Engineering and technology
Engineering in India usually means a four-year B.Tech or B.E. after Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Government seats at IITs, NITs and IIITs are filled through JEE Advanced or JEE Main and JoSAA counselling; state colleges use state counselling, and many private universities run their own tests.
The usual admission route
- Class 12 with PCM
- JEE Main (plus JEE Advanced for IITs)
- JoSAA or state counselling
- Seat allotment and reporting
Courses and how long they take
| Course | Level | Duration | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Tech / B.E. | Undergraduate | 4 years | Class 12 with PCM |
| Dual degree (B.Tech + M.Tech) | Integrated | 5 years | Class 12 with PCM; offered at some IITs |
| Diploma in engineering (polytechnic) | Diploma | 3 years | Class 10; diploma holders can join B.Tech in the second year (lateral entry) |
| M.Tech / M.E. | Postgraduate | 2 years | B.Tech or B.E., usually with a GATE score |
| MS by research | Postgraduate | About 2–3 years | B.Tech; offered at the IITs |
| PhD | Doctoral | 3–5 years | M.Tech, or B.Tech with a strong GATE score |
Entrance exams
- JEE MainB.Tech at NITs, IIITs and state colleges; the first step to the IITs
- JEE AdvancedB.Tech and BS at the IITs
- GATEM.Tech, PhD and public-sector jobs
Also used: BITSAT (BITS Pilani); VITEEE (VIT); SRMJEEE (SRM); MET (Manipal); State tests such as MHT CET, KCET and WBJEE.
Eligibility
- Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics; Chemistry is the most common third subject.
- For NITs, IIITs and IITs through JoSAA you also need 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST), or a place in the top 20 percentile of your board.
- State and private colleges set their own minimum marks in PCM, typically between 45% and 60%.
Where it can lead
- Software and IT
- Core engineering: civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical
- Public-sector jobs through GATE and the Engineering Services Exam
- Research and higher studies
- Product, consulting and analytics roles
Engineering colleges in our directory
34 institutions offer engineering programmes.
IIT Bombay
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Location
- Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Type
- Government, est. 1958
- Main entrance
- JEE Advanced
- Engineering
- Science
- Design
- Management
IIT Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Location
- New Delhi, Delhi
- Type
- Government, est. 1961
- Main entrance
- JEE Advanced
- Engineering
- Science
- Design
- Management
NIT Trichy
National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli
- Location
- Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
- Type
- Government, est. 1964
- Main entrance
- JEE Main
- Engineering
- Architecture
- Management
- Computer applications
DTU
Delhi Technological University
- Location
- New Delhi, Delhi
- Type
- Government, est. 1941
- Main entrance
- JEE Main
- Engineering
- Management
J.C. Bose University (YMCA)
J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA
- Location
- Faridabad, Haryana
- Type
- Government, est. 1969
- Main entrance
- JEE Main
- Engineering
- Science
- Management
- Computer applications
BITS Pilani
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
- Location
- Pilani, Rajasthan
- Type
- Private, est. 1964
- Main entrance
- BITSAT
- Engineering
- Science
- Pharmacy
- Management
IP University (GGSIPU)
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
- Location
- New Delhi, Delhi
- Type
- Government, est. 1998
- Main entrance
- Depends on the programme
- Engineering
- Management
- Law
- Computer applications
- +3 more
Amity Noida
Amity University, Noida
- Location
- Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Type
- Private, est. 2005
- Main entrance
- University's own process
- Engineering
- Management
- Law
- Commerce
- +7 more
Manav Rachna (MRIIRS)
Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies
- Location
- Faridabad, Haryana
- Type
- Private, est. 2008
- Main entrance
- University's own process
- Engineering
- Management
- Allied health
- Computer applications
- +1 more
IIT Madras
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Location
- Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Type
- Government, est. 1959
- Main entrance
- JEE Advanced
- Engineering
- Science
- Management
IIT Kanpur
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Location
- Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Type
- Government, est. 1959
- Main entrance
- JEE Advanced
- Engineering
- Science
- Management
IIT Kharagpur
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- Location
- Kharagpur, West Bengal
- Type
- Government, est. 1951
- Main entrance
- JEE Advanced
- Engineering
- Science
- Architecture
- Management
Engineering: common questions
Which exam do I need for engineering admission?
JEE Main for NITs, IIITs and most state colleges, and JEE Advanced (after qualifying in JEE Main) for the IITs. Many private universities also run their own tests, such as BITSAT and VITEEE.
Can I get into B.Tech without JEE?
Yes, through state entrance exams or a private university's own test or merit route. NITs, IIITs and IITs need JEE.
What is lateral entry?
Students with a three-year engineering diploma can join B.Tech directly in the second year at many colleges.
Last reviewed October 2026. Admission rules, dates and eligibility change every year, so confirm them on the official website before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.