Synopsis
- This article opens a whole new world for aspiring engineers. There is more to engineering than computer science and mechanics.
- Know some of the most unique engineering courses and their career prospects.
In India, engineering is a popular professional undergraduate course. The year 2021 saw a whooping one million engineering graduates.
What Makes Engineering so Popular in India?
To say the least, engineering is popular because of the financial stability and prestige that comes with a career in engineering.
Also, the chance to further your education with a post graduation in a prestigious institute in India or abroad are some of the reasons engineering is a popular educational choice.
Apart from this, engineering is the most sought after educational choice for young students because of the diverse courses engineering has to offer.
With more than 100 branches, students are bound to find a professional engineering course that interests them.
It is a professional undergraduate course where you can find branches in more than a 100 disciplines. Broadly speaking, the most popular and sought after engineering courses in India are
- Computer Science Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electronics Engineering
- Electrical and Electronics engineering
- Chemical engineering
However, over the recent years, engineering has diversified to include more branches that offer greater career prospects.
The advancement in technology has brought with it newer career prospects. Just a few years ago, interdisciplinary branches like artificial intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology to name a few, were unheard of.
However, with greater advancements in technology, these new branches came to light. At the same time, mechanisation, automation and progressive communications has its own downside.
For example, telecommunications has led to environmental hazards and medical progress has led to the problem of bio medical waste and pollution.
However, all is not lost. These problems have also given rise to new career opportunities to young aspirants. Innovative ideas to tackle these new problems have given shape to different engineering branches.
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Let’s look at some of the unique engineering courses in India and the career prospects under each of these interdisciplinary branches of engineering.
1. Petroleum Engineering
A unique engineering course is petroleum engineering. With the growing dependence on crude oil and other related products, the popularity of Petroleum engineering has picked up in the recent past.
It is that branch of engineering that deals with the production of hydrocarbons. It deals mainly with the recovery of this usable resource and its extraction process from the subsurface of the earth. Petroleum engineers work in coordination with earth scientists and geologists.
Though the first Petroleum engineering course was started in the early 1900s by the University of Pittsburgh, the popularity of the course did not pick up because of the limited recruitment industries.
However, today, petroleum engineering, though a rare engineering course, has great career prospects. The biggest recruiters for petroleum engineers are crude oil companies across the globe.
There are several universities and colleges in India offering this branch of engineering to students.
- Presidency University, Bangalore
- LPU Jalandhar
- School of engineering, University of Petroleum and Engineering studies, Dehradun
- Chandigarh University
Petroleum engineers usually work in areas rich in oil reserves. The chances of working in foreign locations are high.
This gives a lot of exposure to students who want to study and work abroad. The average salary of petroleum engineers in India is around Rs 10,00,000 per annum.
2. Agricultural Engineering
Though the name sounds more inclined towards farming, agricultural engineering is the application of science for agricultural purposes.
India, being primarily an agricultural country, with more that 56% of workers engaged in agriculture and allied activities, depends largely on the agricultural output for economic sustenance. Therefore, agricultural engineering is an important branch of engineering, though a rare engineering course.
Agricultural engineers have a unique role that combines the principles of mechanics, automation, electronics, food technology and environmental engineering to increase and improve agricultural output and at the same time, ensuring renewal of available resources.
In India, the average salary of an agricultural engineer is around Rs 5,00,000 per annum. With the private sector also entering the field of agriculture, average salaries for agriculture engineers are set to take a new turn and reach greater highs in the future.
Here are some colleges in India that offer undergraduate engineering courses in Agriculture.
- Bannari Amman Institute of Technology Erode
- Karunya Institute of Science
- Integral University Lucknow
- Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
3. Nanotechnology Engineering
Nanotechnology is that branch of engineering that deals with the use and conversion of nano particles like atoms and molecules for industrial purposes.
Nanotechnology engineering is a promising course with bright career prospects in the future. As it is considered non toxic to the environment, nanotechnology is considered to be the career of the future.
For the further development of nanotechnology in India, the Government of India initiated the Nano Mission.
The Nano Mission is being implemented by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The aim of the mission is the furtherance, use and development of nanotechnology in various fields.
While pursuing an engineering degree in nanotechnology, students will be introduced to a wide range of subjects including quantum mechanics, material science and thermo dynamics among other core subjects.
Nanotechnology is one among the unique engineering courses in India. The wide career prospects in nanotechnology is attracting many students in the field of nanotechnology.
Due to the adoption of nanotechnology in almost every field, the demand for nanotechnology engineers has increased over the years.
Nanotechnology is being adopted in different sectors like textile, aerospace, health care and automobile industries. This has given rise to the need for nanotechnology engineers in the industries. Nanotechnology engineers are employed in both the private and Government sector.
The average salary for nanotechnology engineers is around Rs 21,00,00/- per annum.
Some colleges and universities in India offer undergraduate courses in Nanotechnology engineering
- The Vellore Institute of Technology
- Jamia Milia University
- Amity Institute of Technology
4. Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering as the name suggests in the manipulation or alteration of an organism’s genes. Even though it is a rare engineering course, it is an interesting field, attracting many students year after year.
Genetic engineering involves the combination of a particular organism’s genes with another. The resulting organism is referred to as Genetically Modified Organism.
Interestingly, genetics is now being used in several industries like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, research and food and animal industry.
Genetic Engineering has lucrative career prospects in many industries. With science, technology and mechanisation taking over most of the industries, genetic engineering is a course to look for in the future.
In India, genetic engineering has picked up pace. More students are now taking up this course because of the bright career prospects the undergraduate course offers. Many colleges in India offers the engineering course in Genetics
- SRM Institute of Technology
- Bharath University
- Sharada University, Noida
Genetic engineers have an annual salary package of around Rs 6,00,000/-
5. Environmental Engineering
Today, the environment is of great concern. Though the industrial revolution has brought about significant development, it has also brought with it a downfall in the quality of air around us.
The drastic climatic changes in the recent past has resulted in the increase in the demand for environmental engineers globally.
Environmental engineers are trained to create solutions for the improvement and protection of living organisms in improved environment conditions including water conservation.
Environmental engineers have a unique task of protecting and sustaining the earth’s atmosphere for the benefit of human and other living organisms.
Many universities and colleges offer unique courses in Environmental engineering. The course is an offshoot of civil and chemical engineering courses. The course in environmental engineering includes core subjects like organic and inorganic chemistry.
- IIT Bombay
- Delhi Technological University
- LD College of Engineering
Environmental engineering maybe one of the rarest engineering degrees, but can be hailed as one the most promising engineering degrees of the future.
In India, the average salary of an environmental engineer is around Rs 4,50,000./- per year.
Global warming and other environmental hazards have increased the demand for Environmental engineers. Several multinational companies, private and government sector companies are employing environmental engineers with a high pay scale.
6. Hydraulic Engineering
Another unique engineering course in India is hydraulic engineering. It is that branch of engineering that deals with the storage and management of water.
It includes the design and functioning of bridges, canals and dams for the optimum use of water. The depletion of water as a natural resource has increased the demand for hydraulic engineers.
Hydraulic engineers are given the task of designing unique and innovative water storage ideas. It also covers aspects like the creation of various mechanisms that lead to optimum use of water.
Hydraulic engineering is a sub branch of civil engineering and is extensively used during construction of dams, tanks, canals and bridges.
Even though Hydraulic engineering is among the rare engineering courses Its demand has significantly risen because of the recent trend to save water, the natural resource of the earth.
Some of the colleges in India that offer undergraduate Bachelor of Engineering in Hydraulics are
- IIT Kharagpur
- NITK Suratkal
- College of Engineering-Trivandrum
The average salary of a hydraulics engineer per month is around Rs 25,000 to 30,000 per month.
The career prospects of hydraulics engineers in India is gaining momentum. Within a few years, hydraulic engineers will be in demand in India and all over the world.
7. Textile Engineering
Among the unique engineering courses in India, textile engineering is one of the rarest engineering degrees.
A textile engineer has to create new fabrics including designing and building machines for the creation of these fabrics.
New styles and trends never go out of fashion. It is the task of a textile engineer to create new designs in fabrics for the ever changing fashion world.
Textile engineers are widely employed in the textile industry, fashion industry and research industry. Apart from creating new fabrics, textile engineers are given the task of building machines and equipment for creating these fabrics.
The job of a textile engineer requires students to be innovative and creative. Several colleges in India offer B.Tech courses in Textile engineering.
- Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Maharaja Sayajirao University Baroda
- OPJS School of engineering and technology Rajasthan
A textile engineer in India earns a decent salary of around Rs 25,000 per month.
8. Ceramic Engineering
Another unique engineering course is ceramic engineering. Ceramic engineering is the science of creating objects from inorganic and non metallic material.
Since ceramic material is highly heat resistant, the urge to use this material in various industries such as electronics and transportation industries has risen.
In the more recent years ceramic material has been used in dental work and in the manufacture of synthetic bones.
The more recent uses of ceramic material has given rise to the need for ceramic engineers. Ceramic engineers are employed in various sectors today such as aerospace, bio medical, electronics and automobile industry.
Ceramic engineers develop ceramic material and convert into useful products for various other industries. Ceramic engineers are in demand especially with the development of Nanotechnology.
The average basic pay of a ceramic engineer would be around Rs 5,00,000 per annum.
This amount is steadily rising every year because of the demand for ceramic engineers.
Andhra University
Banaras Hindu University
Alagappa Institute of Technology
9. Metallurgical Engineering
Metallurgical engineering is that branch of engineering that deals with the physical and chemical properties of metals and their allows and the extraction of these metals.
It also deals with refining metallic elements. A metallurgical engineer transforms metals into high performance metallic materials and alloys.
Metallurgical engineers are employed in several industries that use high performance metals such as automobiles, air crafts and advanced coatings.
It is one the rare engineering courses in India. However, Metallurgical engineering is an important branch of engineering. Metallurgical engineers are employed in various public sector undertakings in India.
Metallurgical engineers in India receive a promising salary of around Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per month.
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Madras
- Maharaja Sayajirao university Baroda
10. Energy Engineering
Energy engineering is that branch of engineering which deals with sustainable and renewable energy like wind and solar energy.
This branch of engineering is becoming increasingly popular because of the dependence on these alternative sources of energy. Energy engineers have the task of preserving energy, energy efficiency and energy services.
Energy engineering has a few specialised fields like power engineering, nuclear engineering, solar engineering and wind engineering.
Energy engineers are easily absorbed in national and multinational companies. Government and private energy companies are on the lookout for qualified energy engineers. The Oil and Natural gas companies around the globe also employ energy engineers.
In India, several renowned engineering colleges offer undergraduate Bachelor of Engineering degrees in the field of energy engineering
- IIT Kharagpur
- IIT Jodhpur
- Anna University Chennai
Energy engineers are in high demand in India. The average salary per month of an Energy engineer in India is around Rs 55,000/- per month.
11. Sports Engineering
Sports Engineering, though a rare engineering degree, is becoming popular among the youth. A Sports Engineer has the task of applying principles of engineering to solve problems related to sports.
It could include designing sports equipment, sports wear, developing safety standards and developing sports arenas and facilities for the enhancement of sports.
Today, sports is considered an important aspect of education and hence the importance of sports engineers has increased over the years.
Students interested in the field of sports engineering will get themselves acquainted with calibration, product development, product design and research among other core activities.
In India, The Sports Research and Management Institute in Thiruvanthapuram offers an Advanced Diploma course in Sports engineering. The course is open to all engineers from any field of engineering. The diploma course covers the following subjects in a duration of 6 months
- Introduction to Sports Engineering
- Sports Biomechanics
- Sports facility management
- Origin of Sports and Sports Innovation
- Sports Engineering Research
- Mechanics of Sports Equipment
- Industry linked research project
12. Photonics Engineering
Photonics is the use of light as a source of energy. Photonics engineering has become a popular field because of the growing dependence on alternative sources of energy.
In India the flagship institution The International School of Photonics, located in Cochin, has been at the helm when it comes to short term and long term courses in furthering the use of Photonics.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras offers MTech course in RF and Photonics.
13. Motorsport Engineering
Relatively a very new branch of engineering, motorsport engineering is a very unique engineering course in India. This branch of engineering is slowly picking up pace after India has become a member of the Grand Prix.
A number of motorsport companies like the Red Rooster racing, employ Motorsport engineering graduates. The United Kingdom is the home to motorsports and hence motorsport engineers are easily absorbed by motorsport companies in the United Kingdom.
14. Harbour and Ocean Engineering
Harbour and Ocean engineering as the name suggests is the engineering and research of port and harbour activities.
The increase in marine activity over the years has led to the development of this branch of engineering. Harbour engineers are easily absorbed by oil rig companies, National Institute of Oceanography and shipping corporations across the world.
There are a number of universities and colleges that offer undergraduate courses in Harbour and Ocean engineering
Amet University
TMC Shipping
15. Sound engineer
A sound engineer or audio engineer engineers the audio effects of the sound systems at public gatherings and live performances. The job profile includes acoustics, mixing and special effects. Sound engineering is a promising career option in India.
The average salary of a sound engineer per month is around Rs 30,000/-
Conclusion
These unique and rare engineering courses in India are gaining popularity. Students are no longer inclined towards only computer science or civil engineering.
The rise of these new interdisciplinary opportunities in engineering have allowed students to diversify and seek careers that interest them.
These new engineering branches are picking up pace and in the future, these are likely to surpass current trending engineering courses. The career prospects in these unique engineering courses in India have a promising future.
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