Choosing the right branch of engineering is one of the most essential steps of the engineering admission process. Engineering is among one the most opted degree courses after Class 12^th. Engineering has a wide range of roots in domains like Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Science, Electrical, etc. With the majority of students enrolling in the above-mentioned courses, the competition in securing admission and a well-paying job has rapidly increased.

The basic eligibility criteria to pursue engineering courses is that the candidates must have passed class 12th. The candidates must have qualified entrance exams conducted for engineering which are JEE Main, JEE Advanced, SRMJEEE, VITEEE, GATE, BITSAT, and more.

The top engineering colleges in India are IITs, NIT, IIITs, GFTIs, and other private institutes. The average package an engineer can get ranges from 2 LPA to 20 LPA. The top recruiters are IBM, Google, Infosys, Samsung, Larsen & Toubro, BARC, and more.

Top 10 Engineering Streams

Barring these traditional engineering branches, there are also many emerging new branches of engineering offering an abundance of job opportunities. Many students that don’t shine in the above-mentioned courses, may shine in these newly developed branches of engineering. Given below are 10 popular engineering branches from which the students can choose their preferred one.

Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)

This is one of the most popular courses and almost every student aims for securing admission in the same. CSE includes the study of different programming languages, program design, software knowledge, project management, etc. are some of the other integral aspects of this course. IIT Kanpur, IIIT Hyderabad, NIT Warangal, and BITS Pilani are some of the best engineering colleges in India.

There is massive scope pertaining to this branch of engineering as a large number of national and international companies are looking to recruit CSE graduates. Some of the top recruiters are-

• Amazon
• IBM
• Cisco
• Yahoo
• Google

Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering is another branch that offers extensive scope in the world of employment. This field comprises the study of electronics, electromagnetism, electricity, etc. Electrical engineers are recruited to build devices for the purpose of power distribution and communication. Graduates of this branch are also employed in some of the largest construction projects in the world like bridges, dams, roads, etc. In addition to this, they are also employed by many electrical component manufacturing units producing everyday appliances. Some of the best colleges in India to pursue the same are BITS Pilani, IIT Kanpur, NIT Thiruchirapalli, etc.

Some of the popular companies hiring Electrical Engineers are-

• Siemens Ltd.
• Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
• Reliance Power Ltd.
• Bajaj International Private Limited

Electronics and Communication Engineering

Electronics and Communication Engineering also known as ECE involves designing, researching, and testing electronic equipment, and developing electronic devices and systems used in various devices. Electronics and Communication Engineers are also responsible for organizing and supervising the manufacture of broadcast and communication systems. This branch of engineering can be of interest to candidates who want to learn about the development and operation of electrical circuits, power electronics, signal systems, etc. IIT Madras and IIT Delhi are among the top colleges to pursue this branch of engineering. The electrical industries, telecommunication powerhouses, and mobile development companies keep expanding every year and hence there is plenty of scope for securing jobs in this field.

Some of the prominent recruiters are-

• Samsung
• Toshiba
• Sony
• Philips
• Intel

Mechanical Engineering

It deals with the manufacturing, designing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It incorporates important principles from Material Science and Physics. As one of the oldest engineering branches, this branch is one of the most demanded choices when it comes to specializations. Some of the well-known colleges offering this program are Delhi Technological University, BITS Pilani, IIT Kanpur, etc. There are some lucrative job opportunities for graduates in Mechanical Engineering in the job market offering some of the hefty paying jobs.

Some companies looking to hire Mechanical Engineers are-

• Indian railway
• DRDO
• Reliance Industries
• Ashok Leyland
• Mahindra & Mahindra

Civil Engineering

This field of engineering teaches students the science of construction. In addition to this, the course also includes planning, designing, and maintenance of structures like roads, canals, buildings, dams, etc. In a developing country like India, there is no dearth of major construction projects like highways, tunnels, urban spaces, pathways, parks, etc. Hence there is plenty of scope for establishing a career in this field. Some of the best institutions for pursuing this branch of engineering are ISM Dhanbad, IIT Kanpur, Hindustan Colleges of Engineering and Technology, and Coimbatore.

Some well-known recruiters pertaining to Civil Engineering are-

• Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
• PWD
• SERC
• DLF
• Engineers India Ltd.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering is considered to be the bridge between science subjects like Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Biology and Engineering spheres like Civil, Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering. Their services are of much value in the fields of Biotechnology, Medicine, manufacturing, energy, etc. This branch deals with the detailed study and application of chemical reactions for solving everyday problems that we fail to notice in our day-to-day lives. Chemical Engineers are a crucial part of many industries such as petroleum, oil, fertilizer, processing, food manufacturing industries, etc. A career in this field is dynamic and assures a good career growth prospective. Some of the top colleges for chemical engineering are Manipal University in Jaipur, IIT Mumbai, IIT Kanpur, etc.

Companies facilitating the recruitment drives pertaining to Chemical Engineering are-

• Gujarat Gas Company Limited
• Indo Gulf Fertilizers Ltd.
• ONGC
• Essar Oil Ltd.
• Reliance Industries

Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology/Biomedical

Biochemical Engineering is a branch of engineering that involves the application of principles of chemical engineering to solve medical problems. It comprises detailed study and research pertaining to biological organisms and molecules and implementation of the knowledge and principles towards improving the quality of life. It also involves Biosciences and Engineering to develop and manufacture products that also focus on altering living organisms in order to be able to use them for a variety of purposes. The best colleges offering this course are IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur, Delhi Institute of Technology, BIT Mesra, etc. This branch of engineering also extends into fields such as manufacturing and designing artificial body parts, surgical diagnosis, etc. Principles learned in this field are used in medicine to enhance and create advanced medical procedures.

Some popular recruiters pertaining to this branch are-

• Monsanto Biotech
• Bharat Serum
• Biocon
• Zydus Cadila
• TransAsia Biomedics

Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering

This is a field of engineering that deals with the manufacture and designing of aircraft, communication-navigation tools, space crafts, etc. This is believed to lie on the more difficult side pertaining to the other branches involving principles focusing on developing and designing missiles, rockets, and research regarding other spatial objects. Observing the current scenario of growth in air travel because it is the fastest and most convenient mode of travel the need for aerospace engineers is rapidly increasing. Aerospace Engineering is further divided into 2 sub-branches-

1. Astronautical Engineering- Focuses on stations and vehicles which travel in and from outer space
2. Aeronautical Engineering- deals with the study, design, and manufacture of aircraft.

The best colleges offering this course are IIT Kanpur, IIST Trivandrum, IIT Bombay, SRM University, etc. Some of the top recruiters are-

• Aeronautical Development Establishment
• Samtel Avionics
• Indian Space Research
• Civil Aviation Department
• National Aerospace Laboratories
• Indian Space Research Organization

Automotive Engineering

This discipline deals with designing, developing, manufacturing, and testing vehicles right from brainstorming to production. They design motorcycles, cars, utility vehicles, military tanks, and even buses. Automotive Engineers consider the vehicles to be their brainchild and develop the same according to their skill and inventiveness. Automotive Engineering also offers a variety of specializations like ergonomics, aerodynamics, manufacturing, rapid prototyping, etc. Once students complete their degrees they are employed as Design Engineers, Automobile Engineers, Software Engineers, etc. Some of the good colleges offering this course are IIT Madras, Delhi Technological University, and PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore.

Some primary recruiters of the same area-

• Haldex India
• Bajaj
• Maruti Suzuki
• Honda
• Hyundai

Nuclear Engineering

This new and upcoming field of engineering focuses on constructing, designing, operating, maintaining, and testing nuclear reactors, weapons, power plants, etc. It determines the usage of radioactive materials and radiation in the fields of research, national security, and medicine. Nuclear Engineering has two sub-fields-

1. Nuclear Fusion- Combining atomic nuclei to form different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles;
2. Nuclear Fission- Comprises design, interaction, maintenance, and testing of systems like power plants, reactors, weapons, etc.

In today’s generation, nuclear engineers are popular everywhere as they are responsible for curating the procedure to derive optimum benefits from nuclear radiation and energy. They are also needed to maintain safety standards by supervising the operational activities of nuclear powerhouses. The best colleges for the same are IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, Indian School of Mines, and IIST in Trivandrum. Well-known recruiters of Nuclear Engineers are –

• DRDO
• BARC
• Black & Veatch
• We build Staffing
• First Energy
• Canberra
• American Electric Power

Engineering Courses: Top Colleges

Engineering Courses: Average Salary Package

The above-mentioned branches of engineering are some of the most popular courses offered in India. Students can go through the article as it sheds light on many aspects of the different branches of engineering as well as do their own research prior to choosing a branch of their choice.