanical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering, Energy System Engineering, Marine Technology, Power Plant Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, or Chemical Engineering.
For Manufacturing Engineering: B.E./B.Tech./AMIE in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Industrial and Production Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production Engineering, or Tool Engineering.
For Mechatronics Engineering: B.E./B.Tech./AMIE in Mechanical Engineering, Electronics and Communication, Electrical and Electronics, Instrumentation, Control Engineering, Mechatronics, Industrial/Production/Manufacturing/Aeronautical/Automobile Engineering.
For Mechanical Design: B.E./B.Tech./AMIE in Mechanical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering, or Production Engineering.
Minimum CGPA of 6.5 on a 10-point scale (or 60% aggregate marks) in the qualifying degree. For SC/ST/PwD candidates, the minimum is CGPA 6.0 or 55% marks.
A valid GATE score in ME (Mechanical Engineering) is mandatory for scholarship seats via CCMT.

Admission Process

Step 1: Appear in GATE 2026 (ME paper) and obtain a valid score.
Step 2: Register on the CCMT 2026 portal (ccmt.admissions.nic.in) for scholarship seats; seat allotment is based on GATE score and preference order of specialisations.
Step 3: For sponsored/self-financed seats, apply separately through NITK's IRIS portal (iris.nitk.ac.in) with the prescribed application fee (Rs. 500 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PwD).
Step 4: Shortlisted candidates for sponsored/self-financed seats appear for a written test and technical interview at NITK campus (offline mode).
Step 5: Accept the seat offer and complete online fee payment within the stipulated dates.
Step 6: Report physically to NITK with original documents for verification and admission.

NITK M.Tech Mechanical Engineering Scholarships 2026

Students admitted to M.Tech Mechanical Engineering at NITK Surathkal can avail multiple scholarships, with the GATE stipend being the most significant for GATE-qualified students. SC/ST students benefit from the NSP scholarship and NITK's financial assistance schemes. Several national and corporate scholarships are also available through NITK's scholarship portal, including the Garrett Scholarship Programme which is particularly relevant for Mechanical Engineering students.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Application Deadline
GATE Stipend (MoE)	GATE-qualified M.Tech students with CGPA >= 6.0	Rs. 12,400 per month (up to 24 months)	At time of admission
NSP Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC students (family income up to Rs. 8 lakh); ST students (family income up to Rs. 6 lakh)	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance as per NSP norms	October 31 (annually)
Financial Assistance (SC/ST)	SC/ST students at NITK	As per institute norms	Announced annually
Garrett Scholarship Programme	Engineering students (merit-based)	As per scheme	Announced annually
Reliance Foundation PG Scholarship	PG students with strong academic record	Up to Rs. 6 lakh	August-September (annually)
PM YASASVI Scholarship	OBC/EBC/DNT students	As per scheme norms	Announced by NTA
Boeing CSR Grant Scholarship	NITK students (merit-based)	As per scheme	Announced annually
Institute Merit/Merit-cum-Means Scholarship	Students with high academic performance and financial need	As per institute norms	Announced annually

The GATE stipend is the primary financial support; it requires maintaining CGPA of 6.0 and 8-10 hours/week of teaching/research assistance.
GATE stipend is not available for self-financed, QIP, DASA, ICCR, or MEA category students.
Students must apply separately for external scholarships through respective portals.

NITK M.Tech Mechanical Engineering Placements 2026

The Mechanical Engineering department at NITK Surathkal has a strong placement record across all four M.Tech specialisations. The 2023 placement data shows excellent outcomes: Mechanical Design led with a 96.15% placement rate (25 out of 26), followed by Mechatronics at 93.75% (30 out of 32), Manufacturing Engineering at 88.46% (23 out of 26), and Thermal Engineering at 87.5% (21 out of 24). Core mechanical companies like ExxonMobil, GAIL, IOCL, ISRO, Caterpillar, Boeing, Tata Motors, Bosch, and Bajaj Auto regularly recruit from the department, alongside analytics and consulting firms.

Placement Statistics 2023

Specialisation	Students Participated (2023)	Students Placed (2023)	Placement Rate (2023)
Thermal Engineering	24	21	87.5%
Manufacturing Engineering	26	23	88.46%
Mechatronics Engineering	32	30	93.75%
Mechanical Design	26	25	96.15%

Key Placement Highlights:

Top Core Recruiters: ExxonMobil, GAIL, IOCL, ISRO, Caterpillar India, Boeing, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Bosch, Collins Aerospace, Cummins India, John Deere, L&T
Top Analytics/Consulting Recruiters: ZS Associates, Deloitte, Fractal Analytics, o9 Solutions, Tredence Analytics
Typical Roles: Design Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Systems Engineer, Mechatronics Engineer, Graduate Engineering Trainee, Research Engineer, Process Engineer
Typical CTC Range: Rs. 6 LPA to Rs. 18 LPA for core mechanical roles; analytics/consulting roles typically offer Rs. 8-15 LPA

NIT Surathkal M.Tech Mechanical Engineering Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#12 out of 500 in India 2025

#1st in Karnataka

NIRF Ranking

#17 out of 300 in India 2025

#1st in Karnataka

Outlook Ranking

#8 out of 25 in Top Public Colleges in India 2025

IIRF Ranking

#32 out of 160 in Top Public Colleges in India 2025

#1st in Karnataka

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NITK M.Tech Mechanical Engineering FAQs

Ques. Which specialisation should I choose for M.Tech Mechanical Engineering at NITK - Thermal, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, or Mechanical Design?

Ans. The choice depends on your career goals: Thermal Engineering is ideal for those targeting energy, oil and gas (GAIL, IOCL, ExxonMobil), and power sector roles. Manufacturing Engineering suits those interested in production, automotive (Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto), and industrial roles. Mechatronics Engineering is best for those interested in automation, robotics, and interdisciplinary roles combining mechanical, electrical, and electronics. Mechanical Design is ideal for those targeting design engineering roles in automotive, aerospace, and product development companies. In terms of placement rates, Mechanical Design (96.15%) and Mechatronics (93.75%) have historically performed slightly better.

Ques. What is the GATE cutoff for M.Tech Mechanical Engineering at NITK Surathkal?

Ans. Based on CCMT 2024 data, the closing GATE scores for the General category were: Mechanical Design - 514, Mechatronics - 478, Thermal Engineering - 473, and Manufacturing Engineering - 397. These are last-round closing scores; opening scores are higher. For 2026, cutoffs will depend on GATE 2026 score distribution and number of applicants.

Ques. Are there good core mechanical placements at NITK, or is it mostly IT/analytics companies?

Ans. NITK Mechanical Engineering has a healthy mix of both core and non-core placements. Core companies like ExxonMobil, GAIL, IOCL, ISRO, Caterpillar, Boeing, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, and Bosch regularly recruit from the department. However, analytics and consulting firms (ZS Associates, Deloitte, Fractal Analytics) also recruit mechanical engineers for data-driven roles. The proportion of core placements has been around 22-56% depending on the year, with the trend showing more students opting for analytics/consulting roles due to higher packages.

Ques. Can students from non-mechanical backgrounds apply for M.Tech Mechatronics at NITK?

Ans. Yes, M.Tech Mechatronics Engineering at NITK has a broader eligibility compared to other mechanical specialisations. Students with B.E./B.Tech in Electronics and Communication, Electrical and Electronics, Instrumentation, and Control Engineering are also eligible, in addition to Mechanical Engineering graduates. This makes Mechatronics one of the more accessible specialisations for students from allied engineering backgrounds.

Ques. What research facilities are available for M.Tech Mechanical Engineering students at NITK?

Ans. The Mechanical Engineering department at NITK has well-equipped laboratories for all four specialisations. For Thermal Engineering, there are heat transfer, combustion, and fluid mechanics labs. Manufacturing Engineering students have access to CNC machining, CAD/CAM, and metrology labs. Mechatronics students use robotics, PLC, and embedded systems labs. Mechanical Design students work with FEA/CAE software and structural testing facilities. The department also has active sponsored research projects from agencies like DST, SERB, DRDO, and ISRO.

Ques. How does M.Tech Mechanical Engineering at NITK Surathkal compare to other top NITs for the same programme?

Ans. NITK Surathkal is consistently ranked among the top 10 NITs in India (NIRF ranking). For M.Tech Mechanical Engineering, NITK competes well with NITs like NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, and NIT Rourkela. NITK's advantages include its coastal location (relevant for marine/offshore engineering research), strong industry connections with companies in the Mangalore industrial belt, and a well-established alumni network. The GATE cutoffs at NITK are comparable to NIT Trichy and slightly lower than NIT Warangal for most mechanical specialisations, making it a strong choice for GATE aspirants.